Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-01-01

Northolt

A rainy day, with very bad visibility. No flying

1943-01-02

Northolt

6/10ths cloud at 10,000’ this morning – visibility very good.
Circus 243 over Cherbourg. We took off at 11.35 as leading squadron of the Wing. Rendezvous was made over St Catherine’s Point and the formation flew for 5 minutes at sea-level, after-wards climbing to 22-23,000’. There was no operation of any kind over France, and we returned without incident. We had three a/c on rescue readiness during this operation.
Training – formation, cloud flying, photo attacks.

1943-01-03

Northolt

Haze this morning over England and the Channel, and over France 8/10ths cloud at 10-15,000’. Circus 247 over Havre at 26,000’. We were off at 09.00, crossed the English coast at Shoreham and the French coast 10 miles W. of Havre. We saw no e/a and there was no flak.
This afternoon we had another uneventful operation – a Rodeo over Cherbourg at 26,000’. The only “training” today was over Havre and Cherbourg!

1943-01-04

Northolt

Haze and moderate visibility this morning. No operations today.
Training – ZZ landings, formation, photo attacks.
F/O J. Chrzanowski left today for Hutton Cranswick, where he is to be supernumerary Station Engineer Officer.

1943-01-05

Northolt

Foggy all day. No activity of any kind.

1943-01-06

Northolt

Same weather as yesterday.
P/O K. Zielonka has left for Cosford to take the Officers’ Course, and F/O W. Zajac has been posted to 52 O.T.U. as instructor.

1943-01-07

Northolt

Still foggy.
S/Ldr. Sawicz has gone on a 20-days’ course at the Polish Inspectorate General.

1943-01-08

Northolt

It was foggy again this morning, but the sun came out later, though it was still hazy.
Only training today – G.C.I. co-operation and local flying.

1943-01-09

Northolt

The weather was not too good this morning – haze and low cloud.
Two a/c scrambled at 10.30 and patrolled the area of Beachy Head without seeing anything interesting.
At 12.30, we took off for Circus 248 over Abbeville. We were to escort a formation of Bostons and met them over Beachy Head at 500’. This height was maintained for 12 minutes, but on climbing we ran into dirty weather and the bombers turned back.
Training – formation and photo attacks.

1943-01-10

Northolt

Dense fog all day – no activity.

1943-01-11

Northolt

Weather 2/10ths cloud at 6,000’ over here, 10/10ths at 6,000’ over France.
Rodeo 146 over St. Omer. We took off at 14.00, crossed the coast near N. Foreland at 23,000’ and French coast 5 miles E. of Dunkirk. We received one warning of e/a near St Omer, but saw nothing of them. We left the coast near Le Touquet.
Training – photo attacks and target-shooting over the sea.

1943-01-12

Northolt

A bad day, with 8/10ths cloud at 1,000’, mist and showers.
Only a little training – photo attacks and dog fights.

1943-01-13

Northolt

Cloud 3-5/10ths at 4-5,000’, visibility good.
At 12.30, we took off to escort 11 Venturas in Circus 249 over Abbeville. Rendezvous was over Beachy Head at 500’, and the whole formation then climbed, crossing the French coast at 24,000’. We were providing top cover. We saw the bombs exploding on and around the airfield, and some flak came up, but it was only moderate and too far away to worry us. No e/a were about, and we came back without incident.
Training – photo attacks, target-shooting over the sea, local flying.

1943-01-14

Northolt

Good visibility except for ground haze.
This afternoon, three sections scrambled at different times – the first at 14.30, second at 15.15 and the third at 16.00. They patrolled over Battle, Shoreham, and Mayfield respectively, but none of them had anything to report.
Training included photo attacks, formation, target-shooting over the sea, exercises in range estimation and dusk landings.
F/O K. Stembrowicz was today posted to No. 25 (P) E.F.T.S., Hucknall.

1943-01-15

Northolt

Ground haze this morning, but visibility good otherwise.
Training flying only – formation, target-shooting, photo attacks, etc.

1943-01-16

Northolt

Very foggy this morning and not sufficient improvement during the day to make flying possible.
The pilots had a lecture on aircraft recognition and also did some small-bore shooting.

1943-01-17

Northolt

Hazy with moderate visibility.
At 14.30, six a/c scrambled and patrolled at 25,000’ for an hour, but had nothing to report. Training, as on previous days, with the addition of some low flying.

1943-01-18

Northolt

A blank day on account of fog.
There was another lecture on aircraft recognition, and some more small-bore shooting.

1943-01-19

Northolt

Same weather as yesterday – no activity.

1943-01-20

Northolt

Cloud 3-4/10ths at 6-8,000’ – visibility good.
This was the day when the Hun raided the London area, and included a school among his “military objectives”. We were ordered up to intercept his escorting fighters at 12.50 and again at 14.40, but made no contact. This must have been a disappointment to the pilots, especially those with memories of Battle of Britain.
There was some training – air firing and photo attacks.

1943-01-21

Northolt

Weather – 10/10ths cloud at 20,000’, visibility good.
Circus 252 – Tricqueville. We took off at 11.30, made rendezvous near Shoreham at 500’, and flew for 19 minutes at that height. The formation then climbed to 13,000’ crossing the French coast 5 miles from Havre, passed over the target area and left the coast again near Fecamp. 10 miles further on, we were ordered to turn back towards Havre to intercept
10 e/a at 15,000’. Nothing was seen of them, however, and we turned for home after meeting slight flak from the Havre area. One of our pilots landed at Ford to refuel.
At 14.30, we were again out on operations, this time Rodeo 156 over Abbeville – Le Touquet. The English coast was crossed at Beachy Head and the French coast S. of Berck. Nothing happened until we were recrossing the coast near Le Touquet, when we were ordered to turn back over France to an area N.W. of Forest de Crecy. Here, we saw 15-20 F.W. 190’s flying to the E. and 4 more to the S.E. of Berck. 306 and 316 were detailed to attack, and we were to provide top cover. A dog-fight developed and 1 FW. 190 was shot down, 4 probably destroyed and 1,damaged. Our squadrons had no casualties.
Training – photo attacks and air-to-sea firing.

1943-01-22

Northolt

10/10ths cloud at 2,000’ in the morning, clearing towards midday.
At 12.55 we took off to escort 11 Bostons attacking Abbeville (Circus 253). We were over Beachy Head on time at 13.30, but the bombers were 5 minutes late. When they arrived, the formation flew for 12 minutes at sea level, then climbed to 12,000’, crossing the French coast near Cayeux. We were acting as top cover to the first 6 bombers, which dropped their load on Abbeville airfield and turned for home. We stayed behind to cover the remaining 5 Bostons. Flak from the Abbeville area had been only moderate, but from the airfield itself it was much heavier. However, we had no casualties, and got back to base without further interference. 2 of our a/c were on rescue readiness.
The only training today was some army co-operation.

1943-01-23

Northolt

Clear weather on this side of the Channel, but low cloud over France. Visibility good.
Rodeo 157. We were off at 12.00, and a few minutes later F/O Tarkowski lost his auxiliary tank and had to return. We crossed the coast over Selsey Bill at 24,000’ and swept over the Cherbourg area. Heavy and accurate flak came up from the harbour, but no-one was hit and there was no other opposition.
Training – formation, target shooting and air-to-sea firing.

1943-01-24

Northolt

Fog all day – no flying.
Kpt Piotrowski gave the pilots a talk on the organisation and work of bomber squadrons in England.

1943-01-25

Northolt

8/10ths cloud at 4,000’ – visibility fairly good.
Training flying only – target shooting and air-to-sea firing.

1943-01-26

Northolt

8/10ths cloud at 10,000’ – visibility good.
At 12.40, we took off for circus 256 over St Omer. The English coast was crossed near Hastings and the French coast near Hardelot at 23-24,000’. There was no opposition, but an unfortunate mishap occurred on the way back. 8 miles N.W. of Gravelines, two a/c collided. One was flown by W/C Janus and the other by a pilot of 306 Squadron. The Wing Commander was seen to bale out and come down in the sea. Some of our pilots went down to circle round him and saw him swimming for about 5 minutes, after which he appeared to lose consciousness and presumably was drowned. No dinghy was seen. The other machine was last seen flying towards the French coast. W/C Janus had over 120 operational flights to his credit and the Polishc Wing has lost a leader who had endeared himself to everyone by his cheerful disposition and sympathetic treatment of those under his command. We partioularly
feel the lose, as he commanded our squadron before becoming W/Cdr. Flying at Northolt. He was the last of four brothers, all flyers, and all killed during this war.
During this operation, one of our pilots fired at a string of 20 barges near Dunkirk, but did not see results. All our a/c returned safely, 6 of them landing at Manston to refuel.
Training – local and high altitude flying.

1943-01-27

Northolt

A day of low and heavy cloud, and poor visibility.
Homing practices were the only training done.

1943-01-28

Northolt

The same weather as yesterday.
No activity except for local flying by one a/c.

1943-01-29

Northolt

8/10ths cloud at 5,000’ and good visibility.
Training – target-shooting, formation, photo attacks and local flying.
P/O M. Urban has arrived from No. 222 Squadron. He was on our strength previously, up to the time when we left Woodvale.

1943-01-30

Northolt

10/10ths cloud at 4,000’ with very strong wind. Visibility good.
Training – homing and target shooting.
Sgt Rembowski is posted today to 222 Squadron.

1943-01-31

Northolt

10/10ths cloud at 800’ with heavy rain and gale. A blank day.