Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-07-01

Squadron released from readiness prepares for departure for Redhill. Twenty two pilots and C.O., I.O., Educ’n Offr., M.O., and 69 O.R.s. 17.15 Spits. set off followed by two Bombays. landing at 18.20 hours. Crystals changed and machines prepared immediately after landing. G/Capt. Pawlikowski and W/Cdr. Janus come from Croydon where Northold Wing is stationed.
F/Sgt. rogowski posted to No. 1489 Flight.

1942-07-02

am.m Pilots receive instructions from I.O.
p.m. One flight in Readiness, the other at 30 minutes. F/O. Stabrowski arrives.
Remainder set about clearing up the dispersals.

1942-07-03

a.m. Squadron in readiness.
p.m. Polish Squadron Commanders and I.O.s. meet at Croydon and receive instructions from W/Cdr. Janus as to possibilities of Operations. A.O.C. 11 Group pays visit and welcomes Squadron back to his Group.

1942-07-04

Squadron released. Weather Non-operational. Pilots go off to London and Northolt.

1942-07-05

Squadron released for training flights – so Squadron formation flight is ordered. In taking off for this P/O. Kotlarz damages machine and has to land without flags. As a result machine runs into hedge at end of aerodrome and is damaged. F/O. Ilinski, F/Sgt. Majchrzyk and Sgt. Turek arrive from Hutton Oranswick. Present state at Redhill 10 Offrs. 10 N.C.O.s 17 A.C.s.

1942-07-06

a.m. Squadron to 30 minutes. No sings of any operations – pilots getting impatient. Meanwhile Squadron do formation flying and later fly in section of 4. During this P/O. Krawczynski and Sgt. Herbst collide. KRAWCZYNSKI is killed outright and Sgt. Herbst, seriously wounded, is taken to hispital.

1942-07-07

a.m. Squadron at 30 minutes. More formation flying. F/O. Sobolewski damages machine whilst landing.
p.m. News that Operations are cancelled and that Squadron is to return immediately.
17.45 Squadron set off, landing at Hutton Cranswick at 19.00. Ground staff arrive by train.

1942-07-08

Squadron in readiness. 6 a/c go to Church Fenton to change crystals. 5 Scrambles over flamborough.

1942-07-09

a.m. Two Section patrol convoy. 09.30. Two sections take off to look for dinghy directed by Opa. 2 Hudsons and 2 other Spits seen on similar job. After 1 hr. F/O. Blasczyk sees two dinghies, 1 empty, and reports to Ops. Section return to Base at 10.50. later tated that occupants of one dinghy were from a Polish bomber. P/O. Kotlarz and Sgt. Raszewski go to Matlaske for 4 days air firing.

1942-07-10

a.m. One Section patrols Flamboro’ – Withernsea at low height. Later another section protects convoy. During day usual training exercises.

1942-07-11

a.m. One section patrols convoy. Training exercises including attacks on bomber.
p.m. Two Section patrol Flamboro’. Funeral of P/O. Kawczynski at Northolt. Squadron send delegation from “B” Flight. Night flying carried out By A Flight.

1942-07-12

a.m. Two Sections patrol convoy, one section over Flamboro’. Sleeve target firing and formation flying.
p.m. One Section over convoy. Night flying carried out by “B” Flight.

1942-07-13

a.m. Patrol from dawn to 08.00 east of Flamboro’ at height of 500’.
Formation flying, eading of latest orders to pilots.
p.m. One Section scrambles over Flamboro’ – Withernsea. Upturned dinghy and oil patch noticed and reported.

1942-07-14

Dawn patrol east of Flamboro’. Usual training exercises dirung day. Night flying carried out by B Flight. Three new pilots report from Grangemouth, P/O. Habela, Sgt. Domanski and Korwel.

1942—07-15

a.m. Dawn patrol east of flamboro. SLEeve target firing and GCI practisc. P/O. Kotlarz and Sgt. Raszewski return from metlaske.
p.m. A.O.C. 12 Group pays visit to Dispersal. Dusk patrol over Hornsea and Flamboro’.

1942-07-16

Polish Air Force Day. Reading of Orders from Polish H.Q. to whole Squadron lined up by dispersal. Station I,O. gives pilots aircraft recognition test.
p.m. Training flights – Night flying carried out by B Flight.

1942-07-17

a.m. Weather unfit for flying. I.O. gives talk on latest type of machines.
p.m. Formation flying. F/O. Podolski returns from aircraft recognition course.

1942-07-18

Weather unfit for flying. Talk to pilots on security and instruction a given on what to do in the case of vecoming a prisoner. In evening dance in Officer’s Mess to celebrate opening. Guests from 303 at Kirton Lindsey attended.

1942-07-19

F/O. Zbyszynski leaves station for despatch centre prior to going East-Warn all Eunuchs. Operational flight over France cancelled. S/Ldr. Szczesny gives talk to pilots. P.m. formation flying and dog flights with cine guns.

1942-07-20

At dawn one section scrambles over Convoy. enemy a/c reported in vicinity. Explosion in sea noticed a mile from convoy and reported but no sign of any enemy bomber.
p.m. talk by I.O. Four a/c carry out co-operation exercise with tanks.

1942-07-21

a.m. One section patrols convoy. Usual exercises during day including p[Illegible]ctice interceptions and dog fights.
p.m. Wing flight with 303 Squadron. P/O. Kobierzycki and Sgt. Osoba for Air Firing at Matlakse for 4 days. Night flying carried out by “A” Flight.

1942-07-22

a.m. Dawn patrol over convoy. Weather deterorates. No more flying.
p.m. One section set out for Army Co-op. exercise, but owing to rain these are cancelled and Section return. Move of Squadron to Heston od 30th announced.

1942-07-23

a.m. Dawn patrol of two sections over Convoy. Usual exercises during morning.
p.m. Two sections scramble over Flamboro’. Fighter night as from 23rd do 30th. 8 a/c to be in Readiness.

1942-07-24

a.m. Dawn patrol over Flamboro’ – Withernsea. Convoy protection.
p.m. Section (F/O. Zuromski & P/O. habels) set out for weather test but are diverted to interospt JU 88. JU interocepted at 12,000, well out to ses, and three attacks are made in turn. Rear gunners are silenced. Machine badly damaged disappears in cloud with smoke coming from starboard engine. Claimed as damaged.

1942-07-25

a.m. One Section patrole coast, Flamboro to Withernsea. Two a/c sent to Burn for practice attack with Liberator.
p.m. Three Sections patrol Flamboro’. a Flight do night flying.

1942-07-26

a.m. Three Sections patrol convoys.
p.m. A Flight go to Matlaks for firing. B Flight carry out formation flying and practice interception. Nine a/c take part in Night flying which last until 2 a.m.

1942-07-27

p.m. Three sections scramble. One section patrols Withernsea, the second was directed by Ops., whilst the third patrole Base. Wing formation flying with 303, led by W/Odr. Witorzeno. Two a/c practice attcks with Liberator, at Burn. Two a/c do night flying.

1942-07-28

a.m. One Section patrole convoy. Two section fly to Burn for practice attacks with Liberator.
p.m. four Sections co-operate in exercise of 55th Division Battle School, attacking taks and gun posts. Advance party set off for Heston in the morning.

1942-07-29

a.m. Convoy patrole.
p.m. One Section scrambles over Flamboro’. Loading up of gear and luggage for move to Heston. F/Lt. Moszynski posted to 316, whilst F/Lt. Baranski of 316 is posted to 308.

1942-07-30

Move to Heston. 18 a/c leave Hutton Cranswick at 12.15 arriving Heston one hour later. Two Bombays follow almost immediately. Main Party leave by train at 12.30 and get to Heston by 21.00.

1942-07-31

Unpacking and settling down. Pilots go to Northolt where W/Cdr. Janus has short talk with them. Squadron released from Operations until 4th August, 1942.

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