Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-05-01

Speke

S/Ldr. PIETRASZKIEWICZ procceded by rail to London for conference with the Polish Inspector General.

1941-05-02

Speke

No. 315 Squadron (Polish) played Station Headquarters, R.A.F., Speke in the final of the Inter-section Knock-out competition. After a hard and clean game the Squadron lost 2 – 1.

1941-05-03

Speke

Hurricane T.9519 arrived from No. 43 Group (Deposit Account).

1941-05-04

Speke

1 Polish airman proceeded for Course of Instruction to Messrs. Dow tty Hydraulic Equipment, Ltd. CHELTENHAM.

1941-05-05 – 1941-05-10

Speke

Normal routine.

1941-05-11

Speke

Another Polish airman proceeded on Course of Instruction to Messrs Dowty Hydraulic Equipment Ltd.
F/L. DUNK and C.T.T. Board arrived to [examine] Polish airmen for remustering.

1941-05-12

Speke

First remustering Board held for Polish airmen of this Squadron. Approximately 50 Polish airmen sat the Board and about 50% passed. The remainder were, in [Illegible] cases, recommended for further training.

1941-05-13

Speke

Normal routine.

1941-05-14

Speke

S/Ldr. PIETRASZKIEWICZ assumed command of No. 315 (P) Squadron vice S/Ldr. COOKE on leave. This [Illegible] over was much in the way of an experiment, as normally the Senior English Flight experiment proved quite successful.

1941-05-15 – 1941-05-17

Speke

Normal routine.

1941-05-18

Speke

Another Polish airman procceded on Course of, Instruction to Messrs Dowty Hydraulic Equipment Ltd.
P/O. LURANC, Squadron Engineer Officer, proceeded by air to Derby for a Course of Instruction at Messrs Rolls Royce Ltd. Works.

1941-05-19

Speke

Normal routine.

1941-05-20

Speke

The body of F/Lt. SZULKOWSKI was washed up on the shore at FRESHFIELD and was conveyed to the mortuary at FORMBY where formal identification was carried cut by the Polish Medical Officer. An examination of the body gave no reason for the cause of the accident. No parachute was foyad and it appears certain that he entered the sea whilst still in the aircraft. His wristlet watch had stopped at 11.25 hours, and apparentky stopped on impact.

1941-05-21

Speke

F/O. P.A. HARDING was posted to No. 315 Squadron for duty as English Squadron Intelligence Officer vice F/O. H. WEBB. F/O. HARDING was previously with a Polish Bomber Squadron and as he speaks fluent Polish he should be a great asset to the Squadron.

1941-05-22

Speke

Hurricane V.6733 arrived from No. 229 Squadron.

1941-05-23

Speke

F/O. H. WEBB was posted from No. 315 Squadron to Headquarters, Fighter Command. F/O WEBB was only with the Squadron a short time, but was very popular. His departure was regretted by Polish personnel.

1941-05-24

Speke

Two aircraft of this Squadron (F/Lt. MICKIEWICZ & P/O. FIEDORCZUK intercepted a Ju.88 over RUTHIN. The enemy aircraft was not shot down but more fact of interception acted as a tonic on Polish pilots who had previously considered that they were not being utilised to the fullest extent at SPEKE.
The body of F/Lt. SZULKOWSKI was buried at West Derby Cementary, Liverpool. All officers from “B” Flight, the non-readiness Flight, attended together with 1 Sergeant and 40 Polish airmen as escort party. Wreats were received from the Station Commander, the British officers, 315 Sqdn. “A” Flight, “B” Flight, and SZULKOWSKI’s old Squadron at KIRTON LINDSEY. His brother, Corporal SZULKOWSKI, was the chief mourner at the funeral.

1941-05-25

Speke

Another Polish airman proceeded on Course of Instruction at Messrs Dowty Hydraulic Equipment, Ltd.
S/Ldr. COOKE & S/Ldr. PIETRASZKIEWICZ visited Lady JERSEY at London. The proceeded by Magister aircraft to NORTHOLT. Lady Jersey has officially ‘adopted’ Np. 315 (Polish) Squadron and matters of welfare of Polish personnel were discussed.

1941-05-26

Speke

Normal routine.

1941-05-27

Speke

S/Ldr. COOKE, S/Ldr. PIETRASZKIEWICZ and 2 Polish pilots visited Liver House, LIVERPOOL and attended a conference to discuss, with Naval personnel, convoy patrol difficulties.
The withdrawal of non-essential British personnel from this Squadron began. 2 F/Sgts. Fitter I, 1 Cpl. Fitt.II, 1 Cpl. Fitt.IIE, were attached pending posting to No. 68 Squadron, High Ercall; and 1 AC. Equip. Asst. was posted to R.A.F. Station, High Ercall. This withdrawal was considered desirable as Polish personnel in certain trades are now at a stage where they can mange without the assistance of British personnel. This previous duplication in Flights also led to confusion.

1941-05-28-1941-05-30

Speke

Normal routine.

1941-05-31

Speke

Hurricanes V.7081 & V.6626 arrived from No. 9 Group.
3 aircraft of this Squadron proceeded to VALLEY for night training. These aircraft will be detached during the moon period (i.e. 31st. May 14th. June) inclusive) with sufficient maintenance personnel, and as the first three pilots become Night Operational I, they will be replaced by a further three. In this way it is hoped to get the whole Squadron Night Operational.