Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-08-01

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
Received copy of signal from H.Q. A.D.G.B. to Air Ministry Dept. Z.A. requesting that department to arrange additional maintenance equipment to Drem as 309 Squadron re-arming from Hurricane IIC to Spitfire IX LF.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-02

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
F/O. CZERNI (GD) proceeded to Central Gunnery School R.A.F. Station Catfoss for No. 52 P.G.I. Course.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-03

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
Exercise:- Arty / R. with Artillery (Field) Regiment of CZECHO-SLOVAKIAN Independent Brigade Task:- Ranging and neutralization. One Battery 25 pdr. In area 7 ½ miles South of GERVALD Map Sheet 75 Scot. 1” to mile. (No proper VHF/HV tender and operators were available but improvised sets A.T.R. 1143 and a No. 19 were provided by R.A.F. Drem and installed in a White Scout car.

14.00.
Shooting:- Shoot directed by F/L. ANTOLAK. 1st Target – Ranging and neutralization carried out in 10 mins. 2nd Target – Ranging and neutralization carried out in 7 mins. 3rd Target - Ranging and neutralization carried out in 8 mins.

15.00.
Shoot directed by F/L. BARANSKI. 4th Target – Ranging carried out in 11 mins. (neutralization not carried out for safety reasons). 5th Target – Ranging & neutralization carried out in 13 mins. 6th Target - Ranging & neutralization carried out in 7 mins.

16.00.
Arty / R. had to cease owing to failure of ground VHF set. Weather was fair and visibility good. Opinion of COL. MAREK Officer Commanding Artillery Regiment who attended:- An excellent shoot, demonstrating the splendid co-operation between the Army and R.A.F. CPT. VALENTA and CPT. BUKOWSKI of the CZECH Army were attached to the Unit from 1st to 4th August for the purpose of the Exercise.

22.30.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.
P/O. CHUDZINSKI (GD) proceeded to R.A.F. Station Acklington for duty with “B” Flight.
Photography:- O.L.O. of Perth area completed for Polish Staff College.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-04

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
15.00.
Exercise:- Arty / R. with CZECH Regiment. Shoot directed by F/O. BEFINGER.
7 th Target – Ranging & neutralization carried out in 30 mins. (delay was on account of pilot having to repeat ranging shots on three occasions and finally having to call for smoke, as H.E. bursts not visible owing to ground haze. 8th Target – Ranging & neutralization carried out in 14 mins. Another shoot was started but pilot was recalled to base at 16.10 hrs. on account of bad weather developing and Exercise concluded.
F/O. CZERNI (GD) returned to unit from Central Gunnery School. Course not commenced owing to his lack of Spitfire experience.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.
Bad weather prevented flying.

1944-08-05

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
S/L. GOLKO (GD) proceeded to attachment to H.Q. 35 Recce. Wing Odiham. F/L. LEWANDOWSKI (GD) assumed temporary command of the Squadron.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.
Bad weather prevented flying.

1944-08-06

[DR]EM

One section at immediate and one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
Bad weather restricted flying to 1 sortie of 15 mins.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-07

[DR]EM

One section at immediate and one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
F/L. SZYSZKO (GD) proceeded to Rolls Royce School Derby for 5 days Merlin Engine Handling Course.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-08

[DR]EM

One section at immediate and one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-09

[DR]EM

One section at immediate and one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

22.15.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.
Photography:- V.L.O. of Moffat area completed from 46 Group R.A.F.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate, one at 15 mins. & one at 30 mins readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-10

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

22.50.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.
CAPT. SZELOCH (A.L.O.) admitted to Paderewski Hospital Edinburgh.
Photography:- V.P.P. and Stereo Pairs of Edinburgh area completed for Staff Camouflage Officer Scottish Command.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-11

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

22.05.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.
Photography:- O.L.O. of Dalkieth district completed for Polish Senior Staff Course Mussleburgh

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-12

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

09.45.
Two Hurricane IIC ordered to take off to guide friendly aircraft to base. F/L. ANTOLAK in LF. 658 and F/O. CZERNI in LF. 634 took off and flew above the clouds at 14,000 ft. The friendly aircraft a Liberator was seen flying at 12,000 ft. – the pilots came down to this level and flew in formation with the Liberator but in spite of all their indications it would not deviate from its course. Pilots finally reported this to Sector and were recalled, landing at Base at 10.55 hrs. Visibility was excellent above the clouds.

22.00.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-13

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

21.25.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-14

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

21.45.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
F/L. GALLER (GD) proceeded to Rolls Royce School Derby for 5 days Merlin Engine Handling Course.

1944-08-15

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-16

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
Exercise – Arty / R. with D Battery 3rd R.A. Reserve Regt. Firing took place on OTTERBURN RANGE, four pilots of “B” Flight and two of ‘A Flight taking part. For the purpose of the exercise each pilot was given two targets and for neutralizing purposes it was assumed that a Regt. Was firing, so pilots had to deal with two methods of giving corrections. Six sorties were carried out and all targets were dealt with satisfactorily except the last when the pilot reported that he could not locate it. MAJOR SMALLWOOD (G2(Air) 12 Group R.A.F. was present on the Otterburn Range.

1944-08-17

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
By arrangements between Controllers of Turnhouse and Newcastle Sectors 7 aircraft of ‘A” Flight and 4 aircraft of “B” Flight Acklington carried out Squadron Formation flying practice in the vicinity of Drem.

21.45.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-18

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

21.45.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-19

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

96.20.
Air Sea Rescue – one section took off.

21.20.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-20

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

21.15.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-21

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
By arrangements between Controllers of Turnhouse & Newcastle Sectors 6 aircraft of “A” Flight and 6 aircraft of ‘A” Flight Acklington carried out Squadron Formation flying practice.

21.10.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.
S/L. GOLKO (GD) ceased attachment to H.Q. 35 Recce. Wing. Part of the period of attachment was spent in Normandy to gain first hand experience if was conditions.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-22

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

21.20.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.
Photography:- Mosaic of Moffat area completed for Staff Camouflage Officer Scotish Command.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-23

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-24

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
Photography:- O.L.O. of Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness for H.Q. East Scotland District.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-25

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-26

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-27

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

20.45.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-28

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

20.40.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
One section at immediate & one at 15 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.
Move of “B” Flight – Signal received from H.Q. A.D.G.B. that “B” Flight 309 Squadron its to move from R.A.F. Station Acklington to R.A.F. Station Peterhead on 29th August, 1944.

1944-08-29

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

20.45.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[ACKL]INGTON
Move of “B” Flight. The Flight moved by air except heavy equipment which went by rail. Nine Hurricane IIC, one Tiger Moth and pilots proceeded to Peterhead Airfield by air. Thirty-six airmen with kits, ground personnel of 6309 Servicing Echelon were transported to Peterhead in two Dakota aircraft.

1944-08-30

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

[PET]ERHEAD
One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

1944-08-31

[DR]EM

One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

20.35.
Standing Patrol – one section took off.

[PET]ERHEAD
One section at immediate & one at 30 mins. readiness from dawn to dusk.

J. Gołko S/L (Autograph)
Squadron Leader,
Commanding, No. 309 (P) Squadron.