Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-01-01

Readiness as usual. In afternoon whole Squadron carry outfformation flights.

1942-01-02

Training flights for new pilots. One section patrole convoy. Four new Pilots posted to Northolt and Exeter Wings.

1942-01-03

A.O.C. visits station in morning. Usual training flights carried out. Inafternoon fatal accident involving death of Sgt. Hill, Cpl. Lesniak and L.A.C. Gawlik. R.A.F. lorry conveying airmen back to work collides with double decker bus. Lesniak and Gawlik killed outright. Sgt. Hill dies in Emergency Hospital, Southport. Four other fairly seriously wounded, also taken to Emergency Hospital. Others receive dressings in sick bay and are sent back to their barracks.

1942-01-04

Training flights. Mr. & Mrs. Hill arrive, decide to have burial of their son at Oundle. Polish airmen to be buried at Baginton.

1942-01-05

Training flights. One Section scramble and patrols base. In afternooon Squadron practice in preparation for Fighter Nights.

1942-01-06

Training flights. Dusk lendings carried out at Woodvale by older pilots and at Squires Gate by the less experienced pilots.

1942-01-07

more training flights. One section patrols convoys. Four pilots and two machines sent on firing practice to valley. Bodies of three airmen killed in crash conveyed by lorry to Oundle and from there to Baginton. F/O.s Yeo-Thomas and Whitehead travel with coffins.

1942-01-08

Funeral at Oundle of Sgt. Hill. Funeral attended by F/O. Yeo-Thomas. F.A.F. Wittering kindly supply firing party. Funeral at Baginton of Gawlik and Lesniak. Baginton supply firing party. Bodies buried opposite the seven Officers and men buried there during the past year. F/Lt. Skiba, F/O. Whitehead and detachment from Maintenance Flight atted funeral. S/Ldr. Braunston made all arrangements which went off very well. Four pilots go to Speke for Link Trainer practice.

1942-01-09

Dawn flying. Result in fatal accident to S/Ldr. Wesolowski whose machine collides with that of F/O. Dolicher. Wesolowski’s machine goes down in spin and he is killed outright. Dolicher keeps control of his machine and makes skilfull landing. He has slight cut on nose but otherwise is O.K. Pilots return from Valley.

1942-01-10

Two Section patrol convoys.

1942-01-11

Unfit for flying. Permission obtained to bury part of body of F/O. Krawczynski, Funeral will be together with that of S/Ldr. Wesolowski.

1942-01-12

Unfit for flying. Pilots go to Speke on Link Trainer. This is now reserved for Squadron on 3 days a week. Court of Inquiry on accident to S/Ldr. Wesolowski.

1942-01-13

Funerl of S/Ldr. Wesolowski and F/O. Krawczynski. Bodies buried in cemetery of Church or Our Lady, Freshfield. Whole Squadron parade, also detachment from Ground Defence.

1942-01-14

Unfit for flying. Link Trainer practice.

1942-01-15

Unfit for flying. G/Cpt. Macdonald assumes comand of Station.

1942-01-16

Unfit for flying. Link Trainer practice.

1942-01-17

Unfit for flying. Talks. S/Ldr. Nowierski arrives in afternoon.

1942-01-18

S/Ldr. Nowierski, formally takes over command of Squadron. Sgt. Pietrasiak, who has arrived in Blackpool after escaping from France pays visit to Squadron and tells of his experiences.

1942-01-19

Unfit for flying. Talk on aircraft recognition. S/Ldr. Nowierski goes to Group to report to A.O.C.

1942-01-20

Snow, quite heavy fall. All hans on runways. S/Ldr. Nowierski goes to Fighter Command. Preofessor turns out in flying boots. – puss in boots.

1942-01-21

Talk on convoys by Cdr. Newman R.N.V.R.; this time minus beard. 7 of newly posted Sgts. leave for Northolt and Exeter Wings.

1942-01-22

Unfit for flying. Cadet Sgt. Mickiewicz commissioned as P/O.

1942-01-23

Unfit for flying. Rain mkes whole dron sloshy.

1942-01-24

Snow practically all gone. Training flights resumed. Squadron Offices moved from Farm House to new quarters near S.H.Q. which are more convenient.

1942-01-25

Practice Interception flights. Three Sections of two scramble and patrol base.

1942-01-26

More interception practice flights. Scramble – section between base and Preston patrolled. Four Spitfire VB’s arrive.

1942-01-27

Unfit for flying. Talks on night flying.

1942-01-28

Practice interception flights. Dusk and Night Flying. Four more Spitfire VB’s arrive.

1942-01-29

Training flights. Four more Spit. VB’s arrive.

1942-01-30

Unfit for flying. Two more Spit. VB’s arrive making full complement.

1942-01-31

At Mid-day demonstration flight of whole Squadron over Preston where War Weapons week was being held. Three new pilots pushedaway to Exeter Wing so that now the Squadron strength of pilots is the same as when we arrived. F/O. Glowinski arrives for supernumary Engineer duties.

Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding, No. 308 (Polish) Fighter Squadron.