Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1940-12-01

Baginton

Form 0730 hours 1 Section at available until 1300 hours when relieved by a section of the other flight until released.
Issue of Operations Order No. 1

1940-12-02

Baginton

Foggy. Flying interrupted in afternoon. P/O. Kudrewicz posted, also P/O. Yeo-Thomas for intelligence duties.

1940-12-03

Baginton

More pea soup. Intermittent flying in the morning.

1940-12-04

Baginton

P/O. Koczor hits balloon cable with port wing on way back to aerodrome. Undercarriage letdown and plane gets into a spin, which is corrected. Spins again and crashes. Pilot is killed.

1940-12-05

Baginton

Muth force lands at Coltishall. Flying as usual.

1940-12-06

Baginton

Bad weather, little flying. Jumby has become useful as a sort of Alphonse. Many introductions to the fair sex effected by him.

1940-12-07

Baginton

Koczor buried at Baginton Cemetery. Attack and patrols in the afternoon.

1940-12-08

Baginton

S/Ldr. Orzechowski takes over from F/Lt. Jasionowski. Then there were 8………

1940-12-09

Baginton

P/O. Aldridge posted from 211 Squadron. They come in ones, they come in twos.

1940-12-10

Baginton

P/O. Retinger arrives. W/Cdr. J.W.C. More D.F.C. arrives to take over command of station from W/Cdr. George.

1940-12-11

Baginton

F/O. Snell posted from 501 Squadron. By gad they come in swarms.

1940-12-12

Baginton

Operations Order No. 2. Four Sections at Operational state.

1940-12-13

Baginton

No flying because of mist. Crews practice rearming and refueling. Smoke screen round Coventry at night.

1940-12-14

Baginton

Attack in morning. Mist in afternoon prevents flying. Party at the Chace in the evening. Station C.O. attends. S/Ldr. Grant-Ferris leaves minus trousers, Officers, prs., one.

1940-12-15

Baginton

Usual flying. No scrambles as yet. Jerry comes over only at night.

1940-12-16

Baginton

Flying as usual. Another forced landing by Muth.

1940-12-17

Baginton

No flying. This does not prevent a HE III flying ower at great height. A. V. M. UJEJSKI pay a visit. British and Polish ensigns hoisted. P/O.s KAWNIK CHCIUK, and Sgt. PARAFINSKI decorated with the Polish Cross of Honour. March past Poles. Two English Officers /Younghousband and Breffit/ suddenly find that fours have been formed round them and they have to go by goose stopping. Breffit’s performance caused unusual applause.

1940-12-19

Baginton

Foggy but flying continues. F/Lt Wiorkiewicz and F/O Snell force land in Battle owing to fog.

1940-12-20

Baginton

Wiorkiewicz and Snell return. Flying as usual.

1940-12-21

Baginton

Station Headquarters moved to Baginton Oak. Squadron spreads out in old Headquarters and make themselves at home.

1940-12-22

Baginton

Flying as usual. New Mess. Great improvement on Abrahams tent.

1940-12-23

Baginton

F/Lt Kosinski and F/Lt. Wilczewski report. Both posted from British Squadrons.

1940-12-24

Baginton

NO flying. Polish Xmas celebrations at Clarendon Hotel. Mother distributes gifts to airmen sent by County of Warwick Territorial Army an Air Force Association, Messrs, Norton Griffiths Plant and by Armstrong Whitley’s. Bread broken in Polish style Xmas greetings given. Mother and youngest airman kiss. Hold it. Officers entertain C. O. and S/Ldr. Morris and Chace Hotel Polish dishes – Wodka and Bigos.

1940-12-25

Baginton

No flying. Cold and Cloudy. English celebrations Officers, Sgt.s and airmen’s messes.

1940-12-26

Baginton

Fog, no flying, which gives plenty of opportunity for sleeping off Christmas effects.

1940-12-27

Baginton

After seweral days of inactivity flying resumed. “A” Flight Scramble patrol.

1940-12-28

Baginton

F/Lt. Nikonow arrives for instructional duties. F/O Hughes attached for eduacational duties, which will consist largely of writing letters to Lloyds, Burberrys and Gieves.

1940-12-29

Baginton

Flying as usual. Ground state in pretty and Messe.

1940-12-30

Baginton

Mother gives big party for all officers at Chadwick Manor in evening.

1940-12-31

Baginton

Rain all day. No flying. So the year passes out. On thing is certain, that during the coming year there will not be any more travelling.