Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-09-01

DREM

Exercise – Art/R. with one Troop 25 pdr. of ‘D’ Battery 3rd R.A. Res. Regt. on OTTERBURN RANGES ( Gun Area 3021). Six sorties were arranged. Each pilot was given two targets, the first for registration and the second for neutralization, as with a troop and a regiment respectively so that pilots were practiced in both methods of correction.
Firing at ranges of 6,000 – 9,000 yds. Pilots directed the shooting well with the exception of one sortie when the pilot returned on account of weather. Had the gun crews been more highly trained, very fast shoots would have been carried out. In spite of this lack of training (which was known beforehand) much useful practice was obtained. Pilots worked wall and kept to the times laid down.

1944-09-02

DREM

F/O. K.Karaszewski (GD) promoted to the Permanent War Rank of Flight Lieutenant.

1944-09-03

DREM

Information received from H.Q. A.D.G.B. that the Squadron would be re-armed with Mustang I instead of Spitfire IX L.F.

1944-09-04

DREM

No flying owing to bad weather. LT. K. LENARTOWICZ and LT. W. OSIKOWSKI (Polish Army) arrived on attachment to unit from Infantry Training Centre Kinross for duty with A.L. Section.

1944-09-05

DREM

No flying owing to bad weather.

1944-09-06

DREM

No flying owing to bad weather.

PETERHEAD
20.45 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-07

DREM

No flying owing to bad weather.

PETERHEAD
20.45 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-08

DREM

No flying owing to airfield being unserviceable. S/L. GLOWACKI (GD) arrived on posting from 61 O.T.U. for flying duties and to command the Squadron.

PETERHEAD
20.50 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-09

DREM

S/L. GOLKO (GD) formally handed over command of 309 (P) Squadron to S/L. GLOWACKI (GD). No flying owing to airfield being unserviceable.

PETERHEAD
20.45 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-10

DREM

F/O. RADKIEWICZ (GD) transferred to A.&. S.D. Branch of the Polish Air Force in the rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 28.08.44.

PETERHEAD
20.40 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-11

PETERHEAD
20.40 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-12

DREM

F/O. STRUSINSKI (GD) posted to Unit for flying duties R.A.F. Station Drem ex non-effective sick.

PETERHEAD
20.40 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-13

DREM

Re-arming of Unit – 7 Mustang I received from 41 O.T.U. by air.

PETERHEAD
20.35 standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-15

DREM

15.45 Interception of unidentified aircraft – two section took off.

1944-09-16

DREM

F/O. CZERNECKI (GD) arrived on posting to unit for flying duties from P.A.F. Depot Blackpool.
F/O. KRAKOWSKI (GD) proceeded on posting to 84 G.S.U. for flying duties.

1944-09-17

DREM

Re-arming of Unit – 1 Mustang I received from 41 O.T.U. by air.
F/L. M. LEWANDOWSKI (GD) proceeded on attachment to R.A.F. Station Peterhead as Flight Commander ‘B’ Flight.

1944-09-20

DREM

F/L. GORNIAK (GD) arrived on posting to unit for flying duties from P.A.F. Depot Blackpool. No flying owing to bad weather.

PETERHEAD
17.00 Aircraft and pilots of ‘B’ Flight moved to R.A.F. Station Turnhouse to maintain state of readiness during their Majesties stay in Aberlady Railway Station (00.9501) on the nights of 21st & 22nd September.

1944-09-21

DREM

Re-arming of Unit – 5 Mustang I received from F.R.U. Odiham by air.

1944-09-22

DREM

F/L. SZYSZKO (GD) proceeded on posting to 84 G.S.U. Mustang Pool for flying duties.
P/O. LEWANDOWSKI (GD) and SGT. EISENBACH (PILOT) arrived on posting to unit for flying duties from 41 O.T.U. F/L. MENCEL (GD) re-posted to unit for Flight Commander duties.

[Illegible]

Aircraft and pilots of ‘B’ Flight returned to R.A.F. Station Peterhead.

1944-09-23

DREM

CPT. COOPER and SGT. KOWAL (18 A.L. Section) proceeded to R.A.F. Station Peterhead for Exercise ‘Leger’.

PETERHEAD

EXERCISE ‘LEGER’ – In area between the Southern end of LOCH NESS and DALWHINNIE. Troops taking part – ‘Nordland’ represented by of the Norwegian Mountain Brigade supported by pack transport and R.&.S.C. detachments together with mountain artillery. ‘Britland’ – Three Squadrons of R.A.F. Regiment together with necessary support troops and mountain artillery. Recce. Support supplied by ‘B’ Flight of 309 Squadron operating from Peterhead.
21.20 Demands for Tac/R. received and 3 missions called for on 24.9.44.
19.05 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

1944-09-24

DREM

No flying owing to bad weather.

PETERHEAD
Exercise ‘Leger’ – Six Tac/R. sorties carried out and in spite of very poor flying conditions pilots brought back much useful information which, with necessary details was passed to Advanced Control.
22.20 Demands received for two missions on 25th.
18.45 Interception of unidentified aircraft – one section took off.

1944-09-25

DREM

F/O. PORAZINSKI (GD) proceeded on posting to 84 G.S.U. for flying duties.
No flying owing to bad weather.

PETERHEAD
Exercise ‘Leger’ – Three Tac/R. sorties carried out but one was recalled after 21 mins. owing to bad weather.
21.00 Demands received for three missions on 26th as soon as possible after first light.

1944-09-26

DREM

09.30 Thirty Senior Polish Army Officers from the Polish Senior Staff Officers Training Centre Mussleburgh visited the Unit. They were shown various types of operational aircraft at present in use, and visited the Maintenance, Photography & Signals section. Control of Artillery fire by pilots was explained, also the briefing and interrogation of pilots. The visit ended at 17.30 hrs.

PETERHEAD
Exercise ‘Leger’ – Six Tac/R. sorties carried out, two returning to base after 20 mins. owing to bad weather conditions. In view of the ground situation, pilots on the first mission were to pass information by R/T. if any enemy activity was seen. A message was passed by the pilots to Sector who passed it to Peterhead as a result of which a flash report was passed to Control at 08.50 hrs. In the evening information was received that the Exercise would finish early and no further flying would be called for.
The following message was received by the Flight Commander of ‘B’ Flight:- Britland Forces’ Umpires wish to thank ‘B’ Flight for their excellent recce. work in such bad conditions.
Information received was useful.
At the final conference on Exercise ‘Leger’ both Lieut,-General Sir Andrew Horne K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., G.O.C. Scottish command and Major-General Irvin C.B., D.S.O., M.C., Commander East Scotland District in their closing addresses stated that all concerned were very impressed by the skill and pluck of the pilots giving air support under such appalling weather conditions.

1944-09-28

DREM

P/O. JAESCHKE (GD) arrived on posting to unit for flying duties from 41 O.T.U.

PETERHEAD
Fatal Flying Accident:- F/O. J. STRUSINSKI (GD) in Hurricane IIC LF.633 was shot down in flames into the sea by No. 2 whilst on formation flying & cine gun practice about 2 miles East of Peterhead. Only small pieces of wreckage of Hurricane seen in sea. Rescue operations abandoned later on same day.
F/O. CZAJKA (GD) proceed on posting to 84 G.S.U. for flying duties.

1944-09-29

DREM

F/L. RADZISZEWSKI (GD) arrived on posting to Unit for flying duties from 41 O.T.U.

1944-09-30

DREM

Readiness:- One section at immediate and one section at 30 mins. was maintained daily throughout the month by both Flights.
Normal training carried out in both flights during the month consisting of Art/R., Photography, cross country, low flying & cine gun, low formation & cine gun, aerobatics, high altitude, dive bombing practice, air to ground & air to air firing, interception practice, battle formation, dusk & night flying, with a total of 627 sorties for ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights.

PETRHEAD
19.00 Standing Patrol – one section took off.

Squadron Leader,
Commanding. No. 309 (P) Squadron.