Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-09-01

B-10 France.

An armed recce patrol was carried out by the Squadron at 09.00 hrs. 1 MET was destroyed 2 damaged, and one horse-drawn vehicle damaged as a result.
The squadron takes off again at 13.25 hrs. for armed recce in the St. Omer-Abbeville area. One MET is claimed as damaged on this operation.
One more operation flown in the afternoon, armed recce again. A numer of vehicles was spotted, four of which are claimed as flames, two probably destroyed and one damaged.
Very intense flak was encountered on this operation.

1944-09-02

Bad weather prevented all operational today.

1944-09-03

The squadron took off for a Fighter Sweep in the Brussels-Antwerp area. Visibility very poor and layers of cloud encountered at various heights. Intense anti-aircraft fire encountered near Gravelness. The Squadron landed at Manston, and at dusk took off again for B-10 where it returned without incident.

1944-09-04

One uneventful Fighter Sweep was carried out by the Squadron composed of 12 a/c in the Lille-St. Omer area. No other operations today due to bad weather.

1944-09-06

B-31 France.

The squadron moved from B-10 to B-31, from where 8 a/c took off to attack gun positions near Boulogne. This operation was successfully carried out from low level and in face of heavy and effective fire from groun defences. A congratulatory message received from Army H.Q. in connection with this operation. Two a/c were damaged by flak.
8 more a/c took off in the afternoon for armed recce in the Bruges area. Nothing worth while was seen.

1944-09-10

After three days of non-operational weather, the squadron takes off on anti-shipping patrol. Four large transport vessels carrying troops at Westershelde were successfully attacked in spite of heavy flak. In the afternoon the squadron moves from B-31 to B-56 at Lesquin-Lille. As soon as the a/c are re-fulled, the squadron takes off to attack barges and boats at Terneuzen harbour. The attack was carried out according to plan in the aface of strong flak. F/Lt was shot down on this operation.
One more anti-shipping operation was carried out today, on which 8 transports at Westerschelde were shot up with cannon and machine guns. Very intense flak was again encountered.

1944-09-11

Five transports entering the port of Slushing were attacked by the Squadron, one of which was left in flames and the others damaged. Flak very intense.
On second operation of the day, 8 a/c take off for anti-shipping and armed recce. in the South Beveland area. Enemy vessels were attacked with cannon and m/G fire as well as four vehicles. The result was unobserved due to very intense flak. F/O Mazurkiewicz was shot down on this operation.
One more armed recce operation carried out in the faternoon. Nothing worth while was seen in the Eindhoven-Hertegenbosch area, and the squadron landed at 18.55 hours.

1944-09-12

B-56, France.

Armed Recce carried out by 8 a/c in the morning in the Tilburg-Breda-Steenbergen area. Several barges as Middelharins were attacked with unobserved results.
Eight a/c take off at 17.50 hours fro armed recce patrol. A number of ambulances were seen near Bresknes, as well as one lorry which was attacked and left in flamess.

1944-09-13

Eight machines were detailed to attack enemy H.Q. near Dunkirk. The target was attacked with cannon and m/g fire, one of the buildings was left in flames.

1944-09-14

The Squadron takes off for armed recce and is detailed to attack enemy positions at Dunkirk. The mission was carried out according to plan. No further flights today.

1944-09-16

After a day of bad weather, the Squadron is sent out to attack a battery of heavy guns in the Dunkirk area. The target was dive bombed with excellent results and later strafed. Meagre flak encountered.
Nine machines take off on second mission of the day: dive bombing Enemy H.Q. in the Dunkirk area. Many bursts were observed in the Target Area, which was later attacked by cannon and m/g fire. A body of 100 enemy troops were spotted and successfully attacked as well. Intense flak from Dunkirk.
Nine further machines are detailed to dive-bomb gun positions in the vicinity of Boulogne in the afternoon. Direct hits observed in the Target Area. Very intense flak encountered.

1944-09-17

Armed recce carried out in the Roosendal-Dordrecht area. Nothing worth attacking was encountered because of very poor visibility.

1944-09-20

After two days of non-operational weather, the Squadron was detailed to dive-bomb an ammo dump in the Dunkirk area. The bombs were dropped as planned but results were unobserved owing to very low clouds.
The Squadron takes off again at 17.00 hours for armed recce in the Rotterdam-Hague Area. Nothing was encountered and the Squadron landed at base without incident.

1944-09-23

Twelve machines attacked Field artillery position north of Antwerp with bombs and cannon and m/g fire. Many hits were observed in the target area. Intense but inaccurate flak encountered.

1944-09-25

One mission flown today, owing to poor weather, patrol in the area of North Holland. Poor visibility made this operation quite uneventful.

1944-09-26

Armed recce patrol carried out over Holland. One vehicle with trailer claimed damaged in face of light and inaccurate flak.
Later on in the day the Squadron escorted Mitchell and Boston bombers over Cleve. Very intense heavy flak.

1944-09-27

B-56, France.

The Squadron provided escort for Medium American Bombers bombing the town of Goch, Germany. Results of bombing unobserved, owing to clouds. Fairly heavy fire to bombers.
In the afternoon the Squadron took off on Fighter Sweep in the Arnhem region. Nothing was encountered beside accurate flak near Tilburg.

1944-09-28

A fighter sweep was carried out before noon during which jet propelled enemy fighters were seen in the Arnhem region, but no contact was made.
Ten machines take off at 14.00 hrs for armed recce over Holland. No suitable target was seen. Flak intense and accurate.
The last mission on the day proved very successful. The Squadron was detailed to attack enemy barges and possible motor transport encountered on roads. As a result, 4 barges were set on fire, 4 damaged by bombs, two vehicles destroyed, two probables and two further damaged. Slight flak encountered.

1944-09-29

The Squadron is detailed to attack barges in the Raamdonkrecht area. This mission was successfully carried out and the barges attacked with bombs and cannon and m/g fire. Motor transport was also seen and attacked. The following claims are being made: 2 barges destroyed, two hit with bombs, 2 vehicles set on fire.

1944-09-30

No operational flying due to bad weather.

[Illegible], S/Ldr.
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
308 Polish Fighter Squadron,
Royal Air Force.