Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-07-01

Woodvale

Two a/c of Red Section were operational on a shipping protection patrol between 20.01 & 21.25 hrs, being over convoy “Parole” between 20.35 & 20.40. Visibility was poor, and an e/a was thought to be near. Red Section found no trace of the e/a. Two Spitfires left here for Valley, and did a defensive patrol between 20.05 and 21.05. The operation was conducted from Valley. The same Section also did a defensive patrol from Valley, taking off at 21.55 and landing at Woodvale at 22.55. There was nothing of interest to report.
There was some formation flying in the afternoon. The Squadron enjoys this, and it would seem to be a very necessary part of the training of new pilots- to take their places, without error, in the Squadron formation. There is a good deal of pride in this Squadron in the excellence of its formation flying.

1942-07-02

Woodvale

Red Section operated from Valley and did a defensive patrol over Bardsea Island between 11.50 and 12.40 hrs. The operation was conducted entirely from Valley, and there was nothing of interest to report.
More formation flying today – the new boys are being put through their paces.

1942-07-03

Woodvale

Weather not too good – seems to be deteriorating again. Between 20.05 & 20.25, 4 Spits were operational on a defensive patrol, orbiting base at 2,000’. Nothing of interest to report. Red Section also did a defensive patrol between 21.00 & 22.10. The 2 Spits orbited base at 2,000’. Nothing to report. There was some cloud flying in the afternoon.

1942-07-04

Woodvale

No operational activity. Definitely not operational weather. F/O Tarkowski did some ZZ practice in the morning, but there was little other activity. Managed to get the boys interested in some aircraft recognition.

1942-07-05

Woodvale

Blue Section was operational on a defensive patrol between 09.25 & 10.20. Base was orbited at 15.000’. Nothing interest to report. Yellow Section on defensive patrol between 21.35 & 22.45 over sea between Gt. Orme’s Head & Point Lynas. Searched bogey – not located.
Weather a little better today. Photo attacks in the morning, and magnificent Squadron formation flying – a wizard performance. F/O Stutzmann did a sector recco in the evening; he is getting to know this region. Sgt. Jankowski, T. left the Squadron on posting to 453 Squadron.

1942-07-06

Woodvale

No operational activity. This is peculiar weather – sunshine and sudden cloud, as if rain were threatening, then sunshine again. The boys did some formation flying in the morning, and mock attacks and low flying in the afternoon. P/O Z. Uchwat, Sgt. Malczewski, F., Sgt. Karasinski, W. and Sgt. Lisowski, T. arrived on posting from O.T.U.

1942-07-07

Woodvale

A better day – sunshine. Blue Section was operational on a defensive patrol between 11.10 & 11.54. Base orbited at 10,000’. Nothing to report.
Some air firing in the morning. F/O Stutzmann and the Squadron Leader did some cloud flying. In the afternoon, some boys did low flying over the sea.

1942-07-08

Woodvale

Disappointing weather in the morning, but conditions improved in the afternoon and their was some sunshine. Some formation flying and several dog-fight practice in the afternoon.
Green Section was operational between 20.17 & 21.09. Base orbited at 6,000’. Defensive patrol – nothing of interest to report. Cpl. J.A. Bussey, who has been with the Squadron since its formation, left to take up a commission in the A & SD Branch.

1942-07-09

Woodvale

Lovely clouds about this morning; the weather is more like early spring than summer. The boys did cloud and formation flying in the morning. F/O Zajac did air firing in the afternoon.
White Section operational between 20.02 & 20.31 on defensive patrol. Base orbited at 6,000’. Nothing to report.

1942-07-10

Woodvale

More clouds in the morning – a tendency to mist. The boys did cloud flying and air firing. Some G.C.I. co-operation in the afternoon.
Yellow Section was operational on defensive patrol between 09.25 & 09.55. Orbited base at 10.000’. Nothing to report. Red and Blue Sections did a shipping protection patrol between 12.20 & 14.57, being over convoy “Manual” between 12.25 % 14.42. R/T communication was established with the convoy. The convoy was picked near N.W. Lightship, and was proceeding vector 300.

1942-07-11

Woodvale

No operational activity. Fine today. Squadron formation flying in the morning – a very good show. Weather clamped down late in the afternoon.

1942-07-12

Woodvale

No operational activity. More April weather – clouds and bright sunshine. Squadron formation flying morning and afternoon. How unreliable the weather seems! Rain seems only around corner.

1942-07-13

Woodvale

No operational activity. A dull morning, with haze. Weather improved later in the morning, but deteriorated in the afternoon. Some of the boys did dog-fights, and some low level photo attacks.

1942-07-14

Woodvale

No operational activity. A fine day. F/O Block & F/O Olszewski did sector reccos. Some photo attacks in the morning and fine formation flying and low attacks in the afternoon.

1942-07-15

Woodvale

Still no operational activity. Back to uncertain, April-like weather – sunshine cloud, mist, sunshine. Some cloud flying in the morning; formation flying and low attacks in the afternoon.

1942-07-16

Woodvale

Weather as yesterday – uncertain. Low attacks and formation flying in the morning. Sgt. Nawrocki, T. took up an aircraft in the morning for a test flight. He has not returned, and a search has been organized. There was a treacherous mist in the morning, and the poor fellow may well have crashed in the hills around here.
Between 12.40 & 13.10, Yellow Section was operational on a defensive patrol; nothing to report. Red Section was operational on defensive patrol between 11.45 & 13.20, over Crewe & Crange. Nothing to report.

1942-07-17

Woodvale

No operational activity. A gloomy, misty morning, with intermittent rain. There is gloom in the Squadron, too, for there is still no news of Nawrocki, though the search goes on.

1942-07-18

Woodvale

No operational activity. Weather a little improved, but still cloudy. Some cloudy flying in the morning and afternoon. The search for Nawrocki goes on. Clues seem to point to Pendle Hill and Mossop Ridge area.

1942-07-19

Woodvale

A fine morning. Formation flying and dog-fights, some low flying over sea. Formation flying in the afternoon. Sgt. Nawrocki was found dead near Mossop Ridge in the evening.
Between 07.45 & 08.25 Blue Section was operational on defensive patrol over base and Lancaster at 10,000’. Nothing to report.

1942-07-20

Woodvale

Mist in the morning and thin rain, which persisted. A practice Rhubarb was done at Valley in the morning.
Two Spits, Black Section, operated on a defensive patrol between 20.26 & 21.43. Bogey reported, but not seen, and nothing of interest to report.

1942-07-21

Woodvale

No operational activity. Cloudy in the morning. Formation flying and low attacks. The Squadron Leader flew to Northolt. Heavy rain set in in the afternoon.

1942-07-22

Woodvale

No operational activity. A horrible wet day. Weather completely non-operational. Some of the boys took an interest in aircraft recognition, but there is gloom outside and inside the Dispersal Hut today.

1942-07-23

Woodvale

No operational activity. A dull day, with some rain in the afternoon and evening. Low attacks and formation flying in the morning and afternoon, and as weather cleared towards dusk, some pilots did dusk landings. The funeral of Sgt. Nawrocki took place at Formby.

1942-07-24

Woodvale

Sunshine! Formation flying and mock attacks in the morning, and more formation in the afternoon with local recco flying.
Two spits operational on defensive patrol over base between 16.15 & 16.50. Nothing to report.

1942-07-25

Woodvale

A little sunshine, but threats of rain. Formation flying morning & afternoon, and some low flying. Photo attacks and air firing. Some pilots put in some practice at dusk landings.
Two Spits took off to search for Lysander a/c, but found no trace. P/O P. Kurylowicz arrived on posting from 317 Squadron.

1942-07-26

Woodvale

A bright morning, followed by intermittent showers. Low flying and sea firing. In the afternoon, formation flying and photo attacks.
Two a/c Blue Section on defensive patrol from 16.10 to 16.55. Base was orbited at 22,000’ and 6,000’. Nothing to report.

1942-07-27

Woodvale

A dull day on the whole, with an occasional weak gleam of sunshine. There was formation flying and attacks in the morning. Some pilots did dusk circuits and landings, and 4 pilots were engaged on “fighter night”. 4 Spits, Blue and Green Sections, were operational on defensive patrol between 08.10 & 09.10. Blue Section orbited base, and Green Section orbited Manchester. No sign of e/a.
F/O Z. Drybanski arrived on posting after 5 months of instructions duties at 58 O.T.U. He was formerly with squadron, and is one of our most experienced pilots.

1942-07-28

Woodvale

Bright in the early morning, but a solid bank of cloud later – conditions favourable for Jerry. Some of our boys operated from Honlley. Cloud and formation flying in the morning.
2 Spits, Yellow Section, were operational between 10.25 and 11.55on defensive patrol. They first orbited Birmingham at 25,000’ and then landed at Honlley at 11.55. They returned to Woodvale at 17.05. While at Honlley, a section operated from 17.40 to 19.15 on defensive patrol. Nothing to report.

1942-07-29

Woodvale

Bright morning, drizzle later. Formation and cloud flying in the morning. In the afternoon, Sgt. Chudek towed the target for the boys to do some air firing. Some pilots did dusk flying. There was no operational activity.

1942-07-30

Woodvale

A sunny day. Formation flying and sector recco in the morning, and air firing in the afternoon. A section went to Atcham, and was operational there between 11.00 and 12.05. Birmingham was orbited and the section landed at Honlley. Nothing to report.

1942-07-31

Woodvale

A dull day, with rain in the afternoon. F/O Tarkowski and F/O Andresz did ZZ practice in the morning. There were also dog-fights, and, later, dusk circuits and searchlight co-operation. Between 17.55 and 18.55, 2 Spits were operational on defensive patrol. Base was orbited, and bogey was looked for, but not located. Two of our a/c were operational from Honlley on a defensive patrol, the operation being conducted entirely from Honlley.