Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

July 1943

Fairwood Common

July has been a very interesting month, but bad weather has rather drowned the spirit of interest, in that it has put a severe limit to our offensive operations.
First of all our part in Operation Instep ceased on 6th. that meant that our L.R. aircraft would be available for Ranger and Flower operations again. Hardly had they returned before they were whipped off again for the use of 264 Squadron; the latter were to give in return A.I. aircraft. the first two exchange aircraft were very “ropey” (no Squadron Engineer officer would lose such an opportunity!!), however, we had them just long enough to make good a year’s undone A.I. modifications and to fit a couple of new engines when our own L.R. aircraft were returned to us finally. During the moon period no less then sixteen Ranger sorties were laid on. Unfortunately a persistent low pressure area took ten days to move from the Bay of Biscay as fat as Rennes, and the consequent thunderstorms and rain prevented a single sortie being flown. Once the moon had gone the weather improved and it has been possible to fly some “Flower” sorties. On the 15th, 62 O.T.U. sent a couple of Ansons and some “Gee” instructors under F.Lt. Sharman; All our Navigators benefited greatly from their instruction. One wonders why all conversions and new equipment courses cannot be run on these lines. To go even further, it should be possible for tour expired crews to travel from Station to Station, passing on the benefit of their experience and checking up flying technique and discipline. The navigators who have attended the F.T.U. course at Ford all say that squadrons would benefit if such a course went on tour. Lastly, we have been providing support for Exercise Jantzen, attacking targets each day and simulating both bomber and fighter attacks.

1943.07.01

Fairwood Common

Weather fine with valley mist in the early hours. Convoy escort was provided for Young II and practice flying continued. By night two patrols totalling 3 hours 35 mins. were flown and cross country flying was carried out.

1943.07.02

Fairwood Common

Weather continued operational throughout but no operational flying was undertaken. Practices continued. Our Instep detachment flew an uneventful sortie from Predannack.

1943.07.03

Fairwood Common

Weather fine, practice flying continued by day and by night. At 21.45 Coachman 46 was scrambled after a weather recco J.U.88 in St. George’s Channel but no track was available on the Hun.

1943.07.04

Fairwood Common

Weather cloudy, improving later. Practices continued and two patrols were flown at night totalling 3 hours 45 mins. F.O. La Sota Gladzik posted from P.I.G. for Intelligence duties.

1943.07.05

Fairwood Common

Weather cloudy but with excellent visibility. Considerable training flying throughout the 24 hrs. F/Sgt. Steinke on cross country No. 4 had trouble with port engine off the Isle of Man and returned on starboard engine, landing back at 17.30 hrs. No operational flying. F.O. Kopcewicz posted to P.I.G. The last Instep flight from Predannack was flown and again it proved uneventful.

1943.07.06

Fairwood Common

Weather showery and clouds, but visibility good. Practice flying only, including Practice Bullseye at night. F/Sgt. Staziker posted to 264 Squadron.

1943.07.07

Fairwood Common

Weather fair with showers. One convoy escort was flown during the day. Owing to heavy icing conditions no night flying was undertaken. F.O. Beda detached to No. 3 F.I.S. No. 41 Pilots Twin Engine Co…

1943.07.08

Fairwood Common

Cloudy weather continued with showery conditions; practice flying continued throughout day and night. Two night patrols totalling 2 hours 5 mins were flown.

1943.07.09

Fairwood Common

Weather intermittent rain, clearing up late in afternoon, leaving time for Night Flying Tests only. Practice continued by night.

1943.07.10

Fairwood Common

Weather non-operational with mist and rain. No flying.

1943.07.11

Fairwood Common

Weather still unfit for flying.

1943.07.12

Fairwood Common

Weather improved considerably and flying practices resumed at high pressure. During the night four patrols totalling 9 hours 15 mins were flown.

1943.07.13

Fairwood Common

Heavy wind (up to 40 m.p.h.) and rain prohibited flying until 14.00, thereafter flying continued and two night patrols totalling 4 hours were flown. F.O. Martin attached to F.I.U. Ford for Navigator Leaders course.

1943.07.14

Fairwood Common

Weather generally poor but operational by day. In the early morning Jersey 31 searches from the Smalls to Hartland for a Whitley believed to be in the sea. No night flying.

1943.07.15

Fairwood Common

Weather non-operational until afternoon. Night Flying Tests were flown and four night patrols totalling 9 hours 15 mins were flown. Two aircraft reinforce Cricklade because of Hun activity to the East. To-day the Anson circus with training facilities for GEE box arrived. F.Lt. Canputer, Hughes and Sharman attached to the Squadron from No. 62 O.T.U. for instructor duties.

1943.07.16

Fairwood Common

Weather fine at first, gradually deteriorating until 03.00 when it became non-operational. Training continued by day and night. At night Mass Raid procedure was tried during the Bullseye Exercise held. Middle Wallop was the controlling sector.

1943.07.17

Fairwood Common

The Wing Commander was airborne for nearly three hours in the early hours searching for a Wellington. The weather was mainly non-operational throughout the period and night flying was stopped early.

1943.07.18

Fairwood Common

Weather operational in the sector and practice flying continued. Conditions over France were too bad for our Ranger aircraft to do more than reach their advance bases, from which they were recalled.

1943.07.19

Fairwood Common

Weather continued operational in the Sector and local flying was possible but again conditions to the South prohibited the Ranger sories going as planned.

1943.07.20

Fairwood Common

The band of bad weather to the south persisted, local and training flying were possible by day but again the Ranger programme had to be scrubbed, although local night flying was possible.

1943.07.21

Fairwood Common

Weather unchanged. Again practice flying was possible in the locality and to the East and North, throughout the 24 hours, but no offensive sorties could be undertaken.

1943.07.22

Fairwood Common

Weather fine until 01.30. Practice flying by day, and one night patrol of 45 minutes were undertaken. Jersey 16 made a flight to identify an unidentified M/V during the morning. At 03.00 Jersey 21, W/Cmdr. Orzechowski and F.Lt. Szponarowicz were scrambled to intercept an enemy aircraft. 2 enemy aircraft were over the area, this being the first enemy activity for many weeks. The chase extended from the Lundy Isle area as far as the Channel Isles. Our aircraft was scrambled late, had to climb to 20.000 feet and overcome an initial divergence of some 80 miles. He managed to get within 3 miles of the bandit before passing out of Exminster coverage, where he was recalled. 3aircraft went to Castle Camp for operation “Flower” but it was cancelled.

1943.07.23

Fairwood Common

Weather poor and flying undertaken through the period were Night Flying Tests.

1943.07.24

Fairwood Common

Weather showed improvement and day flying was continued. By night, in addition to practices, two patrols totalling 4 hours were flown.

1943.07.25

Fairwood Common

Weather improvement continued. Practice and local flying undertaken including Bullseye at night. Two “Flower” patrols were flown by Jersey 16, F.Lt. Smogor and F.Lt. Raczynski; and Jersey 29 – W.O. Jankowiak and F/Sgt. Karais. These were uneventful.

1943.07.26

Fairwood Common

Weather fair. Night Flying Tests made by day. At night two FLOWER Patrols by F.Lt. Smogor, F.Lt. Raczynski, and by P.O. Sochacki and F.O. Sliwak to ARDORF. Both uneventful. S.Ldr. Szablowski posted to 54 O.T.U. for Instructor’s duties on completion of tour of duty. Sgt. Kirkbride posted to Unit from RAF. Defford.

1943.07.27

Fairwood Common

Weather fair. Three Day convoy patrols without any event. Two FLOWER patrols to FLORENNES.

1943.07.28

Fairwood Common

Weather unfavourable. Practice and Night Flying Tests by day. The weather closed down at night.

1943.07.29

Fairwood Common

Weather fair. Practice and Night Flying Tests by day – Training flight at night.

1943.07.30

Fairwood Common

Weather fair. Two FLOWER patrols from FORD as Bomber support which was uneventful. Attempts at intercepting one Hostile which was uneventful for reasons given in F.541.

1943.07.31

Fairwood Common

Weather fair. Training and test flights by day and practice flight by night.

[Illegible]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
No. 307 (Polish) Squadron,
Royal Air Force.