Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1945-03-01

ANDREWS FIELD.

Anti-Diver operations – Squadron at 30 mins. Available.
F/O. KAWNIK (GD) on expiration of Operational Tour proceeded on posting to 61 O.T.U. for flying instructor duties.

1945-03-02

Duty Squadron – 2 a/c. at Stand-by, 2 a/c. at Readiness and 2 a/c. at Available from 1300 hrs. until dusk.
F/L. GALLER (GD) proceeded on posting to 84 G.S.U. for flying duties.

1945-03-03

Duty Squadron – from Dawn to 13.00 hrs. 13.00 Squadron at 30 mins. available.

1945-03-04

Duty Squadron – Diver patrols maintained from 13.41 hrs. to 16.59 hrs. App.32.

1945-03-05

Duty Squadron – Diver Patrols maintained from 07.13 hrs. to 13.25 hrs. App.32.
Squadron then at 30 mins. available.
F/O. KUBICA (GD) posted from R.A.F. Station Andrews Field (n/e. sick).

1945-03-06

Squadron at 30 mins. available.
11.00 Visit of General Anders, Commander- in-Chief of the Polish Forces to 133 Wing. The C-in-C and party arrived and made a tour of the Station, visiting dispersals and Servicing Wings. At 12.15 hrs. the C-in-C addressed the Senior Polish Officers and pilots in 133 Wing briefing room and had informal talks on the operational effort of the Wing.
13.30 The C-in-C was entertained to lunch in the Officers Mess and all Polish & British Officers of 133 Wing and 316 (P) Squadron attended. The C-in-C departed at 14.45 hrs.

1945-03-07

Duty Squadron – Diver patrols maintained from 13.19 hrs. to 19.40 hrs. App.32
F/L. KARASZEWSKI (GD) posted to R.A.F. Station Andrews Field n/e. sick w.e.f. 14.2.45.

1945-03-08

Duty Squadron – diver patrols maintained from 09.05. hrs. to 13.40 hrs. Ap.32.
F/O. GORZENSKI (GD) posted from R.A.F. Station Andrews Field ( n/e sick) for flying duties w.e.f. 28.2.45.

1945-03-09

Squadron at 30 mins. readiness.
P/O. JUDEK (GD) on expiration of operational tour proceeded on posting to 61 O.T.U. for flying instruction duties.

1945-03-10

Duty Squadron – Diver patrols maintained from 12.54 hrs. to 19.12 hrs. Ap.32.
Instructions received from H.Q. Fighter Command that the Squadron would cease Anti-Diver Operations and from 11 th March would revert to long range escort duties. Fitting of long range tanks to a/c. commenced immediately.
F/L. ZIELONKA (GD) posted to R.A.F. Station Andrews Field n/e sick w.e.f. 18.2.45.

1945-03-11

13.10 Target cover to 1050 heavies on M/Y at ESSEN – 12 A/c. took off. Ap.32.

1945-03-12

14.40 Patrol and withdrawal cover to Lancasters and Halifaxes bombing DORTMUND – 8 a/c. took off. Ap.32.

1945-03-13

13.35 Escort to 18 Lancasters bombing ARNSBERG – 9 a/c. took off. Ap.32.

1945-03-14

14.25 Escort to 15 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito bombing BIELEFELD – 8 a/c. took off. Ap.32

1945-03-15

14.20 Escort to 20 Lancasters bombing Arnsberg – 8 a/c. took off. Ap.32.

1945-03-16

Briefing for operations arranged but later cancelled.

1945-03-17

Squadron released for training.

1945-03-18

13.20 Escort to 50 Lancasters bombing LANGENDREAR – 12 a/c. took off. App.32.

1945-03-19

08.30 Escort to 18 Lancasters bombing VLOTHO viaduct – 12 a/c. took off. Squadron
landed at b.65 MALDEGEM. Belgium. App.32.
[Illegible] FIELD, ESSEX.
08.40 Flying Accident – F/L. SAWICKI, S. in Mustang III FX.860 took off with the Squadron as No. 4 in blue section on Operation ‘Escort to 18 Lancasters bombing VLOTHO viaduct ‘ (App.32) at 08.30 hrs. Shortly after setting course, grey smoke was seen coming from his engine exhausts and his a/c. began to lose speed. Apparently deciding to return he turned to the left and made a forced landing with his auxilliary tanks still on, in a ploughed field adjoining Essex County Hospital. His a/c. burst into flames. He was badly burned when rescued by patients of the hospital to which he was removed but died as a result of his injuries at 18.00 hrs. the same day. Casualty Signal sent and Form 765C action taken. A Court of Inquiry has been convened.

1945-03-20

MALDEGEM, BELGIUM

12.20 Target cover to 120 Halifaxes bombing RECLINGHAUSEN – 11 a/c. took off. Squadron returned to Base. App.32.

1945-03-21

ANDREWS FIELD

08.20 Escort to 20 Lancasters bombing BREMEN – 9 a/c. took off. App.32.
16.15 Target cover & withdrawal cover to 150 Halifaxes bombing targets in RHEINE area –
8 a/c. took off. App.32.

1945-03-22

12.05 Escort to 200 Lancasters bombing HILDESHEIM – 9 a/c. took off. App.32.

1945-03-23

NORTH WEALD BASSETT

11.00 The service funeral of F/L. SAWICKI took place in the churchyard of St. Andrews Church North Weald Bassett.

ANDREWS FIELD.

14.00 Escort cover to 18 Lancasters to BAD OPENHOUSEN – 11 a/c. took off. App.32.
19.30 4 a/c. forced to land at Ursel owing to shortage of fuel returned to base.

1945-03-24

08.10 Patrol of Glider routes – 10 a/c. took off. App.32.

1945-03-25

07.45 Escort to 250 Heavies bombing HANOVER M/Y – 11 a/c. took off. Sgt. Eisenbach was forced to land at Venlo owing to engine trouble when at 14000 ft. and in spite of the wind shield being completely darkened by oil and being able to look from one side only saw the airfield from which some a/c were taking off, glided to it. He pulled the emergency knob and the wheels come down. He could not land on that runway as some a/c. were taxying on it and so made for the other one but discovered working parties were repairing it and half the runway u/s. by bomb craters. He finally landed on the left side on the grass and finished his run on the runway.
12.50 1 a/c. (F/L. Antolak) forced to land at URSEL returned to base.

1945-03-26

P/O. Jeaschke (GD) promoted to the Permanent War Rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 1.12.44.
P/O. Lewandowski (GD) promoted to the Permanent War Rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 1.11.44.
P/O. Stankiewicz (GD) promoted to the Permanent War Rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 15.11.44.

1945-03-27

12.20 Escort to 75 Lancasters bombing ALTEN near Hamm - 10 a/c. took off. App.32.
12.55 1 a/c. (W/O. Murkowski) forced to land at Ursel on 24th March returned to base.
19.00 Sgt. Einsenbach forced to land at Venlo on 25th March returned to Northolt by Dakota and then to base by Tiger Moth. The a/c. was left at Venlo.

1945-03-28

F/O. KAMINSKI, H.(GD) promoted to the Permanent War Rank of Flight Lieutenant w.e.f. 1.1.45.

1945-03-29

Training – Squadron formation, battle formation and low flying – 12 sorties.
F/L. ZUBRZYCKI (MED) returned to unit from attachment. Sgt. SULIKOWSKI (Pilot) arrived on posting from 61 O.T.U. for flying duties.

1945-03-30

15.10 Fighter sweep : Dummer Lake, Salzwedel, Magdeburg, Munster area – 11 a/c. took off.

1945-03-31

07.00 Target cover to 400 heavies near HAMBURG – 11 a/c. took off. App.32.

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