Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-09-02

Snailwell

F/Lt Lewkowicz / GD /, F/Lt Sokolowski / GD / and F/O Befinger / GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.

1943-09-03

Snailwell

4 Shipping Recce. Sorties carried out along Dutch coast. 6 aircraft took off at 0920 hrs. in three sections, one section / F/Lt Pisulinski and F/O Kaminski / detailed to land at Coltishall airfield to stand-by as “Check-patrol”. Soon after take-off, one section / F/O Strusinski and F/O Miniszewski / on Recce. returned to base owing to under carriage of aircraft AG.648 E / F/O Miniszewski / failing to retract. After change of aircraft this section proceeded to Coltishall at 10.20 hrs. and took over “Check-patrol” in place of section originally detailed and which had been ordered to take over Shipping Recce. Stand by “Check-patrol” released at 1400 hrs.

1943-09-04

Snailwell

Sixty Polish Army Officers from No 3 Polish Armoured Regiment visited the Unit for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the organisation and aircraft in the Squadron. Visit terminated at 1700 hrs.

1943-09-05

Snailwell

4 Shipping Recce. Sorties carried out along Dutch coast.
F/O Perzanowski / Sigs / proceeded to No 122 Airfield H.Q. Gatton park, Reigate, for 6 days to gain knowledge of Signals organisation as carried out under Field conditions.

1943-09-06

Snailwell

6 Shipping Recce. Sorties carried out along Dutch coast. 2 being unsuccessful. F/O Adamczak in aircraft AG.561 K struck some trees and damaged his right wing on coming in to land at Snailwell from North Coates where he had landed for interrogation. The pilot was unhurt. No Court of Inquiry held.
F/Lt Lewandowski / GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.

1943-09-07

Snailwell

Station “Gas Exercise” with real Mustard Gas commenced 0930 hrs., and “Alarm” and “Attack Alarm” given over Tannoy. Personnel took full gas precautions. Two small mines were exploded on the hard standing about 50 yds. from the Squadron H.Q. Offices. “Raiders Passed” given out on Tannoy at 1007 hrs. and Squadron Reconnaissance Parties commenced to reconnoitre their sectors / Nos. 4b, 6, 7 and 8 /. Contamination found in No. 6 Sector and “Gas Alarm” sounded by rattles at 1020 hrs. All Sectors except No. 6 declared clear of gas at 1100 hrs. No 6 Sector was still slightly contaminated and area was marked with “Gas signs”. The Exercise terminated at 1105 hrs.

1943-09-08

Snailwell

4 Shipping Recce. Sorties carried out along Dutch coast.

1943-09-09

Snailwell

F/Lt Lewkowicz / GD / and F/Lt Lewandowski / GD / returned from R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, on completion of Air Firing Course.

1943-09-10

Snailwell

F/O Befinger / GD / returned from R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, on completion of Air Firing Course.

1943-09-11

Snailwell

F/Lt Sokolowski / GD / returned from R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, on completion of Air Firing Course.

1943-09-13

Thetford Area
“Sheet 76-1” 211

Exercise “Link” in which British, Canadian, Polish, Dutch and Belgian troops took part. The principal object of the Exercise being to find out how efficiently Allied contingents could work under British Command through the medium of British Liaison Staffs. 309 / P / Squadron was under the command of “Link” Recce. Wing.

Snailwell

Exercise “Link”. 2 aircraft ordered to Stand by at full readiness and 4 aircraft at 1 hr. call. No sorties carried out.

1943-09-14

Thetford Area.

Exercise “Link” 12 sorties carried out / 9 Tac/R, 1 Photo/R and 2 Low level attacks/.

Snailwell

F/Lt Morawiak arrived from Air Ministry / S.M. 10 / to carry out inspection of the Unit Armament Section.
S/Ldr Tillman, Senior Engineer Officer, No 12 Group, visited the Unit and discussed Unit technical matters with W/Cdr Piotrowski.
F/O Mierzynski / Tech/s //, F/O Perzanowski / Tech/s//, and P/O Przysiecki / Tech / posted to No 3118 / Polish / Servicing Echelon, R.A.F. Station, Snailwell.
S/Ldr Piotrowski / GD / proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, for Air Firing Course.

1943-09-15

Thetford Area.

Exercise “Link”. 11 sorties carried out / 6 Tac/R, 3 Photo/R and 2 Low level attacks /.

1943-09-16

Thetford Area.

Exercise “Link”. 10 sorties carried out / 2 Tac/R, 4 Photo/R and 4 Low level attacks /.

Snailwell

F/Lt Czech, Polish Security Officer from R.A.F. Station, Northolt, visited the Unit and discussed matters of security with W/Cdr Piotrowski and Major Kurczewski / Unit Intelligence Officer /.
F/O Sawicki / GD / returned to Unit from R.A.F. Station, Cosford, on completion of No 14 Polish Officers Initial Course.

1943-09-17

Thetford Area.

Exercise “Link”. 19 sorties carried out / 11 Tac/R, and 8 Low level attacks /.

Snailwell

F/O Jacewicz / EQ / proceeded on posting to R.A.F. Station, Predannack.

1943-09-18

Thetford Area.

Exercise “Link” No sorties carried out.

Snailwell

Squadron was visited by Major General Boruta-Spiechowicz, Polish Corps Commander, who inspected unit aircraft and also Dakota aircraft employed on supply dropping during the Exercise.
09.15. All pilots assembled in the A.L. Section Lecture Room and were addressed by General Boruta-Spiechowicz.
Air co-operation during the exercise was considered to have been satisfactory notwithstanding the differences in language of the personnel taking part. Exercise terminated at 10.30 hrs.

1943-09-20

Snailwell

Orders received from H.Q. No 12 Group that an intensive programme of Fighter Training be carried out by the Unit during the next two weeks. Fighter training commenced.

1943-09-21

Snailwell

Fighter training carried out.
P/O Adamczak / GD / Granted Permanent War Rank of Flying Officer W.E.F. 3.6.43.
250 Polish airmen and 5 British airmen posted from Unit to form 3118 / Polish / Servicing Echelon, at R.A.F. Station, Snailwell.

1943-09-22

Snailwell

Fighter Training carried out.
F/Lt Morawiak left the Unit having completed Armament Inspection including tests of Signal Dischargers and inspection of modifications to .05 Browning Gun installation.
S/Ldr Piotrowski / GD / returned to Unit from R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, on completion of Air Firing Course.
W/Cdr Piotrowski proceeded to Fighter Command to discuss organisation of Squadron and Echelon.

1943-09-23

Snailwell

P/O Kaminski / GD / Granted Permanent War Rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 1.7.43.
Fighter training carried out.

1943-09-24

Snailwell

P/O Rogowski / A & SD / Granted Permanent War Rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 12.7.43.
Fighter Training carried out.

1943-09-25

Snailwell

Fighter Training carried out.

1943-09-26

Snailwell

F/Lt Barlow, Squadron Education Officer, proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Cardington, for two days to attend at Air Crew Selection Board interviews in order to obtain knowledge of methods of selection and standards required of candidates.

1943-09-27

Snailwell

Fighter Training carried out.

1943-09-28

Snailwell

No Fighter Training carried out - weather unsuitable.

1943-09-29

Snailwell

Fighter Training carried out.

1943-09-30

Snailwell

F/O Gnys / GD / Granted Permanent Work Rank of Flight Lieutenant w.e.f. 1.3.43.
No Fighter Training carried out - weather unsuitable.

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