Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-04-01

Woodvale

All parties of Sqdn arrived safely at Woodvale, aircraft landing at 16.20 hrs., having been delayed one day by weather conditions. The usual unpacking or equipment and stores, organization of headquarters and dispersal, took place with speed and efficiency. F/O Glowinski was posted from 308 Sqdn as Engineer Officer (supernumerary).

1942-04-02

Woodvale

A sunny day. In the morning pilots took off on sector reconnaissance to acquaint themselves with the surrounding countryside. The first operational flight at Woodvale took place in the afternoon. One Section was ordered to scramble and were vectored over the sea near Blackpool. They orbited about 20 minutes, before being recalled to base. No e/a observed.

1942-04-03

Woodvale

Cloudy day, with clod ceiling about 1,000 ft. One weather flight was made, and no further flying.

1942-04-04

Woodvale

A wet day. Very little training possible – high wind, with warning of a gale, which did not arrive until late evening. No operational activity.

1942-04-05

Woodvale

The morning seemed full of promise for a fine day. The afternoon brought heavy showers and a renewal of the gale. Between 08.30 and 10.25 hrs., Red and Yellow Sections were airborne to escort convoy “Topaz”. In the general confusion of shipping proceeding to and from Liverpool, Red Section failed to locate “Topaz”, which was two ships with naval escort. Yellow Section located the convoy, however, some 10 miles out, behind a large convoy heading for Liverpool. Yellow Section orbited convoy for an hour and were ordered back by Ops.

1942-04-06

Woodvale

Another nasty, wet day, with high wind and driving rain. No operational activity, and training was impossible owing to the weather. S/Ldr. Janus was awarded a second bar to the “Krzyz Walecznych”, Polish decoration for bravery.

1942-04-07

Woodvale

Some cloud flying in the morning, and formation flying, but the weather quickly deteriorated. There were sandstorm early in the afternoon, and rain followed, to put an end to the training plan. No operational activity. F/Lt. Czaykowski left for duties at 58 O.T.U., Grangemouth, and F/O Kornicki assumed command of “A” Flight as A/F/Lt.

1942-04-08

Woodvale

Visibility was much improved in the morning, and although there was a good wind, some training was possible. Between 11.40 and 12.40 hrs., two a/c of “B” Flight had an interesting experience. They were engaged on co-operational exercises with searchlights and when over Manchester were vectored to intercept an unidentified a/c. They found this to be one of the new Wellington VI. The pilots were very interested, and pointed out details of difference from the Wellington types they had previously seen. Between 17.55 and 18.54 hrs., two a/c, Yellow Section, were orbiting Llandung; visibility was excellent, but no a/c were seen.

1942-04-09

Woodvale

Another wretched day, with mist and intermittent rain showers. Training was hindered. “B” Flight went to see its cine-gun practice films. Recognition films were also shown to them, and in view of yesterday’s experience, the film showing the Wellington was of great interest. The Flight was given a security talk, and saw the film “ Dangerous comment”. No operational activity.

1942-04-10

Woodvale

Weather not too good. How the sand blows about on this aerodrome! The wind dries up the sand very quickly. Some air firing practice in the morning, with the co-operation of the Roc. In the afternoon some practice height demonstrations on dummy ground target and low flying attacks. No operational activity. F/O Zurakowski Left the Sqdn for Flight commander post in 306 Sqdn.

1942-04-11

Woodvale

Visibility was poor in the morning, and deteriorated as the day wore on. Between 10.25 and 14.10 hrs. Red, Yellow, White and Green Sections were airborne to escort convoy “Heavy” – one merchant ship with a naval escort of one armed trawler. Sections went out in relays, two a/c to each Sections. It was routine job. White Section failed to locate convoy “Heavy” definitely, but circled shipping, which it saw after being vectored 3000 by Operations, and then returned. Nothing of importance was seen. Pilots reported thet it was difficult to pick out one merchant ship accompanied by an armed trawler in the great mass of shipping which they saw.

1942-04-12

Woodvale

At 07.45 hrs. this morning, the Controller asked for as many planes as possible to do an exercise with Hudsons. He was put into touch with S/Ldr. Janus. The Controller later notified Sqdn that the exercise had been abandoned. Some of Sqdn aircraft took part in searchlight co-operation exercises. This morning it was intended to carry out an exercise involving the locating and strafe-ing of a land convoy; news was received that the convoy was delayed, and would not be in the vicinity until the afternoon. As weather deteriorated later, it was decided not to seek this land convoy. Blue and Yellow Sections were out between 11.25 and 1505 hrs. to escort convoy “Empire” – three ships and one destroyer. Convoy was successfully located and escorted 20 miles north of Isle of Man.

1942-04-13

Woodvale

Disappointing mist in the morning. As the weather cleared, some air firing practice was done. Weather cleared up in the afternoon; but visibility was not too good. No operational activity.

1942-04-14

Woodvale

A bright, sunny, day, with strong wind. Some air firing an the morning. Visibility not too good. In the evening, Red and Yellow Sections were ordered to Valley, to operate with 131 Sqdn. Between 17.30 and 19.50 hrs., three a/c were airborne in connection with protection for convoy “Revet” – 4 ships with one escort. Only one a/c of Red Section operated; the other failed to get his engine started. All our a/c returned safely to Woodvale. Nothing of interest was seen.

1942-04-15

Woodvale

A fine day, with bright sunshine. 2 a/c of green Section went to Valley in the evening, and between 17.20 and 18.45 hrs., were airborne to protect convoy “Topaze” – 6 ships with 2 escorts, which was located 30 miles west of Bardsey Island, steering N.E. Nothing of importance seen; a/c returned 21.15 hrs. Earlier in the day, 2 a/c of Blue Section were airborne between 14.10 and 15.45 hrs., to protect a convoy of 8 ships escorted by 3 destroyers. Convoy was located 20 miles north of Point Lynas. A routine trip – nothing of importance observed. Between 18.55 and 20.00 hrs., one a/c of “B” Flight searched the sea off Liverpool for a dinghy containing a crashed pilot belonging to another sqdn. He did not locate him.

1942-04-16

Woodvale

A fine day, and yet disappointing from flying point of view; haze persists. At 11.10 this morning 2 a/c of Blue Section were ordered up over base at 25,000 ft. because suspected e/a. When they had climbed to 17,000 ft. they were ordered by Operations to return. Apparently the e/a was much further away than had been at first supposed.

1942-04-17

Woodvale

A bright, sunny day. Formation flying in the morning. No operational activity.

1942-04-18

Woodvale

Brilliant sunshine, but strong wind. At 10.04 hrs. 2 a/c of green section took off and were vectored 2800. Orbited region 20 miles north of Point Lynas and saw 3 small ships and 2 a/c. One was a Botha and the other had American markings. These a/c were at 6,000 feet. The American gave the correct colours.

1942-04-19

Woodvale

Fine with wind. No operational activity.

1942-04-20

Woodvale

Fine, but high wind. No operational activity. Wind in this place brings great showers of sand. Cloudy later. No operational flying.

1942-04-21

Woodvale

Some training activity in the morning, but a low mist developed and put an end to it. Visibility became poor. No operational flying.

1942-04-22

Woodvale

More cloud and mist; visibility poor. No operational flying, but some training in the afternoon. The following pilots arrived from 58 O.T.U. Grangemouth, for duty with the Sqdn: - F/O Widziszewski, P/O Urban, Sgt Dukalski, Sgt Knott, & Sgt Bondarczuk.

1942-04-23

Woodvale

Another wretched day. Low cloud and mist.stopped flying completely.

1942-04-24

Woodvale

A better day – clear, but strong wind. Between 12.55 and 15.05 hrs. Blue, Red, Green and Black sections in turn patrolled Barrow area. An uneventful operation, nothing seen.

1942-04-25

Woodvale

Sunshine but strong wind – so strong that training had to be abandoned. Between 13.56 and 14.17 hrs. 2 a/c of Black section were air borne. They were directed to orbit Liverpool at 25,000 feet. This they did and were ordered back on account of very strong wind.

1942-04-26

Woodvale

Sunny, but strong wind. Some training activity. Between 07.30 and 08.00 hrs. green section was air borne, having been directed to orbit Rochdale. Whilst climbing, at about 12,000 feet, they were recalled to base.

1942-04-27

Woodvale

Sunny but strong wind. Some training activity in the morning – formation flying and cine gun attacks. Wind stopped training in the afternoon, and for rest of the day. Sgt Bondarczuk leaves for 303 Sqdn.

1942-04-28

Woodvale

Sunny, strong wind. Some training. Wind stopped flying in the afteroon, and all training arrangements were abandoned.

1942-04-29

Woodvale

Still wind and sunshine. At 07.17 hrs., 2 a/c of Red section were ordered up and to climb to 25,000 feet towards Bradford. When they had reached 12,000 feet they were ordered back to base, and landed at 07.40 hrs. At 10.50 hrs., 2 a/c Red section were ordered off and vectored 2900. They saw 2 convoys, one large, one small, about 20 miles north of Gt. Orme’s Head, but saw no e/a. Down 11.15 hrs. Night readiness was maintained. No searchlights co-operation was possible owing to high wind.

1942-04-30

Woodvale

Sunny, without wind. Some training in the morning. Between 12.10 and 12.45 hrs. 1 a/c of Blue section was up on an operational flight. 2 a/c had taken off but the pilot of one felt unwell and returned. The other proceeded to look for suspected e/a. Vectored 0700, then 1000. Saw a burning wood some 30 miles east of Fleetwood. Orbited the wood for 10 minutes and returned to base. Saw no a/c. During training in the afternoon, White section were told to scramble. One pilot of this section had return, feeling unwell. Night readiness until 06.00 hrs. Friday morning. Night landing and night flying training took place until 02. hrs. Friday morning.