Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-05-01

Woodvale

Sunny day. Some training, but no operational activity. F/O Ciastula posted from 303 Sqdn.

1942-05-02

Woodvale

Bright sunshine. At 09.54 hrs. two a/c Green Section took off to orbit barrow. No e/a seen. Down 10.52.
At 09.25 two a/c Blue Section took off to act as escort for convoy “Cannon” (14 ships and 4 naval escorts), being relved by 2 a/c Yellow Section, which took off at 10.30. Convoy Located and orbited-routine trip. Bleu down 11.05, Yellow 11.10. At 12.10, 2 a/c Blue Section ordered off to search for bandit; Blue 2 had to return, feeling ill. Blue 1 was vectored a ourning wood some 30 miles east of Fleetwood. Orbited between 25,000-31,000 ft., but saw no trace of bandit. Down 12.45.

1942-05-03

Woodvale

A bright, clear day; sunny. 2 a/c Blue Section ordered to scramble this morning. Blue 1 took off at 06.40, but Blue 2 was unable to leave until 06.42 – engine trouble. Blue 2 had an uneventful patrol, but Blue 1 was in combat with a Ju.88. After manouevring above the Hun, Blue 1 was able to attack with cannon and m.g., as a result of which black smoke poured from e/a’s port engine. Blue 1 gave chase, firing as opportunity presented itself, his last burst being at 50 yds. range. E/a was losing height rapidly, and was last seen within 2 ft. of the sea. Blue 1 followed to within 6 ft. of sea level, but was forced to break away, owing to exhaustion of ammunition and serious petrol depletion. E/a claimed as destroyed; pilot F/O Stembrowicz. Note: Rear gunner shot pink tracer bullets.
One pilot of 452 Sqdn. was said to be dawn in the drink, and 4 of our a/c searched Morecambe Bay unsuccessfully for him during the morning. 2 a/c Yellow Section were looking for bandits over Bala and Liverpool between 07.10 and 08.25; none seen. 2 a/c Blue Section were looking for possible bandit between 13.20 and 14.20, region Prestatyn and Abergaly; none seen. Between 10.20 and 11.45, F/O Stembrowicz was out to see if he could find any trace of the Ju.88 – wreckage perhaps. Saw patch of oil on sea, nothing else. An exciting day, with much Polish enthusiasm, especially as today is Polish National Day. Celebrations were held, consisting of Holy Mass conducted in our filed chapel. Some reclassifications in Polish rank were promulgated. A guard of honour ad some representatives of the Sqdn went to Liverpool, where a big feast had been arranged by Anglo-Polish Society, with the presence of distinguished persons from Polish Government and the city of Liverpool.

1942-05-04

Woodvale

Sunny; visibility poor morning, later improving. Beetwen 10.30 and 11.23, 2 a/c Blue Section were looking for a possible e/a over Prestatyn; none seen. Between 17.05 and 19.20, Red and Yellow Sections in turn escorted convoy “Label” – 2 destroyers and 1 battleship – north of Gt. Orme’s Head. F/O Miksa was excited; he says the battleship was the Rodney. Night readiness ends. Sgt. Knott posted to 308 Sqdn.

1942-05-05

Woodvale

Some sunshine, deteriorating in the afternoon to dull cloud. Between 15.15 and 15.45, 2 a/c Blue Section were airborne. They had been asked to investigate bogey. 2 other a/c of the Sqdn, while on training exercises, were nearer and were vectored towards bogey by Ops. It proved to be a Beaufighter. Sgt. Gaczol arrived from O.T.U.

1942-05-06

Woodvale

A bright sunny day, but with high wind blowing sand in all directions. Between 14.32 and 15.37, 2 a/c Red Section orbited base at 5,000’ investigate possible bandit; none seen. At 18.00 hrs. there was a parade to welcome the new Sqdn C.O. (S/Ldr. Wiorkiewicz). S/Ldr. Janus leaves to take up W/Cdr. post at Northolt tomorrow morning. S/Ldr Wiorkiewicz arrived from Northolt. He took part in about 30 operational sweeps over France, whilst employed on administrative duties in the Polish Wing at Northolt.

1942-05-07

Woodvale

Generally dull; some bursts of sunshine. Between 12.30 and 15.05, 2 a/c Red Section Orbited Prestatyn and neighbourhood at 12,000’ to investigate bogey; none seen.

1942-05-08

Woodvale

Heavy cloud; mist clamped down on the aerodrome; some rain in the afternoon. No flying. The boys entertained themselves at the Hunt Range and watching their combat films and other films.

1942-05-09

Woodvale

A better day; sunshine at times, but visibility not good on the whole. At 14.20 Blue Section scrambled – suspected e/a. Then at 14.50 Green Section went up over base at 5,000’ and orbited on a 3-mile radius. Landed 15.19 Blue Section landed at Valley. Jerry was in N. Ireland, but our boys saw no trace of him.

1942-05-10

Woodvale

Sunshine and fair visibility. Bandit scare in the afternoon. Red Section went up and patrolled Barrow, and Yellow Section went up a few minutes later and patrolled Llandudno. Yellow 2 developed engine trouble and landed at Sealand 15.10 hrs. He came back in his machine later in the afternoon, machine and pilot O.K. No trace of e/a.

1942-05-11

Woodvale

A brilliant sunny day. Formation flying and training exercises, but no operational activity.

1942-05-12

Woodvale

A bright sunny day. Much excitement in camp. The Sqdn is invited to inspect our newest and biggest battleship at Liverpool Dooks. One unfortunate Section remained at readiness. We went by coach and saw the magnificent vessel. But the event of the day was a visit to a Polish destroyer, the “Piorun”. Here, we were in Poland, and were entertained lavishly with typical Polish hospitality and generosity.

1942-05-13

Woodvale

Sunshine. Formation flying and training, but no operational activity.

1942-05-14

Woodvale

Scramble this morning at 05.35 hrs. Very heavy mist over ‘drome, visibility only 400’ at times. Preston Orbited by Blue Section; the aircraft lost each other in the mist at times, and the base was not easy to find. Nothing of interest seen. Down 06.10 hrs.

1942-05-15

Woodvale

Wretched weather; rain and mist. Cleared a little in the afternoon, to close in with more rain in the evening. Blue and Green Sections were operational in the afternoon. Blue up 15.53, down 16.15. Green up 16.15, down 17.13. Blue again scrambled at 16.44, but order cancelled at 16.45. Blue orbited Prestatyn, but was ordered back owing to R/T trouble. Green orbited base at 25,000’. One a/c landed at 16.50 owing to exhaustion of oxygen. Nothing of interest seen. 4 Sgt. pilots (Adamiak, Cwynar, Gruszczyński, Matus), who have been with the Sqdn more than a year, were promoted to Flight Sergeant.

1942-05-16

Woodvale

Some rain at first, finer later. Red and Yellow Sections operational. Red up 14.40, down 15.00. Yellow up 14.25, down 15.50. Red orbited base at 6,000 ft. Yellow orbited valley at 15,000 ft. Nothing report.

1942-05-17

Woodvale

Fine, rain in the evening. Blue Section orbited between Harlech and Llandudno at 10,000 ft. between 14.05 and 15.20 hrs. One Anson was seen. Green Section orbited Barrow between 14.45 and 15.47 hrs. at 3,000’ - 27,000’. In the morning. Red Section was up between 11.25 and 12.25 and over Valley saw a Wellington proceeding 2800. Nothing of importance to report from above patrols. F/O Polek posted to 316 Sqdn. F/Sgt Gruszczyński and Sgt. Dukalski proceeded on attachment for 3 weeks to No. 3 Delivery Flight.

1942-05-18

Woodvale

A fine day, which deteriorated late afternoon to heavy rain latter. No operational activity.

1942-05-19

Woodvale

A bright, sunny day. No operational activity.

1942-05-20

Woodvale

Rain at first, but sunshine late morning. Red and Yellow Sections operational. Red up 13.05, down 13.50. Orbited base at 25,000’. Reported difficulty in comprehending ground R/T – much distortion. Yellow up 13.15, down 13.55. Orbited Liverpool at 24,000’. Reported same difficulty in understanding ground R/T. Nothing of interest to report from the above patrols. F/Sgt Gruszczyński was awarded Polish medal “Krzyz Walecznych” for gallantry whilst on operation over N. France.

1942-05-21

Woodvale

Heavy rain during the whole of the morning prevented any flying. Weather improved in the afternoon. Blue Section was operation between 14.52 and 15.30. Base was orbited at 14,000’; nothing report. Green Section was out on patrol between 18.30 and 19.30 over Barrow, Isle of Man and Llandudno; nothing report.

1942-05-22

Woodvale

Mist and rain in the morning. Sunshine in the afternoon, but visibility degenerated in early evening. No operational activity.

1942-05-23

Woodvale

Heavy mist in the morning stopped flying. In the afternoon visibility was still very bad. Between 12.40 and 14.42 White and Yellow Sections were operational. A bandit was reported. White Section orbited at 15,000’ and reported only wing-tip visibility on landing. Yellow 1 orbited base between 20,000’ and 27,000’. Yellow 2 lost his companion 7 mins. after take-off, and, as his R/T gave him trouble, he had a rather exciting finding his way home, owing to the bad visibility. Nothing of interest was seen.

1942-05-24

Woodvale

A bright sunny day. Formation flying an other training, but no operational activity.

1942-05-25

Woodvale

A wet day, heavy rain and mist. Weather cleared late evening. No operational activity.

1942-05-26

Woodvale

Rain in the morning, sunshine in the afternoon, Some training exercises, but no operational activity.

1942-05-27

Woodvale

Mist and rain. No operational activity. Visit in the afternoon by two naval officers of the destroyer “Piorun”, who lectured the pilots.

1942-05-28

Woodvale

Misty and cloudy in the morning; activity, but nothing operational. Sgt Zimek and Sgt. Lurzynski arrived from 58 O.T.U.

1942-05-30

Woodvale

A bright sunny day. Dispersal moved to the other side of the aerodrome. Between 09.27 and 10.05, Green Section was operational. The 2 a/c proceeded on vector 3200 for 60 miles. Returned and pancaked. Nothing report.

1942-05-31

Woodvale

Bright sunshine. Practice dog-fights, etc., and reconnaissance work for new pilots. Between 17.25 and 18.35, 2 a/c Green Section were operational. They were directed over 4 ships 20 miles north of Llandudno, orbited for 25 mins., and returned to base via Prestatyn. Nothing report.