Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-01-01

Northolt

Foggy weather all day – no flying at all. 6 aircraft were readiness throughout the night, but were not required.

1942-01-02

Northolt

A.M. Rather hazy morning. Sqdn took off at 09.05 hours for Martlesham, from where patrol duties in sections of four over the North Sea were carried out until mid-day.
P.M. Flying training, including formation flying.

1942-01-03

Northolt

Raining, low ceiling, readiness duty only – no flying at all.
F/O Sokolowski and P/O Wyrozemski arrived on posting from 308 Sqdn. (both are ex-OUT pilots without a great deal of flying experience).

1942-01-04

Northolt

In the morning cloud was 10/10ths, but about mid-day weather improved, cloud becoming 5/10ths.Both flights carried out flying training, formation flying, cloud flying and practice dog-fights with cine-camera guns. From 23.00 hours night flying training took place.

1942-01-05

Northolt

Colder weather today. “B” Flight were on readiness from mid-day. Flying training similar to yesterday performed. Night flying training again, including this time dusk flying for less experienced pilots.

1942-01-06

Northolt

Up to mid-day “A” Flight were on readiness. In the afternoon, Sqdn joined with 303 & 316 Sqdns for Wing formation flying and mock attacks on P.P. towed target with cine-guns.

1942-01-07

Northolt

Sunny weather with thick ground mist; air firing programme at Shoreham range cancelled. Sqdn released off Station in afternoon.

1942-01-08

Northolt

Sunny weather continues, but ground haze not so thick; visibility much better. Attack exercises with cine-gun and formation flying carried out, a total of 27.00 hours flying.
Three Sgt. pilots (Sgt. Blok, S. – Sgt. Jaworski, E. – Sgt. Malczewski, E.) were granted commissions with effect from 1/1/42.

1942-01-09

Northolt
Cloud 8/10ths but very thin. “B” Flight on readiness until mid-day. In the afternoon Sqdn carried out interception exercises with 316 Sqdn using cine-gun.

1942-01-10

Northolt

Cloud 7/10ths, slight ground haze, cold. Flying training only, including formation flying, low flying and attacks on P.P. towed targets with cine-gun.

1942-01-11

Northolt

Sunny weather, thick ground haze, poor visibility. “B” Flight on readiness from mid-day. Proposed operational flight over Channel was cancelled. No flying at all. A Polish Army Officer, Lt. W. Zabkiewicz, was attached to Sqdn for a period of three months to train personnel in ground defence against enemy actions.

1942-01-12

Northolt

Foggy weather, visibility about 200 yards. “A” Flights on readiness until mid-day. Weather improved later, but still no flying.

1942-01-13

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths, snow, no flying

1942-01-14

Northolt

Dawn showed a four inch fall of snow, with more falling every minute. Cloud 10/10ths with promise of more snow. Exorcises in the decontamination of aircraft were performed by both pilots and ground crews. Proposed flight to Martlesham for Convoy Patrol duty was cancelled. In the afternoon “A” Flight on readiness

1942-01-15-17

Northolt

Fog, frost and snow. No flying. Lectures, Link Trainer and readiness duties.

1942-01-18

Northolt
Weather unchanged. “A” Flight on readiness until mid-day. F/O. Zurakowski was today mentioned in despatches.

1942-01-19

Northolt

Continued foggy weather. Convoy patrol duty from Martelsham and Air-to-Ground firing training at Dengie Flats cancelled.

1942-01-20

Northolt

A further five inches of snow fell during the night. Still foggy, visibility poor. “A” Flight on readiness until mid-day. His Excellency the President of Poland, s. Raczkiewicz, visited the Polish Wing and Decorated pilots with the “Virtuti Militari” and the “Krzyz Walecznych”. The following pilots of this Sqdn were decorated:-

S/Ldr. Janus Virtuti Militari F/Lt. Czaykowski Bar to Krzyz Walecznych
P/O. Fiedoczuk Bar to Krzyz Walecznych P/O. Gil do. do. do.
P/O. Lukaszewicz do. do. do. Sgt. Kowalski do. do. do.
P/O. Drybanski Krzyz Walecznych P/O. Kornicki Krzyz Walecznych
Sgt. Malczewski do. do.

After the presentation of decorations, all Sqdn marched past the President and distinguished guests.

1942-01-21

Northolt

Frost & fog, visibility about 200 yards. “B” Flight on readiness until mid-day. Again Air Firing training cancelled owing to bad weather,

1942-01-22

Northolt

Continued foggy weather &frost. No flying at all. In the afternoon pilots released off Station. Sgt. Zielonka and Sgt. Jankowski arrived on posting from 308 Sqdn (both pilots are ex-OUT without much experience).

1942-01-23

Northolt

Snow in the morning turned later into rain. “B” Flight were on readiness in the afternoon. Once more weather conditions necessitated the cancellation of a flight on shipping protection.

1942-01-24

Northolt

After ten days snow and frost, there is today sign of a thaw. Cloud 7/10ths. Commencing at dawn a large scale exercise on aerodrome defence is in progress. Maintenance section distinguished themselves by routing and capturing a detachment of the pseudo enemy before it could commit act of sabotage.
“A” Flight were on readiness until mid-day. Air-to Air firing at Shoreham range.

1942-01-25

Northolt

A cold and windy day, with cloud 8/10ths. At. 11.20 hours the Sqdn took off on an operational sweep as the leading Sqdn in the Polish Wing. The Wing was ordered to join Kenley Wing over Hastings at 26,000 feet, but Kenley Wing was not sighted. Therefore, the Polish Wing proceeded according to schedule to Le Touquet, Cap Gris Nez and back via Dover to Northolt. The Sqdn was led by S/Ldr. Janus. No e/a sighted. In the afternoon Air-to-Air firing at Shoreham range. Also formation flying and practice landings.

1942-01-26

Northolt

Snow has almost entirely disappeared. In the morning rain and wind; weather improved later. “A” Flight on readiness from mid-day. “B” Flight carried out Air-to-Air firing at Shoreham. Night flying training was again resumed.

1942-01-27

Northolt

Cold wind; cloud 10/10ths but very thin. Visibility about 2,500 yards. “B” Flight on readiness until mid-day. In the afternoon Sqdn carried out Sqdn formation flying and attack exercises with cine-gun

1942-01-28

Northolt

A fine, but cold, day. Cloud 4/10ths. Flying training occupied the whole day, Training included Sqdn formation flying, Wing formation flying; a total of 45.20 hours on training flying.

1942-01-29

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths, showery. “B” Flight on readiness in afternoon. Weather improved and “A” Flight carried out ZZ and Blind Approach practices. Some night flying training took place.

1942-01-30

Northolt

Frost and hazy. “A” Flight on a readiness until mid-day. “B” Flight carried out ZZ and Blind Approach exercises. Sqdn commenced night flying training, which had to be cancelled after only one flight, owing to weather conditions. P/O. Drybanski posted to 58 OUT for instructor duties.

1942-01-31

Northolt

Raining in the morning with ceiling of 700 feet. Sqdn carried out low flying exercises and low attack exercises, using cine-gun.