Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-10-01

NORTHOLT

Sweep over Abbeville – 308 below – W/Cdr. Rolski and P/O. Retinger shoot up hangars near Berck Sur Mer, which sets Ack Ack fire. No encounters.

1941-10-02

NORTHOLT

Official information that Sgt. Biel is a prisoner of war. In afternoon Wing sent off to escort bombers back on their return from Havre. Bombing cancelled and wing redirected South and South East. No encounters.

1941-10-03

NORTHOLT

Circus – 308 on top – Northolt wing being forward support wing escorting bombers over Newport and Ostend. Over Gravelines the Squadron comes down to 29,000 because of condensation trails.

1941-10-04

NORTHOLT

Non-operational weather – Squadron released.

1941-10-05

NORTHOLT

Squadron in readiness. Non-operational weather. In morning one machine sent up to lock for broken away barrage balloon.

1941-10-06

NORTHOLT

Foggy in morning. Formation flights in afternoon. Farewell to 306 Squadron on eve of departure to Speke. Some of 303 already turned up.

1941-10-07

NORTHOLT

Non-operational weather – unfit for flying.

1941-10-08

NORTHOLT

Non-operational weather. Foggy in morning – fog lifts and training takes place in afternoon.

1941-10-09

NORTHOLT

Squadron in readiness. No operational flight because of weather.

1941-10-10

NORTHOLT

Squadron training flights in morning. In afternoon part of Squadron in readiness.

1941-10-11

NORTHOLT

Weather still non-operational. ZZ landings in morning. In afternoon practice interception flights with 303. P/O. J. Sobolewski and Sgt. Marek report.

1941-10-12

NORTHOLT

Northolt and Kenley wings supporting target over France. 308 as forward Squadron at 24,000 feet. On leaving Le Touquet Operations give out that 50 MEs were up attacking our planes. Wing turns back and joins scrap. On leaving coast odd MEs sighted and attacked. F/O. Surma and Sgt. Piatkowski get 1 M.E. each. Sgt. Kowalski sends letter from Hospital in France – no address – slightly wounded in leg.

1941-10-13

NORTHOLT

Circus 108A. Wing as top escort over Argues. 308 in middle. M.E.s sighted on the way to St. Omer. Big scrap results. S/Ldr. Pisarek, P/O. Retinger and Poplawski get one each and bring score up to 50. Celebrations at Rubens. Jumby having failed some time ago to beat off a stern attack gives birth to puppies. P/O Chciuk writes latter from p.o.w. camp. Apparently he shot down one ME. before getting straffed himself – so Squadron’s score is really 51.

1941-10-14

NORTHOLT

After two days operational flying, weather breaks – “rhubarb” is called off. New pilots given training flights.

1941-10-15

NORTHOLT

Only training flights. Interception practice with 315 Squadron.

1941-10-16

NORTHOLT

Squadron in readiness – weather unfit for operations. Training flights after readiness.

1941-10-17

NORTHOLT

Fighter sweep over France cancelled because of bad weather. Interception practice with 303 Squadron in afternoon. U Saw, Prime Minister of Burma, accompanied by his secretary U Tin Tut visited the Station. Whilst looking over the Dispersal point they requested one of the pilots to a demonstration of a “bale out” —– Tut! Tut!

1941-10-18

NORTHOLT

In morning two Sections sent out to beat up gun site at Le Touquet have to turn back because of bad weather.

1941-10-19

NORTHOLT

Air Firing practice cancelled owing to bad weather. Squadron later released.

1941-10-20

NORTHOLT

Only training flights.

1941-10-21

NORTHOLT

In morning sweep over St. Omer – 308 Squadron on top. No encounter.
Hinu Moslem riots break out at Aero Club.

1941-10-22

NORTHOLT

Only training flights.

1941-10-23

NORTHOLT

Training flights in morning. Night flying practice, during which P/O. Retingers radio passes out and he lands at Henley slightly damaging his machine. Sgt. Zielinski lands in field outside aerodrome, mistaking red light of pylon or headlight of stationary car for aerodrome lights. Machine slightly damaged.

1941-10-24

NORTHOLT

Sweep in afternoon – 308 below. Large formation of ME.s sighted and attacked. F/Lt. Janus, destroys two, Sgt. Schiele and P/O. Jakubowski each get one. Sgt. Schiele gets one probable in addition. Owing to shortage of petrol, wing returns, although Operations give out that another formation of ME.s was over Boulogne. Official information that Sgt. Watolski is a prisoner of war.

1941-10-25

NORTHOLT

In morning “Rhubarb” cancelled owing to drizzly weather. In afternoon Squadron released. Dedication of R.C. chapel by Bishop Gawlina, Chaplain to Polish forces.

1941-10-26

NORTHOLT

Season for rhubarb not opening well, rhubarb for morning being cancelled. Official news that Sgt. Pietrasiak is in Madrid. Apparently he shot down one M.E. and was then attacked by four others, one of which he probably destroyed. 4 Spitfires came to his rescue, and the 3 ME.s went off. Before he could join the Spits, Pietrasiak was brought down by Ack. Ack. He was given civilian clothes almost immediately.

1941-10-27

NORTHOLT

Rhubarb cancelled – training flights.

1941-10-28

NORTHOLT

Training flights in morning. General Sikorski comes down to decorate pilots of wing. F/O Surma gets Virtuti Militari.

1941-10-29

NORTHOLT

Non-operational weather. Practice scramble. Section of two machines sent to look for a balloon which had got astray.

1941-10-30

NORTHOLT

Only training flights. Practice interception. F/Sgt. Flannery receives commission.

1941-10-31

NORTHOLT

In morning two machines go out on rhubarb but are recalled when over Channel. Formation flights in afternoon.

[Illegible] F/O
Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding,. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron.