Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-02-01

R.A.F. Station Northolt

Two new pilots were posted to the Squadron from 61 O.T.U. ( P/O Chojnacki W. and Sgt Soszynski Z. ) No flying for the two days as the weather kept us on the ground.

1944-02-03

Squadron did one sweep this morning as the Fighter Umbrella for Marauders. In Bothum a Bologne area. Huns didn’t show themselvesand Squadron came back without incident.

1944-02-04

We flew to-day as the withdraval support to Fortresses. Strong wind unabled the Fortresses to come on the R/V at time. ( 145 m.p.h. ) and so squadron took off half an hour later and flew through heavy clouds up to 19.000 feet to patrole the area north of Dunquerque No enemy A/C were seen. F/Sgt Korwel W. came back from Manston because of failure of his drop tank.

1944-02-05

Uneventfully Fighter Umbrella was given to Marauders as they attacked ground targets in Berck-St.Pol areas. Weather condition good.

1944-02-06

To-day we had very poor weather and so there was no flying at all. The pilots had a lecture in Intelligence Room.

1944-02-07

There was no,operational flying because of poor weather condition but Squadron flew on the exercise with the Army. On the way we have got rain and clouds below 500 feet which forced us to turn back.

1944-02-08

To-day is a good day for operation. We did two Ramrods. First as a Fighter Umbrella to Marauders. Squadron took off in the morning and patrolled St.Omer-St.Pol-Helsin area. West of St. Omer Squadron experienced slight but very accurate flak and one Spitfire was slightly damaged. In the afternoon Squadron ttook off again. This time as an Escort Cover for 54 Marauders which were on the mission to attack Cambrair aerodrome but no enemy opposition was met and Squadron returned to base without incidents.

1944-02-9

Squadron made an operation flight. Duty was a top cover to Marauders. We took the second box of bombers as they flew without any cover. Bombers flew over target but as the clouds were very heavy, did not drop bombs. Instead they plastered an unidentified aereodrome on the way back. Operation warned us about some E/A but they were not seen by the pilots. In the afternoon we made another operational flight. This time it was a Fighter Sweep. We patrolled Lille area at 21.000 feet. The air was free of huns. In St.Omer area we have got some very accurate though slight flak, firing at us through clouds. The same day we gave two pilots for Air Sea Reascue.

1944-02-10

We had again an operational flight in the morning. Duty was Fighter Umbrella for Marauders. Squadron patrolled Amiens area at 16.000 feet. There were no huns flying. Two,pilots landed safely on the coastal aerodromes short of petrol.

1944-02-11

Squadron took off at the noon for Fighter Sweep. We patrolled uneventfully 24 – 26.000 feet esst of Amiens. Directed by OPS to a group of unidentified A/C we met a formation of Thunderbolts. Visibility was good. Clouds 7/10 at 3 – 7.000 feet. To-day P/O Tomczyk our Adjutant is posted to 133 Airfield H.Q. and so we are left to do the duty of adjutant ourselves.

1944-02-12

To-day the weather for operational flying is unserviceable. And so, there was only some formation flying with new pilots who came lately to Squadron.

1944-02-13

Rain and clouds. At last all sweethearts around Northolt are happy.

1944-02-14

Weather not too good again but Squadron is hoping to be in the air soon. F/L Glowacki A. is trying to break a record and flies 7 times on aircraft test. S/Ldr Zulikowski is off to Hutton Cranswick as well as F/L Mierzejewski J. though [Illegible] is other one on much simpler A/C.-Tiger Moth. We hope he will be quite warm and happy. Officers Mess received two more faces to feed. Besides they came to fly with our Squadron. They are P/O Link W. and P/O Trnobranski M.

1944-02-15

After few days interval we are going up again as a close escort to Bostons. Cherbourg made again a very nice impression on us, but we didn’t like the flak which was accurate and heavy. Only two hours for preparation and we are going off to Hutton Cranswick for Co-operation with the Army. There will be again dull and grey days and cold nights away from Northolt.

1944-02-16

To-day we made a propaganda flight(“Eagle Exercises” and ground R.T.T.)of 40 minutes. Anyway even 40 minutes in warm place is a good idea ……

1944-02-17

All day miserable, cold and without flying. We hope to be used sometimes during this exercises.

1944-02-18

Eagle Exercises for 30 minutes. That’s all for to-day.

1944-02-19

Day is getting brighter as we are twice in the air. It’s an Eagle Exercise again. F/L Glowacki became inpatients and after he lost three days of his leave he found an A/C which have to go for major inspection. And so Northolt welcomes him with low clouds and rain.

1944-02-20

It is a busy day since early in the morning There are two flights with the Army (Eagle Exercises) and then we are off again to Northolt and to life.

1944-02-21

The life starts from the morning. We are up to Bradwell Bay and from there as a high cover with Marauders. Object Gilse Rijen in Holland. Huns have forgotten us and guns are probably on inspection too.

1944-02-22

We are getting used to Bradwell Bay. We are there the second time in two days. This time it is supposed to be a withdraval cover for Fortresses. The weather must be very angry with us. The snow storm keeps us waiting for 30 minutes. We never seen such [illegible] amount in England at a time. At last we are up. After flight through heavy clouds and snow we met the bombers near Chent. West of this place two FW 190’s attacked the bombers but were chased away. One of them was seen spinning down, probably hit by a Fortress. One damaged Fortress ditched in the sea and was covered by our Spitfires until help arrived. Two pilots landed safely in Southend, because they lost Squadron in the clouds. , andcould’t get Northolt having snow storm on the way. After one year they changed us Flight Commanders. F/L Glowacki A. is posted R.A.F. Station Northolt and his place we have got F/L Retinger W. the old pilot of this Squadron.

1944-02-23

W/O Trybulec H. and F/S Mitura came back from Southend aft er the weather cleaned up a bit.

1944-02-24

Soon we won’t sleep at all. Squadron took off after 7 o’clock for Coltishall. From Coltshalllflew as escort cover for Marauders which attacked Leuwarden in Holland. Very accurate bombing was observed. Four big fires started but still no huns in the air. In the afternoon we did another close escort with Marouders . Bombs were seen to burst in the target aera. There wos no enemy opposition. Visibility wos good, weatherfair.

1944-02-25

To day we did two operational flights. First as an escort cover to marouders, whichebombed St. Tront with good resolts; second, as the withdraval cover support to bombers. Oneither occasion there was noflak and no huns in the air. The same day we sent two sections on Air Sea Rescue duty.

1944-02-26

The weather unabled us to fly. There were low clouds and rain all day long.

1944-02-27

Three pilots who were at Kenley since last operation on 25.2.44.,gotsuitable weather and came back to base. Besides there was no operational flying.

1944-02-28

Duty, a fighter sweep, was carriet out uneventfully. No E/A was seen and no flak experienced.

1944-02-29

No flying in the morninr. In the afternoon we escorted as a high cover,marouders. Target was unvisible, as the clouds were vere very heavy and no bombs were seen to be dropped. Neverthelles hevy flak was experienced firing through clouds. During the patrol we met some thunderbolts. Besides , there wos no enemy aircrafts and flak, though very accurate, wos not heavy. The weatrer at 16.000ft. wos good, but there were low clouds up to 10,000ft.

Zulikowski S/L
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
308 Polish Squadron, R.A.F.,
NORTHOLT, MIDDX.