Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-03-01

Northolt

10/10ths cloud – visibility about 1,000 yards. “A” flight on readiness until mid-day. No flying.

1942-03-02

Northolt

Foggy weather; visibility about 300 yards. 6 a/c on readiness. No flying.

1942-03-03

Northolt

Ground haze; visibility about 150 yards, improving towards mid-day, but later deteriorating. “B” Flight on readiness from mid-day. “A” Flight, in spite of misty weather, carried out formation flying exercises.

1942-03-04

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths with ceiling about 600 feet; showers mixed with snow; visibility poor. “A” Flight on readiness until midday,

1942-03-05

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths – ceiling 2,000 feet. Snow later. Air to Air firing practice at Bexhill cancelled.

1942-03-06

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths. No flying. 303 Sqdn took over readiness duties of 315 Sqdn in order that pilots and ground crew of 315 could attend Easter Confession and Holly Mass in the Station Catholic Church.

1942-03-07

Northolt

Cloud still 10/10ths – ceiling about 1,000 feet. Slight ground haze and frost. “A” Flight on readiness.

1942-03-08

Northolt

Frost during the night, developing into a sunny morning with 3/10ths cloud and good visibility. In the afternoon Sqdn took off with the Polish Wing as middle cover to bombers on Circus 112A. Rendezvous was made at Dengie Flats and the whole formation proceeded towards targets near Lille. Heavy but inaccurate flak was experienced over Dunkirk. On rhe Return journey e/a attempted to attack the bombers. Sqdn split up, one section of 8 providing cover to the bombers whilst the remaining 4 a/c turned to meet the e/a, which turned back without attempting an attack. All a/c returned safely. The following signal was received later from C.-in-C. Bomber Command:-“Please convey our appreciation and thanks to those who provided our bombers with such efficient and complete cover for Sunday’s operation. Please inform all Sqdns concerned.” This message was received via HQ 11 Group. F/Lt Falkowski and Sgt Chudek were awarded the “Virtuti Militari” for their bravery and gallantry whilst on operations in Great Britain.

1942-03-09

Northolt

In the morning 10/10ths cloud and slight ground haze, improving about midday. In the afternoon S/Ldr Janus led the Sqdn in company with the Polish Wing as top cover for bombers on Circus 113 to attack Mazingarbe (6 Boston a/c were employed). Sqdn was flying at about 25,000 feet over the target when about 20 e/a approached and commenced ‘Pecking’ attackes without engaging. On leaving the French coast heavy but inaccurate flak was experienced. All a/c returned safely.

1942-03-10

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths – ceiling about 500 feet – ground haze – visibility about 500 yards. Sqdn on readiness from midday. No flying. Clay pigeon shooting. Ground crews attended Defence lecture given by the Polish Army Defence Officer.

1942-03-11

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths – rain and fog – poor visibility. No flying. Sgt./Pilot Semmerling was promoted to commissioned rank with effect from 1/3/42. 14 airmen were reclassified in their respective trades.

1942-03-12

Northolt

Clous 10/10ths – ground haze – poor visibility. No flying. Sqdn on readiness from midday. Defence lecture for ground crews. F/O Olszewski, I., P/O. Blok & Sgt Lipiec posted to 603 Sqdn for flying duties.

1942-03-13

Northolt

Sunny weather. Sqdn on readiness from dawn. In the afternoon Sqdn took off under the command of S/Ldr. Janus on Circus 114, providing close cover with the Polish Wing for 12 Havoc bombers. Rendezvous was made as pre-arranged at 14.30 hours, and the whole formation proceeded towards the adopted area, Hazebrouck. On crossing the French coast, the formation was attacked by e/a which adopted partly new tactics – attacking simultaneously the bombers from below and the fighters from above, in both cases from behind. Some encounters developed, but no results were observed. Over the Channel on the return journey one of the Havocs started to lose speed – the Wing Leader ordered one Sqdn to protect it, and all bombers returned safely.

1942-03-14

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths – morning fog, with visibility 2,000 yds. Weather improved later, and in the afternoon Sqdn was employed on Circus 115 (Le Havre), again acting as top cover with Polish Wing. Rendezvous was made over Shoreham range 8 minutes behind schedule. Over Channel, cloud ceiling was about 10,000 ft., so the Wing was forced to fly above cloud. No e/a were sighted.
F/O Wyrozemski proceeded to No. 2 School of Air Navigation for a three weeks’ navigation course.

1942-03-15

Northolt

Cloud 8/10ths – good visibility. Flights carried out cloud flying, photography and attack exercises. 4 a/c carried out Army co-operation flying. In the afternoon, flights on readiness.

1942-03-16

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths – ceiling about 6,000 ft. In the morning, Flights were on readiness duty. Two sections of two a/c were ordered by Operations to scramble over base, as 4 e/a were signaled. They orbited the base, but saw no trace of any e/a. there was no training flying. Ground crews were given practice in the defence of the dispersal points, under the direction of the Polish Army Officer.

1942-03-17

Northolt

Cloud 8/10ths – ceiling about 2,000 ft. A fatal accident occurred in the morning, when F/Sgt. Krieger, who had taken off as section leader for training flight, collided with another Spitfire over South Hayes. Both pilots were killed. F/Sgt. Krieger had been on the strength of this Unit since its formation, and was a very good pilot. He was twice wounded in air battles over France, and had one Me 109 to his credit.

1942-03-18

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths – ceiling below 1,00o ft – rain. In the afternoon, flights on readiness duty. Very little flying training, owing to bad weather conditions.

1942-03-19

Northolt

Cloud 10/10ths, rain, poor visibility in the morning – later improving, enabling practice attacks by 4 a/c on tanks in co-operation with Army to be carried out, also practice scramble by the whole Sqdn.

1942-03-20

Northolt

Fog, poor visibility. No flying. The funeral of F/Sgt. Krieger took place today; first, Holy Mass was held in the Station Catholic Church, from where the funeral party (including the bodyguard and representatives from other Northolt Squadrons) proceeded to Northwood Cemetery for the burial service.

1942-03-21

Northolt

Still foggy weather and poor visibility. No flying. One flight on readiness from midday.

1942-03-22

Northolt

Weather continues the same. On a/c took off for weather test. No further flying.

1942-03-23

Northolt

Sunny weather. In the morning Sqdn carried out formation flying, practice attacks with cine-guns, and low flying exercises. In the afternoon Sqdn, led by S/Ldr. Janus, participated with the Polish Wing in a sweep over France. Sqdn flew at about 26,000 ft. over Manston, Dunkirk, St. Omer, Hardelot and via Dungeness back to Northolt. No e/a were sighted, and ground defences were silent.

1942-03-24

Northolt

Fog and poor visibility in the morning, improving after lunch; the sun appeared, but there was still ground haze. Sqdn was on readiness, but no flying was carried out.

1942-03-25

Northolt

Sunny weather with ground haze. Readiness duty in the morning. In the afternoon, Polish Wing made a sweep over France, in which Sqdn was led by S/ld Janus. Approaching St. Omer, 7 me’s attempted an attack out of the sun from behind, but were observed. On the Wing Commander’s ordered, formation turned towards the e/a, which fled. The Wing proceeded over St. Omer and back over Boulogne, Calais, where many e/a were sighted but no encounter developed. All a/c returned safely, but were met by dense ground haze, which made landing difficulty.

1942-03-26

Northolt

A hazy morning, but later the sun broke through. Flying training up to midday. Readniess duty in the afternoon. “A” Flight were ordered to take off and were vectored first to Brighton, then over the Channel, where they were ordered to patrol over ships. “B” Flight ordered off later to relieve “A” Flight. No. e/a sighted.

1942-03-27

Northolt

The usual ground haze, with cloud were present in the morning, but weather improved later and several flying exercises were performed until midday. In the afternoon Sqdn, led by S/Ldr. Janus, joined the Polish Wing in Ramrod operation No. 18, as top Sqdn of support wing. Target was Ostend. The Belgian coast was crossed near Nieuport, and over Ostend the Wing contacted 12 Havoc bombers which had completed their task and were returning home. When the whole formation was 10 miles from the Belgian coast, the lower sqdn of the Wing intercepted e/a and dog-fights developed. Sqdn went down in support and e/a dispersed almost immediately. One e/a was probably destroyed by F/Lt. Czaykowski, and two others shot up by S/Ldr. Wiorkiewicz and F/O Tarkowski, without visible results.

1942-03-28

Northolt

Weather continues same as previous day. Another operational flight over France. Sqdn, led by S/Ldr. Janus, together with 303 Sqdn, made a sweep over Le Havre. From mid-Channel the formation flew above cloud which covered the whole operational area. No e/a were sighted. Advance party of 29 airmen proceeded to Woodvale in connection with Sqdn move.

1942-03-29

Northolt

10/10ths cloud, ceiling 2,000-3,000 ft., visibility about 1,500 yds. No flying.

1942-03-30

Northolt

7/10ths cloud, slight haze, visibility about 3,000 yds. “A” Flight on readiness to midday. In the afternoon Sqdn was released from operational duty in accordance with Sqdn move. A further advance party of two officers proceeded to Woodvale.

1942-03-31

Northolt

Sqdn move was carried out as arranged.