Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-08-01

Ballyhalbert

A showery day, with a little activity, owing to low, cloud and bad visibility. One section did an uneventful convoy patrol in the early morning.

1943-08-02

Ballyhalbert

Better weather, and a fair amount of training, including a practice scramble, G.C.I. co-operation, cloud and formation flying, and a practice rhubarb with Mustangs of 26 Squadron.

1943-08-03

Ballyhalbert

Bright sunshine today, with very good visibility. Early in the morning, two sections patrolled over a convoy between Ireland and Scotland. Later, there was air-to-air firing, formation, and dusk flying.

1943-08-04

Ballyhalbert

Cloudier today, but weather still good, and plenty of training was done, including cloud and formation flying. F/Lt Stefankiewicz, our Squadron Gunnery Officer, has gone to the C.G.S. for a short course.

1943-08-05

Ballyhalbert

A similar sort of day, with just the usual training, and nothing of interest.

1943-08-06

Ballyhalbert

Training for the next week or so is chiefly in connection with our forthcoming Squadron Day on the 14th. Consequently, there is a great deal of formation practice, so that we can put on a good show for the visitors, who will include the A.O.C. and the C.-in-C. of the Polish forces, Gen. Sosnkowski.

1943-08-07

Ballyhalbert

Training held up today by rain and bad visibility. F/Lt Marcisz, O.C. “B” Flight, has left to go to 58 O.T.U., and F/Sgt Towstiejko has gone to 12 A.F.U. for twin-engine conversion training. P/O Drouet arrives from D.P.I.G. as supernumerary Engineer Officer.

1943-08-08

Ballyhalbert

An improvement in the weather today, and plenty of training, including formation and photo-attacks on ground targets. Between 16.00 and 22.40, 3 sections were on convoy patrol, but as usual there was nothing to report.

1943-08-09

Ballyhalbert

More convoy work today, but this time it was between early morning and midday, 4 sections being engaged. Later, there was air-to-air firing and formation. F/O Zurakowski and Sgt Wlodarski are posted to 316 Squadron, Northolt.

1943-08-10

Ballyhalbert

A quiet day, with only the usual training, in quite good weather.

1943-08-11

Ballyhalbert

Convoy patrols between 06.50 and 14.10 but otherwise nothing of interest. Training for Squadron Day goes on, and we see some very nice formation flying.

1943-08-12

Ballyhalbert

A busy day as regards training, with air-to-air firing and air-to-ground in formation, besides the daily display.

1943-08-13

Ballyhalbert

This is the eve of Squadron Day, and there is considerable excitement, as the C.-in-C. is due to arrive during the afternoon. He eventually arrives at 19.00 hrs, in a Lockheed 12, escorted in by the whole Squadron. With him are several distinguished guests from the R.A.F. and Polish Air Force.
At 20.30 hrs, the whole Squadron parades ad Dispersal, where in the presence of the C.-in-C. the honour of our pilots is called. It includes for the first time the name of the late General Sikorski, who lost his life in the airman’s way, and the names of 23 pilots of the Squadron.

1943-08-14

Ballyhalbert

Squadron Day. The 14th August has been accepted as Squadron Day to memorise the most outstanding victory of the Squadron, when, on this day in 1941, in a fight over France, we destroyed 8 enemy aircraft, had one probable and another damaged, all without loss to ourselves.
At 11.00 hrs, Mass was held in the Hangar, where a beautiful field altar has been erected by the ground staff. Afterwards, Gen. Sosnkowski decorated 14 pilots with the Polish Cross of Valour, and 2 who have been awarded the Virtuti Militari – the highest Polish military award. One of the pilots to receive this is S/Ldr. Sawicz, our former C.O. After the decorations, the C.-in-C. took the salute at a march-past of the whole Squadron, and then watched the fly-past for which so much hard work has been put in the last week or so. Everything went off smoothly, and the various formations were the cause of great admiration. After lunch , the General addressed the Squadron in the Hangar in a very hearty speech, and then stayed to converse most freely with all ranks. He was interested in everyone’s troubles, and asked many question about families in Poland and elsewhere. This informal meeting was helped along nicely by almost unlimited quantities of free beer. The day was rounded off by parties and dances in Officers’, Sergents’ and Airmen’s Messes, at which Polish music and songs were conspicuous.

1943-08-15

Ballyhalbert

Operational work today consisted of two sections on convoy patrol in the afternoon and another in the late evening. Training was chiefly in connection with the full-scale Station defence exercise, in which Squadron personnel played a prominent part. We had to defend two localities N.E. of the airfield and afterwards received high praise from the umpires and the L.D.A for the keenness ad efficiency shown by everyone concerned.

1943-08-16

Ballyhalbert

A dirty day, with rain and low cloud. One section was scrambled in the afternoon, but recalled after 15 minutes. In the evening, the same section did convoy patrol, but had nothing to report. A new pilot, Sgt. Zygmund, has arrived from 58 O.T.U.

1943-08-17

Ballyhalbert

A moderately good day, with a fair amount of training, including air-to air firing and formation.

1943-08-18

Ballyhalbert

The same routine, but with photo-attacks instead of air-to-air firing.

1943-08-19

Ballyhalbert

Heavy cloud at 1,000’, and frequent showers; but in spite of the weather there was some flying – an interception exercise being the chief event, and also some air-to-air and air-to-ground firing.

1943-08-20

Ballyhalbert

A very quiet day, in spite of reasonably good weather. No firing except for one ortwo aircraft tests.

1943-08-21

Ballyhalbert

One section patrolled the St. Angelo area in the afternoon, and there was quite a lot of training during the day: “A” Flight did a practice rhubarb at Valley, besides air-to-ground firing, formation and photo-attacks, while “B” Flight concentrated ob formation and photo-attacks.
Sgt Pilot Link, after only two or three weeks on our strength, is posted for the Cadet Officers’ course in Scotland.

1943-08-22

Ballyhalbert

A busy day, but marred by a fatal accident to one of our newer pilots. P/O Tuczemski, while carrying out a navigation exercises, flew to near the ground and crashed into a peat pit. He was killed instantly, and his machine burnt out. The accident happened near Rasharkin, Co. Down, and is attributed to the fact that P/O Tuczemski disregarded his Leader’s orders to increase height for his own safety.

1943-08-23

Ballyhalbert

Another busy training day, with formation, photo-attacks, and cross-country flying. Cloud was thin and higher than usual, and visibility good.

1943-08-24

Ballyhalbert

The chief event today has been the funeral of P/O Tuczemski, which took place in the Roman Catholic Churchyard at Ballycran, about 10 miles from the Station. The funeral Mass was held in our own Hangar.
Later in the day, there was a considerable amount of training.

1943-08-25

Ballyhalbert

In the afternoon, two sections were operational on convoy patrols, which were uneventful as usual, and the routine training was carried out. The Polish Minister of National Defence has sent the following message to the Squadron Leader in connection with Squadron Day:- “The C.-in-C. wishes to express his thanks and appreciation for the excellent organisation of the Squadron Day, and also for the general leadership of the Squadron, the effects of which the C.-in-C. was able to observe both in the high standard attained by the pilots in the air and in the working spirit of the ground personnel. He wishes also to thank F/Lt Klawe for the good work he did as liaison officer, and to convey his best wishes at all personnel of the Squadron”.
Two of our oldest pilots have left today, to go to 58 O.T.U. – F/O Jaworski, and W/O Matus.

1943-08-26

Ballyhalbert

Three sections were on shipping protection patrol between 07.00 and 11.00 this morning, in fairly good weather. And later there was formation flying, photo-attacks and an interception exercise.

1943-08-27

Ballyhalbert

During the afternoon and evening, three sections have been busy on convoy patrols, and there has been G.C.I. co-operation and air-to-air firing by other pilots. Weather has been reasonably good.

1943-08-28

Ballyhalbert

A non-operational day, with heavy rain and poor visibility. No activity except for one test flight.

1943-08-29

Ballyhalbert

A repetition of yesterday’s conditions.

1943-08-30

Ballyhalbert

An improvement in the weather today, and a fair amount of training possible, including G.C.I., cross-country, formation and photo-attacks.

1943-08-31

Ballyhalbert

Not a very busy day: two uneventful convoy patrols in the morning, and a practice rhubarb and interception exercise later. Visibility not too reliable.

(J. POPLAWSKI)
Squadron Leader, Commanding
No. 315 (Polish) Squadron.