Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-10-01

Dull & cloudy morning opens up anothermonth. No flying in the morning, but weather clears, and in the afternoon usual training activities take place, including Squadron formation flying.

1942-10-02

Cloudy again in the morning with no aerial activity until weather clears. Sgt. Marecki posted to strength of Polish Depot while detached to Cadet School of Polish Forces – “finishing school for Polish Gentlemen”.
15.00 Polish Wing take part in Circus 221 escorting American Fortresses over Meaulte. No encounter. Heavy A.A. fire seen over Albert. F/O Sobolewski and Sgt. Sznapka damage machines on landing, owing to engine failure.

1942-10-03

foggy again in the morning. Pilots do A/C recognition tests, andrifle firing on Station Range. In afternoon weather improves. Sector at readimess, on flight at 15 minutes, and the other at 30 mins.

1942-10-04

Foggy again in the morning. Ground personnel have instruction in grenade throwing. In afternoon weather improves, and usual training exercises are carried out. Spot of bother in connection with “workers playtime” when it was suddenly announced that the Players usin the Cranford Cottages Pavilionwould be deprived of their Gentlemen, and eceive a daily batman allowance of 2/- in lieu. the Gentlemen in the main pavilion would still press trousers, and baths could still be had providing the 5” mark was not abused.

1942-10-05

Weather is cloudy, and raining. Unfit for flying. Pilots and ground personnel do a spot of shooting on station rifle range. Eng. O. gives talk on the Merlin 45 to ground personnel. First day of Gentlemen v. Players.

1942-10-06

Sgt. Kempka arrives from 58 O.T.U. flights carry out usual training programme in morning & afternoon.
13.00 One section at readiness. Gentlemen v. Players still going stron.

1942-10-07

Weather again foggy, and raining. Unfit for flying. Int. O. gives talk on latest tactical instructions and communications. Arrival of W/C Brzezina as Polish Station Commander.

1942-10-08

A.M. Cloudy and raining. P/O Frackiewicz reports from 58 O.T.U. Int. O. talks to pilotsabout tactical memo., on Rhubarb and F.W.190. P.M. Weather clears and usual training flights take place. Polish authorities announce award of V.M. to S/Ldr Zak, and K.W. to F/Os Budzik, Paley, and P/O Mach. Accordingly slight alteration in the Mess.

1942-10-09

Sgt. Turek posted to 609 Squadron. 07.48-09.30 Circos 224 in which over 100 fortresses and Liberators take part in operations over Lille. Renezvous at Northolt, and Felixstowe. Polish Wing in Middle. No encounter, though [Illegible]warning given that e/a over Ypres. In afternoon formation flying, and low flying.

1942-10-10

05.15 Cancellation of operations which were to have taken place at 05.30. Later in the day Squadron formation flying, and low flying. P.M. One Flight at readiness, and one at 30 minutes. 15.00 to 16.15. Twenty two members of the Island race kick a ball at the Wembley statium, whilst the Squadron plays “nanny”, and keeps out any intruders. AMO. A.542 does not refer, - The Island Race thought that was only put in to make everything look nice, like the Magna Charta.

1942-10-11

A.M. “A” Flight at readiness. Two sectors patrol convoy. “B” Flight carry out training programme. P.M. Whole Squadron brought to readiness, while rest of Wing carry out offensive patrol over France.

1942-10-12

06.44 Squadron set out to protect return of ships from French coast. Rendezvous at Northolt and Beachy Head. After patrolling for some minutes at 20,000 Squadron ordered to land at Tangmere, where they are in readiness, and carry out more patrols. Return to Heston at 18.45.

1942-10-13

A.M. Pilots do silhouette test. Squadron formation, and low flying.

1942-10-14

A.M. Training flights P.M. “B” Flight at readiness, “A” Flight at 15 minutes. 13.45. readiness Flight scramble led by F/O Retinger, and patrol Brighton. Two more sections start later, and in turn patrol to 17.50.

1942-10-15

F/Sgt. Radomski posted to Hucknall, and thred airmen to Trade Training at Halton. A.M. “B” Flight at readiness, and “A” Flight at 30 minutes. F/Lt. Ostaszewski, Ops controller, talks to pilots on A/S rescue. 12.30 to 17.50 Five sections patrol Selsey Bill – St. Catherine Pt. Ops give a number of warnings, but none seen.

1942-10-16

12.35 to 14.10. Polish Wing protect Bostons returning from Le Havre. Rendezvous Northolt, and Selsey Bill. As clouds are 3/6,000’ over French Coast, bombers turn back. P/O Kotlarz crashes when returning from training flight, due to engine failure, and he was unable to reach drome. His kite crashed just outside aerodrome. Condition of pilot fairly serious.

1942-10-17

Weather cloudy. A.M. Pilots go to Link Trainer practice. P.M. Weather improves, and Squadron carry out formation practice. P/O Kotlarzout of danger, but will be a long time before fully recovered. Ac. Angrews, a new English clerk arrives to help Cpl. Gibbons, who is showed under, owing to his confederate being posted some days ago.

1942-10-18

Weather again cloudy, and very little flying takes place. P.M. One Flight at readiness, the other 30 minutes. Squadron starts “beckers up” course. F.O Podolski does his stuff.

1942-10-19

A.M. Weather very cloudy. 10.00 hrs. Squadron brought to stand by, butowing to bad visibility are unable to start. P.M. weather clears, and Squadron do formation flying, and high altitude flying.

1942-10-20

P/O Schiele posted to No.2 F.I.S. 11.26 to 13.10 Circus 208. Wing protect return of bombers from Cherbourg area. Rendzvous Northolt – Selbey Bill. Squadron when flying at 29,000’ notice three condensation trails, and give chace, but loose sight of trails, and return to Wing, who are on there return.

1942-10-21

Weather in the morning was sunny, and in the afternoon became cloudy. During day Squadron took part in circus 228 when the Polish Wing acted as rear support to 12 Fortressess which raided Maupertus, nr. Cherbourg. Non-operational, and formation flying was carried out during the day. Roadstead Readiness.

1942-10-22

Weather was cloudy. In the morning, Squadron at readiness, and in afternoon, one flight at 15 mins, and the other at readiness. Training flying, in which the whole Squadron of eighteen a/c took part. Six a/c were at 1 hour available for fighternight.

1942-10-23

Weather was sunny, with clouds, and showers. Squadron took part in Formation, and Interception flying and later did some Link Training. Combat films were shown to pilots, who later did dusk flying.

1942-10-25

Weather was sunny with 5/10 cloud. Operational flying. Squadron escorted bombers over France to Le Havre, but were recalled when nearing France, owing to bad weather over target. Afterwards Squadron did formation flying, and later on did night flying from Northolt.

1942-10-26

Weather was cloudy, foggy, and three were showers, plenty of ‘em. In afternoon, one section were at readiness, and at 1600 hrs, one setion scramble, but are recalled after orbiting Base, bad weather being the cause. Sgt. Sznapka has to land at Northolt.

1942-10-27

Weather cloudy in the morning, but cleared in afternoon. F/O Sobolewski lectures on swining the compass. In afternoon, 10 a/c do formation flying, and later 2 a/c test cannons. Signal re: move of Squadron received. Oh! what wonderful things happen to us.

1942-10-28

Weather cloudy with sunshine. Squadron commence to pack up everything. Polish authorities announce Polish F/Lt granded to F/Lt Koc., and Polish f/O to P/O Mach. Cpl/Cdt. Ozieblo arrives from No.2 S of T.T. supernumerary for engineer duties.

1942-10-29

Weather lousy. Moving to Northolt. Amidst the rain and turmoil the Squadron pressed on determinely and all the equipment was at Northolt by late afternoon. We take over 515 old dispersal. A/C flew over in afternoon. Sgt. Mazrukiewicz arrives from 58 O.T.U.

1942-10-30

Weather cloudy, and plenty of rain. Squadron ground crews, and headquarters trying desperatly to organize their respective hide-cuts. Conference held at S.H.Q. in which the Station c.O. tells the Squadron that they will a night fighter Squadron, and says training sylabous should be forthcoming. Squadron may be used for big offensive ops during the day, but not for defensive ops. During full moon period, he states, that squadron will be at night readiness. Pilots create motto: Ours is the night, and beside this we have nothing. This being a title of a Polish largo. In late afternoon, things were becoming settledin.

1942-10-31

Weather was cloudy, but Squadron took part in formation, and low flying. P/O Miazakowski ariived from 164 Squadron.

Squadron Leader, Commanding,
308 Polish Squadron, R.A.F.,
Northolt, Middx.