Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-07-01

Snailwell

15.15. All ranks were drawn up on parade on the airfield to await the arrival of the Polish Air Force Colours made secretly by Polish women in Poland and smuggled by undergrounds service to Britain, and due to be held by the Unit for three months. Colours and escort arrived by air at 1530 hrs and were received with due ceremony. The escort with Colours took up position on the runway, and the Squadron marched past and paid compliments. The colours were then escorted to Squadron Headquarters to be placed in safe custody.
Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along Dutch coast.

1943-07-04

Snailwell

Five shipping Recce. sorties carried out along Dutch coast.
F/Lt. Pietrzyk and F/O Czerni proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.
Air Vice Marshal C.H.K. Edmonds, C.B.E., D.S.O., - A.O.A. Fighter Command, visited the Unit and conferred with S/Ldr Piotrowski, on Squadron organisation.

1943-07-05

Snailwell

F/O Piaskowski / GD / and F/O Sawicki / GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.

1943-07-06

Snailwell

News received of the death of General Sikorski, Polish Prime Minister, in a flying accident on 5.7.43. All ranks were paraded and informed by W/Cdr Piotrowski.
F/O Adamczak / GD / and F/O Strusinski / GD / arrived on posting to Unit from No 41 O.T.U. R.A.F. Hawarden.

1943-07-07

Bristol

750041 Cpl Pearce, W.H. / Equip. Asst. / admitted to C.S.Q. R.A.F. Pucklechurch, suffering from Psoridsis whilst on leave /. Reported dangerously ill in Bristol Royal Infirmary with Cellulitis of scalp.

Snailwell
Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along Dutch coast.

1943-07-08

Snailwell

Orders received from Polish Inspectorate General H.Q. that an official period of two week mourning be observed for the late General Sikorski. All ranks were paraded and informed.

1943-07-10

Snailwell

Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along Dutch coast.

1943-07-13

Snailwell

Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along Dutch coast.

1943-07-14

Snailwell

F/Lt Pietrzyk / GD /, F/O Czerni / GD / and P/O Piaskowski / GD / returned to Unit from R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, on completion of Air Firing Course.
Polish Air Force Colours despatched to London with escort to accompany coffin containing the body of General Sikorski from the Polish Prime Minister’s residence at Kensington to Westminster Cathedral for Laying-in-State period.

1943-07-15

London

Funeral Mass in Westminster Cathedral for the late General Sikorski.
P/O Budzinski and 3 Sergeants from the Unit attended.

Snailwell

Seven shipping Recce. sorties carried out along the Dutch coast.
F/O Strusinski / GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.

1943-07-16

Newark

Funeral of the late General Sikorski at Polish Air Force Cemetery.
W/Cdr. Piotrowski and F/O Sawicki attended from the Unit.

Snailwell

F/O Dadej /GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.
F/O Szygowski / A & SD / posted to R.A.F. Station, Acklington for u/t Flying Control duty.

1943-07-17

Snailwell

F/Lt Niemiec / GD / proceeded to H.Q. Fighter Command, Stanmore, for one day Conference.
F/O Krakowski / GD / proceeded to R.A.F. STATION, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.

1943-07-18

Snailwell

F/O Adamczak / GD / proceeded to No 1530 Flight, R.A.F. Station, Wittering, for B.A.T. course.
P/O Budzinski /GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing course.

1943-07-19

Snailwell

F/Lt Young, Photographic Officer from No 12 Group, Fighter Command, visited the Unit and carried out an inspection of the Photographic Section.

1943-07-20

Snailwell

Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along the Dutch coast.

Bristol

750041 Cpl Pearce, W.H. / Equip. Asst. / taken off both dangerously and seriously ill lists at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

1943-07-22

Snailwell

F/O Befinger / GC / returned to Unit from No. 1 Officers School, Cosford, on completion of No 12 Polish Officers Initial Course.

1943-07-23

Snailwell

Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along the Dutch coast.
F/O Adamczak / GD / returned to Unit from R.A.F. Station, Wittering on completion of B.A.T. course.

Thetford area.

Exercise “Warhorse” with 1st Polish Armoured Division. No aircraft from the Unit took part, owing to operational commitments. F/Lt Szyszko / F/Lt Flying / attended at Divisional H.Q.

1943-07-24

Thetford area.

Exrcise “Warhorse”. 3 aircraft carried out TAC/R/ F/Lt Szyszko / F/Lt Flying / attended at Divisional H.Q.

1943-07-26

Snailwell

Four shipping Recce. sorties carried out along the Dutch coast.

1943-07-28

Battle area of Thetford.

Exercise “Warta” with 1st Polish Armoured Division. 4 aircraft carried out TAC/R. F/Lt Szyszko / F/Lt Flying / attended at Divisional H.Q.

1943-07-29

[Illegible]

Exercise “Warta”. 4 aircraft carried out Art/R during tank attack by 16th Brigade with support of Divisional Artillery.

Snailwell

Ten shipping Recce. sorties carried out along the Dutch coast.
Exercise “Warta”. 6 Hurricane aircraft, 12 Officers and 29 other ranks of No 318 / P / Squadron, R.A.F. Detling, arrived on attachment to Unit to take part in Exercise.

1943-07-30

Battle area.

Exercise “Warta”. 4 aircraft carried out TAC/R.

1943-07-31

Snailwell

Aircraft and personnel of No 318 /P / Squadron left the Unit on completion of Exercise. Orders received that Squadron would be reduced to a mobile astab. w.e.f. 1.8.43 in accordance with HQ Fighter Command letter FC/57717/DCTO dated 27.7.43.

[Illegible]
WING COMMANDER
Commanding No 309 / P/ / Squadron
R.A.F. Station Snailwell.