Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-06-01

Northolt

A squally day, with the weather gradually becoming worse, but the air party got away this afternoon. A number of those making their first flight were actively unhappy when the Harrows began to bump, but agreed that this was preferable to 9 or 10 hours in a train. Both aircraft landed at 15.15, and the rail party arrived some two hours later. Hutton Cranswick has the appearance of being far from civilisation, but no doubt we shall soon find that first impressions are wrong, as we discovered at Woodvale last year.
There is a change of Ops Room officers in connection with the move. F/Lt Wisniewski is posted to 317 Sqdn, and F/O T. Kratke comes from 303 and is appointed Acting F/Lt.

1943-06-02

Hutton Cranswick

A showery day, with 5/10 cloud at 3-4,000’, but quite good visibility. Two sections were out from Bridlington on A/S/R patrols, one at 08.40 and the other at 15.35, but neither had anything to report. A usual on a new station, the pilots did sector recoo.

1943-06-03

Hutton Cranswick

No change in the weather, and there was not much flying. 4 aircraft were engaged in Army co-op. and several others did sector recoo and cross-country flights.

1943-06-04

Hutton Cranswick

Weather still showery, though with less cloud. 10 pilots were engaged in bomber affiliation exercises, and there was more cross-country flying.
We are beginning to find our way about now, and prospects of spending the summer in this district are quite pleasant.

1943-06-05

Hutton Cranswick

A very quite day, with practically no flying, and nothing of interest.

1943-06-06

Hutton Cranswick

The weather remains unsettled, with very heavy showers at intervals. Today’s training consisted of bomber co-operation, formation and cross-country flying.

1943-06-07

Hutton Cranswick

There is an improvement in the weather today. Cloud is higher and only 3/10. There has been a fair amount of training – c hiefly formation, air-to-air firing and photo-attacks.

1943-06-08

Hutton Cranswick

The improvement in the weather has not been maintained, though it has been possible to do some formation practice and sector recoo.

1943-06-09

Hutton Cranswick

Another improvement in the weather, and a fair amount of training was done. There was high altitude and formation flying, and 4 pilots co-operated with bombers in photo attacks. Sgt Idrain is posted from Northolt for flying duties.

1943-06-10

Hutton Cranswick

Only routine training today, under the same weather conditions. So far, since we came here, it has rained every day, and the natives inform us that this is nothing unusual.

1943-06-11

Hutton Cranswick

There has been considerably more flying today, though still nothing operational. We have had air firing, cloud flying and photo-attacks.

1943-06-12

Hutton Cranswick

A more eventful day than any so far this month. 308 and 315 squadrons were detailed to take part in Ramrod 91, as escort cover to 12 Bostons attacking Grand Quevilly Power Station. The squadrons flew first to Ford to refuel, then took off again and made rendezvous with the bombers below 500’, near Newhaven. The formation kept this height for 10 minutes, then climbed and went in over Fecamp at 19.46. The target was duly, and we saw bursts in the area, also fires to the east and more bursts to the north-east. There was no enemy fighters opposition, and only slight heavy flak for Fecamp on the way back, at 12,000’, well behind and below. Visibility was unlimited, with 10/10 cloud at 15,000’ 30 miles south of the target.
In addition to the cross-country flights to and from Ford, there was some training, and six pilots did night flying.

1943-06-13

Hutton Cranswick

Cloudy again today, and there was only a small amount of training, though it was possible to do some dusk flying.
F/O Witke is posted to 318 Squadron for flying duties, after only two weeks on our strength.

1943-06-14

Hutton Cranswick

Weather unchanged. Training today included bomber co-operation, navigation exercises, air-to-air firing and dusk flying.

1943-06-15

Hutton Cranswick

Very much the same routine as yesterday, but there was night flying in addition to dusk circuits and landings.

1943-06-16

Hutton Cranswick

There was a little operational activity today. At 12.05, one section took off on A/S/R patrol. They reported a patch of oil and 5 motor boats at Point A.8399. Another section went off at 13.15, to search for a Beaufighter belived to be in the sea at Point A.5999. They searched the area, then moved to the north-east. 17 miles north-east of Flamborough, a patch of oil and two motor launches were seen, but no trace of a Beaufighter. There was 9/10 cloud at 2,000’ over the sea, and visibility was 10 miles.
There was some formation practice during the day, and dusk and night flying later.

1943-06-17

Hutton Cranswick

Weather not too good today – 4-7/10 cloud at 2-3,000’, and only moderate visibility. However, it was possible to do some training, including bomber co-operation, and the night flying programme was carried out as usual.

1943-06-18

Hutton Cranswick

A dirty day, with 7-10/10 cloud at 1,500’-2,000’, and visibility 3-6 miles. Flying was almost nil, except for test flights.

1943-06-19

Hutton Cranswick

Again there has been low and heavy cloud all day, but visibility was better. There was a small amount of training, including dusk flying.
F/Lt Zajac has gone to Wittering for the B.A.T. course.

1943-06-20

Hutton Cranswick

Very poor weather again today, and there was no training, though the Squadron flew to Matlask and back.

The weather has been very little better today, but some training was possible – mainly photo-attacks, bomber co-operation and formation. In the evening, the Squadron flew to Martlesham, in preparation for an 11 Group operation tomorrow.

1943-06-22

Hutton Cranswick

At 10.00 hrs the Squadron, along with 308, too off for Ramrod 99, in which we were to provide rear withdrawal support to Fortresses returning from Rotterdam. We met the formation 30 miles west of the target at 5,000’, and orbited behind them. One straggler was safely escorted to the coast, and another Fort was seen in the sea between Orfordness and Hook, with Spitfires orbiting.
The weather was 4/10 cloud at 2-3,000’, with good visibility. The squadron returned from Martlesham later in the day, and a small amount of training was done. This is the first day without rain since we came to Hutton Cranswick.

1943-06-23

Hutton Cranswick

There was 5-6/10 cloud at 2-3,000’ today, with visibility 3-4 miles. Training included cloud flying, formation, photo-attacks and navigation exercises.
P/O Calinski has gone Cosford, for the Polish Officers Initial Course.

1943-06-24

Hutton Cranswick

Today we have again been reinforcing 11 Group, taking part in Ramrod 103. We operated from Martlesham from where we took off at 11.10. The operation went according to plan, except that the bombers crossed in west of Gravelines and turned left to the target. The escort cover remained up sun at 14-15,000’. There was slight flak from St. Omer, but it was inacourate for the bombers. 30 e/a were reported to the north east, but we saw no trace of them. The bombing results could not be seen, owing to 7/10 cloud up to within ten miles of the French coast. There was more inaccurate heavy flak over Calais, and when we were 5 miles out over the sea more e/a were reported in the St. Omer area, but nothing was seen of them. No shipping was sighted during the operation. One of our aircraft had to return early slight engine trouble. Visibility was unlimited, except for some cloud inland over France.

1943-06-25

Hutton Cranswick

Another operation was scheduled today, and this time we took off from Coltishall as escort cover to 12 Bostons attacking Zanvoor (Ramrod 19). However, when 10 miles from the Dutch coast, the operation was abandoned owing to bad weather; cloud was 10/10 at 7,000’ with patches of rain. On the return, we landed at Matlask.
There was a little training during the day – cloud flying and navigation exercises. F/O Dubielecki has returned, after completing the Polish Officers’ Initial Course at Cosford.

1943-06-26

Hutton Cranswick

Today we have been operating from West Malling, taking part in another Ramrod as escort to 12 Bostons on Abbeville airfield. We took off at 16.25, and the whole operation went according to plan with no incidents. Weather was 3/10 at 7-8,000’, with good visibility.
Other pilots did photo-attacks and air-to-air firing during the day.
W/O Grondowski has gone to Wittering for the B.A.T. course.

1943-06-27

Hutton Cranswick

For the fourth day in succession we have been out on operations – this is almost like being back at Northolt! Todays show was Roadstead 9, in which we provided rear cover for 16 Group Beaufighters attacking a convoy off Hague. The escort squadrons had a busy time with e/a, destroying several, but we met no opposition in our part of the job. Cloud was 10/10 at 1,500’, and visibility 15-20 miles. The operation, as far as we were concerned, was carried out from Coltishall.
Air firing, formation and photo-attacks made up the training done today.

1943-06-28

Hutton Cranswick

With 6/10 cloud at 3-4,000’ and good visibility, there has been quite a lot of training today, chiefly air-to-air, cloud flying and navigation exercises.

1943-06-29

Hutton Cranswick

The weather has been clearer, and air-to-air firing has taken up most of the day.

1943-06-30

Hutton Cranswick

A similar programme to yesterday, with the addition of navigation and formation exercises.