Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-06-01

Chailey.

Bad weather condition. Squadron is released for to-day.

1944-06-02

Squadron took off for Ramrod 960. Followed route according to plan. At Grandcamp 20 boats were seen in harbour. At Carentan 7 heavy lorries moving North. Met light intense flak. Two A/C went for Air Sea Rescue. Patrolled near Selsey Bill.

1944-06-03

In the afternoon Squadron took off for Armed Reconnaissance, sweep road Dreux – Nomancourt – Argentan. Elbeuf station three goods train stationary – three lorries leaving Evreux moving South. Five miles West of Dreux four lorries moving East. Six lorries leaving Gace moving North. Cabourg harbour approx fifteen small boats. Le Havre harbour approx fifty – sixty barges. Five miles south of Fugles light inaccurate moderate. Four A/C took off for training dusk flying.

1944-06-04

Except 1 A/C test there was no flying.

1944-06-05

No flying in the morning. In the afternoon Squadron took off for convoy protection between Salsey Bill and Isle of Wight.

1944-06-06

The day for which milions of starving Europe have been waiting came at last. The invasion of Europe began. In the early morning at 03.30 we were called to readiness and at 05,30 Squadron took off to protect the invasion ships and barges which disembarked the invasion troops and supplies. We met heavy and light inaccurate flak from shore. Own trrops landing on beaches Utah at 07.00 hours approx ½ mile inland. Short after returning again our Squadron took off for another Neptune Low Cover Western Area. Operation uneventful. Troops still landing on beaches. In the afternoon Squadron patrolled again over the landing beaches. Intensive opposition reported from Omaha beach, which was partly obscured by smoke from burning tanks. Artilery firing at troops on beach and convoy halted 500 yards off shore. Three heavy explosion seen by Squadron at T.5087. Two of our heavy warships firing at O.3708. In the late afternoon another patroling over Western Area. Operation uneventful. No E/A seen. Landing and disembarking in good progress.

1944-06-07

At 05.30 Squadron took off for same operations. Respective points patrolled uneventfully. Four Dacota’s seen in Drink off peninsula – Two dinghies. Four ballons flying from Omaha beach. Inaccurate light [mee]gre from 030 area. Next operation for this day is again covering the landing of the troops. We are disappointed for not seeing any E/A. Weather and visibility not so good. The third operation of to-day is again Neptune Low Cower Western area. Twelve A/C took off at 14.40 and returned to base at 17.00 without incident. The Squadron finished the day’s work with another Neptune. Weather and visibility not to good.

1944-06-08

Again the Squadron took off at 05.30. On the way and over the target area clouds 10/10. No enemy opposition. The next Squadron’s patrol is uneventful. Disembarkation in goog progress. Explosion seen in area O.4301. Port on Beassin is crowded with our own vessels. In the afternoon Squadron took off for Neptune and owing to bad weather condition landed at Tangmere. In the late afternoon returned to base.

1944-06-09

Squadron took off at 05.25 but the weather abandoned the operation after 30 minutes. All day raining. No flying. P/O Witrylak posted from Polish Air Force Depot, Blackpool for Adjutant duties.

1944-06-10

Chailey.

Squadron took off 05.25 and patrolled respective beaches uneventfully.
The second operation of to-day was again Neptune Low Cover. Red, white and Blue parachutes seen all over Utach beach and 10 miles inland. On road T.3494 column of our infantry moving S.W. front troops reaching T.3192.
At 14.30 Squadron took off for the third time. After 50 minutes patrolling all A/C returned to base without any incident.
The last operation of to-day was a two hours patrol over the landings beaches. Operation uneventful.

1944-06-11

There was only one operation to-day. Squadron took off and returned without incident to base. One unidentified A/C seen flying in St. Lo area from N.W. to S.E. too far away o intercept. Naval and Shore artylerie bombarding S.W of Caen.

1944-06-12

At 05.25 Squadron took off for Neptune Low Cover over Western Area. Fire seen over Valognes, Carentan and Ivigny. Concentration of tanks approx fifty at T.5782.
Squadron took off at 14.35 and patrolled Western Area uneventfully. Light inaccurete S. of Caen. Returned to base at 16.55 without incident.
The last operation for to-day is again Patrol over Western Area. Squadron returned without seeing any enemy aircraft.

1944-06-13

Squadron took off at 18.00 hours for Sweep EVREUX – CHARTES – ARGENTAN. The sweep ended uneventfully and the Squadron landed at 19.55 in France.
At 21.30 Squadron took off for Sweep FALAISE – LISIEUX – FOLLEVILLE. Over Caen heavy accurate moderate flak. Lisieux – Folleville light accurate moderate flak.

1944-06-14

Squadron took off at 07.05. Patrolled uneventfully. No E/A seen and landed at 09.25.
For the next trip Squadron took off at 17.10 and patrolled uneventfully.
At 2155 hours Squadron took off for Ramrod 1000. Close Escort to 220 Lancasters bombing port area Le Havre. Operation according to plan, 1 Lancaster seen shot down. Heavy and light accurate flak. Results very good.

1944-06-15

For the first operation for to-day Squadron took off at 07.10 and patrolled uneventfully. At corner of wood at T.380835 position of mortars firing intensely at our position. Observation time 08.35. Height 5.000 feet.
In the afternoon Squadron took off at 17.10 hours for Neptune Low Cover Assault Area. Patrolled uneventfully.
At 22.05 Squadron took off for target cover to Ramrod 1007 – Boulogne. Patrolled target area uneventfully. Bombs were seen bursting in harbour area causing extensive fires, but many bombs exploding in the sea. Heavy intebs fairly accurate flak. During the landing Air Raid Warning has been sounded. First pilotless aircraft over England have been observed.
P/O Stanski posted from Polish Air Force Depot, Blackpool after few months rest.

1944-06-16

Squadron took off at 12.30 and patrolled uneventfully. Landed at 14.15. No E/A seen.
At 15.55 Squadron took off for Neptune Low Cover Assault Area. Patrol uneventful. Large fire in wood at U.1671. Fierce panzer battle W.N.W. of Caen. U.1272 light inaccurate meagre flak.
In the late afternoon at 20.50 Squadron took off for the third operation for to-day. Patrolled Assault Area uneventful. Caen light inaccurate meagre.

1944-06-17

Chailey.

Squadron took off for Neptune Low Cover Assault Area. Patrolled Assault Area uneventfully. One Spitfire of our Squadron forced landed on N & R Strip.
Second Patrol of to-day again uneventfully. Fire seen St. Lessey.

1944-06-18

Squadron took off for Neptune Low Cover Assault Area and Shipping Cover. Returned to base without incident. No E/A seen.
To-day’s second operation ended uneventful.

1944-06-19

Bad weather condition over France. No operational flying except two A/C tests.

1944-06-20

Squadron took off and patrolled Assault Area uneventfuly.
In the afternoon Squadron patrolled over Eastern and Western Area uneventfully. F/Lt Mach posted to 61 O.T.U.

1944-06-21

In the afternoon at 18.55 Squadron took off for Ramrod 1030. Cover to Lancasters bombing Z.3048 Heavy accurete intense flak to bombers.

1944-06-22

First operation of to-day was target and withdrawal cover to 100 Halifaxes bombing Z.2069. Heavy intense accurete flak on the way to target.
Second operation Escort of two Mustangs of Photo Reconnaissance Beauvais.

1944-06-23

To-day Squadron took off for two operations. Assault Raea Low Cover and Shipping Cover William. No enemy aircraft seen. Weather poor. Visibility 10 miles.

1944-06-24

Squadron took off at 11.00 hours and patrolled West and William uneventfully. Weather still poor. Clouds 3 – 3.500 feet.
At 16.00 Squadron took off for Ramrod 1037 as Cover to 200 Halifaxes. Operation uneventful.

1944-06-25

Squadron was only once on operation to-day. At 07.30 Squadron took off for Assault Area Low Cover and Shipping Cover William. Operation uneventful.

1944-06-26

There nothing to report owing to bad weather condition. All day raining. Clouds 500 – 1.000 feet.

1944-06-27

To-day Squadron made three operations. In the morning at 07.00 hours Squadron took off and patrolled Western and William Areas uneventfully.
Second and third operation ended uneventfully.

1944-06-28

A.L.G. Appledrum

In a very poor weather and raining Squadron took off for A.L.G. Appledrum, to operate from this new aerodrome.

1944-06-29

First operation from a new place ended uneventfully.
For the second operation Squadron took off at 16.30 for Patrol Assault Area Cover Eastern and Shipping Cover William. Squadron met over Caen heavy fairly accurete flak. Heavy tank battle going to North of Evrecy. Own tank crossing Caen A/F to S.E.

1944-06-30

At 13.25 Squadron took off for first operation of to-day for partol Assault Area Cover and Shipping Cover William. In this operation Squadron observed enemy battery in wood at U.042690. No enemy A/C seen. Weather not too good. Clouds 2 – 3.000 feet.
Second operation of to-day Low Cover Shipping and Assault Areas. West of Caen partly obscured by dust and smoke from bombing Enemy firing rockets from N. of Caen. Squadron saw at two miles of B.10 twelve burts medium flak fired at 8 Lightnings flying at 4.000 feet.

[Illegible] S/L
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
308 Polish Fighter Squadron,
ROYAL AIR FORCE.