Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-05-01

Chailey.

Squadron started this month with an escort to Marauders. Bombers were earlier at rendez-vous and left France 15 minutes before schedule. In the afternoon Squadron took part in operation “Ramrod” as an close escort to 72 U.S.A. Marauders. Target Blanc Mis[c]eron. Bombers circled twice and bombed target on third round. Good results seen.

1944-05-02

In the morning bad weather but in the afternoon cleared up and the squadron took off for Dive Bombing to bomb the viduct near Miaville.

1944-05-03

Owing to bad weather conditions there is nothing to report.

1944-05-04

At 09.10 hrs Squadron took off for “Ramrod” operation as fighter umbrella to 36 U.S.A. Bostons. Target St. Marie –[…]- Au-Dosc. Bombers were late at rendez-vous. Weather: Some high clouds. Two A/C went for Air Sea Rescue.

1944-05-05

To-days operation with Beaufighters to Cherbourg was cancelled and therefore no flying.
F/O Kotlarz and F/O Marecki were posted to No. 84 G.S.U.

1944-05-06

Here was no operational flying. The Squadron took off for training flying only.

1944-05-07

Early in the morning Squadron took off to Manston where from at 08.40 went for a close escort to 72 Marauders. No enemy aircraft seen. [Lat.] afternoon at 19.40 squadron went for Dive Bombing Z.3123. Bombs were seen in W. and N.W. part of target.

1944-05-08

Squadron took par in operation “Ramrod” as target cover to 72 Marauders. After 1.15 minutes squadron was recalled. One A/C took off for Air Sea Rescue. In the afternoon went for a fighter cover to Marauders which bombed railway junctions in France.

1944-05-09

At 09.45 squadron took off for “Ramrod” operation as an escort to 24 Mitchells, which bombed Vallencies in France. Results of bombing good. Many bombs were seen in the target. Flak at Solesmes. Pilots of our Squadron spotted big vessel 10 miles E. of Dunkirque sealing East. Another in Dunkirque harbour. In the afternoon squadron flew again. This time as an escort to Marauders which had Cherbourg for its target. Met very heavy flak over target. No E/A seen. Two pilots went for Air Sea Rescue.

1944-05-10

Squadron took off to Manston and then to escort to Marauders bombing Tournal marshalling yards. Over Lille met heavy accurate flak. In the afternoon Squadron went to dive bomb railway junction near Aire. Bombs were seen to burst in the target area.

1944-05-11

Again this morning Squadron took off for dive bombing. To-day’s target was Z.3114. Results were very good. No sign of enemy aircraft. At 18.35 Squadron went another dive bombing Target La Longeville. Light inaccurates flak over target.

1944-05-12

In the morning at 08.30 squadron took off for dive bombing railway near Arras. Owing to weather conditions target very hard to find. One bomb seen at station yard nearby others on sidings and railway. In the afternoon again Dive Bombing. Target railway junction near Douais. Met very heavy flak but all aircrafts returned to safely.

1944-05-13

Again dive bombing. Target Z. 3033. One of our aircraft fired at a single gun S. of target. Weather: No clouds at all but haze to 10.000 feet. In the afternoon Squadron took off to dive bomb railway junction. Target not located and squadron bombed viaduct one mile N.W poix.

1944-05-14

Rest day for pilots. No flying at all.

1944-05-15

Ther was no operational flying. Nothing to report.

1944-05-16

Weather poor. Low clouds and rain. In the afternoon there were two training flights.

1944-05-17

Weather still bad. Raining cats and dogs.

1944-05-18

Owing to weather conditions our squadron is grounded.

1944-05-19

Suddelly the weather changed. In the afternoon Squadron took off for Dive Bombing railway junction near Neuhin, Aire. Bombs seen to burst in target.

1944-05-20

At a 09.10 squadron took off to for Dive Bombing. Squadron missed the target and railway station Chaumont was bombed. One direct hit has been observed and the rest on W. side of track. In the afternoon squadron went again for Dive Bombing. Owing to bad visibility Squadron could not located target and bombed railway and read junction at Monteville. Four direct hits observed and four near misses two of which kit gun post. Light inaccurate flak.

1944-05-21

Early in the morning Squadron took off for “Rhubarb” operation. Crossed S.W. of Dieppe the French coast and not intense flak from Totes-Heronchelles area. Flight split into sections One section returned via Le Havre and one pilot of this section attacked a train N.E. of Enclair. Results not seen. A train was attacke N.W. of Lallebone and seen to catch fire. Over Totes-Heronchelles area F/Lt Czarnecki S. hit by flak turned back escorted by his No. 2 .Landed at base Cat. “B”. Five minutes after this F/Lt Kurowski J. received a direct hit pulled up and was hit again. Aircraft exploded in the air. Following this F/Lt Jeka J. reported by R/T that he was kit and wounded. He force-lands S.W of Buchy and was seen to open his cockpit. It was a black day for our Squadron. The same time two A/C went for Air Sea Rescue.

1944-05-22

In the afternoon Squadron took off for Dive Bombing Nobal target in France. Seven bombs were seen in the target area. One bomb N.E of target. Three pilots fired cannons and M.G. at flak position E. of target, Light accuret flak from woods approx. 5.000 yards E. of target.

1944-05-23

Owing to weather conditions there is no flying. Nothing to report.

1944-05-24

Squadron took off at 11.30 to dive bomb railway centre Douais. Squadron attacked southern part of target. One pilot fired cannons and guns at […..] ans carriages in target area. S.W. of target light inaccurate flak. In the afternoon Squadron attacked Z. 3091 from E. to W. diving from 9.000 to 6.000 feet. Five hits in target area, one East and one West of target area. Light inaccurate flak from woods near target.

1944-05-25

At 10.25 Squadron took off to bomb marshalling yards at Amiens. Diving from 9.000 to 4.000 feet. Good results seen. No enemy aircraft met. One pilot fired cannons and guns at shed in target area.

1944-05-26

No flying at all due to poor weather. Raining all day.

1944-05-27

To-day’s operation is close escort to 18 Mitchells bombing Crail airfield. Operation according to plan. Heavy and light inaccuret flak from single guns.
In the afternoon squadron took off for Dive Bombing railway junction in France. Five seen in target area., two bombs out of target.

1944-05-28

At 09.10 squadron took off to destroy railway embarkment at Ceastre. Squadron attacked from N.E. to S.W. diving from 8.000 to 4.000 feet. Two hits on embarkment. Four bombs in railroad crossing approx 500 yards N. of embarkment. In the afternoon our target was the destruction of constructional works at Maison Fontbleu III. Four bombs were seen to burst in target area three west of target. At Abbeville heavy accurate flak.

1944-05-29

Dive bombing again. At 09.30 squadron took off with 500 pounders to destroy the constructional works at Grenflos. Squadron attacked from 9.000 to 4.400 feet from S.W. to N.E. Seven bombs were seen to burst in the target area. In the afternoon squadron’s target was Ailly-Le-Haut-Clocher. Squadron dived from 8.000 to 4.000 feet and 6500 pounders were seen to burst in the target area.

1944-05-30

The weather is very poor. Pilots are taking rest. No flying at all.

1944-05-31

Weather still bad. There was no flying eccept few aircrafts tests.

[Illegible]
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
308 Polish Squadron. R.A.F.