Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-04-01

Unpacking and settling down at Exeter. Squadron delayed by bad weather up at Woodvale. Fifteen aircraft leave but have to turn back.

1942-04-02

Fifteen aircraft arrive from Woodvale in Squadronformation at 10.15 hours. Sector reconnaissance carried out in afternoon.

1942-04-03

squadron again out on Sector/recconaisance. Scramble.

1942-04-04

F/Lt. Pentz, one of 306 Controllers, gives a lecture on co-operation with Ops. Scramble-(protecteing shipping)

1942-04-05

Scramble. Pilots given special talk onaction to be taken in event of invasio. Easter Day. Special Easter Breakfast for Officers and men combined with 307 Squadron. Usual Toasts and God Bless them all.

1942-04-06

Two Section (foru a/c) fly to Bolthead for one week. Party of mechanics go by road. Four Scrambles on Convoy.

1942-04-07

Scramble from Bolthead. Polish Authorities announce posthum/ous award of Virtuti Militari to late S/Ldr. Wesolowski. Sgt. Pietrasiak who escaped from France receives Krzyz Walecznych.

1942-04-08

More Scrambles from Bolt Head. Ack-Ack co-operation and Cross Country at Exeter. Jakubowski’s machine cuts out soon after setting off on scramble and crashes. Pilot ver lucky to come out with relatively few scratches.

1942-04-09

Scrambles at Exeter and Bolt Head. More Sector reconnaisance. Inspector Zbyszynski solves the mystery of Jakubowski’s crash.

1942-04-10

More Sector reconnaisance. Three convoy progection from Exeter, and Bolt Head.

1942-04-11

Scramble at Bolt Head. Link Trainer, and usual training flights.

1942-04-12

Convoy protection from Bolthead. In morning fourteen a/c leave Exeter for Tangmere to make sweep over France (St. Omer) S/Ldr and three others fire at F.W.190s – no results observed. In sfternoon Squadron set out for another sweepp but are re-called and eventually land at Exeter at 18.00

1942-04-13

Convoy protestion. Army Co-operation. Link trainer. Tactical exercise with armyabandoned owing to bad weather in target area.

1942-04-14

Fourteen a/c left Exeter early for Tangmere, from where they set out as escort to Bombers over France. In afternoon second sweep over Truges area. Squadron landed at Exeter at 25.55 hours.

1942-04-15

Squadron fly to Warmwell to escort Bombers over Cherbourg. One F.W. 190 follows the Squadron when over France, but turns away on being engaged by F/O Stabrowski. Squadron back again at 19.25.

1942-04-16

Twelve a/c leave Exeter very early for Tangmere from where they later setout for the Havre. P.M. another sweep in Pas de Calais area. F/O Kudrewicz claims one Mc. destroyed on the first sweep.

1942-04-17

Nine a/c leave for Warmwell and set out from there in afternoon as escort for Bombers over Cherbourg. Return to Exeter 19.40.

1942-04-18

Scramble at Bolthead – Convoy protection. Link Trainer.

1942-04-19

Air to Sea firing. Scramble over base. Link Trainer.

1942-04-20

Scramble over base. LAC Gindera knocked down by Service transport whencycling back to Disperal, and killed. Dawn patrol. Attacks with cine-camera.

1942-04-21

Dawn patrol. Attack with cine-camera. Convoy protection from Exeter, and Bolthead. Scramble.

1942-04-22

Scramble (Convoy protection). Sic a/c act as near cover to a/c returning from Cherbourg.

1942-04-23

Scramble (convoy protection). Funeral of Gindera at Exeter. Short blitz on Exeter during night. One or two casualtics.

1942-04-24

Scramle. Thirteen a/c left for Warmwell. Blitz on Exeter-quite a bit of damage. F/O Zbierzchowski leaves for O.T.U.

1942-04-25

08.40 Squadron take off from Warmwell as escort cover to Bombers returning from Cherbourg. Several Mc’s seen. Squadron fired, but results unobserved. Squadron back again at Exeter for lunch. P.M. Squadron met off for Bolthead from where they net out to cover thereturn of bombers from Lannion.

1942-04-26

Dawn patrol. Scramble. F/O Stabrowski, and Sgt. Schiele saw Ne. 109 near French Coast, but uneable to get within range.

1942-04-27

Operational patrols and scrambles. F/O Budzik and P/O Kotlarz sight two Me’s at 31.000 feet. Budzik’s ozygen apparatus went wrong and E.A. were lost.

1942-04-28

A.M. Squadron leave for Redhall, from where they make a sweep over France in early afternoon. Back again at Exeter at 19.35.

1942-04-29

Dawn patrol – Scrambles – Night Flying. In evening a football match between Exeter Home Guard, and a mixed Polish team which was won by Poles 3-1.

1942-04-30

A.M. Convoy protection, and high flying. P.M. Swuadron leave for Bolthead to take part in Circus No. 3. and return to Exeter, in evening. News that S/Ldr Pisarek is missing soon after taking over Northolt Wing.

Flying Officer, Adjutant, for,
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
308 Polish Squadron, R.A.F.,
HUTTON CRANSWICK, E.Yorks.