Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-01-01

(LLANBEDR)
(HESTON)

The Squadron with aircraft returned to Heston from Llanbedr Armament Practice Camp. Weather: Cloudy, visibility moderate.

1944-01-02

HESTON

Very little flying this day. Weather: Cloudy, visibility very good.

1944-01-03

HESTON

Very little flying to-day. Weather: Cloudy, visibility very good.

1944-01-04

HESTON.

11.00.
Ramrod 418. Eight aircraft of his Squadron together with ten of 306 acted as close escort in attacks on Ligescourt and Guescart by 24 Bostons and 24 Mitchells. W/C. Zak led No. 306 Squadron and S/L Poplawski led No. 315. The R/V was reached acceding to plan. At Guescart bombing was seen to fall in wood N.W. of Yvrench A/F. AT Liegescourt bombs were seen to fall on west side of target. No flak and no E/A was seen.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, visibility moderate.
15.15.
Ramrod 422 Eight aircraft of this Squadron together with ten aircraft of 306 acted as fighter umbrella to X/A/40 Guescart. Height in target area was 13,000 feet. The operation went according to plan. There was no flak and no E/A were seen, but nine bandits were signaled over Amiens. Bombs were seen to burst near a rectangular building on X/A/40 Guescart. Weather over France: clear, visibility very good.

1944-01-05

HESTON

Very little flying to-day. Weather: Fair, visibility poor.

1944-01-06

HESTON

13.10.
Rhubarb. Eight aircraft of this Squadron took off at 13.10 hours for Operation Rhubarb on 11/A/46 St. Agathe and 11/A/48 Le-Mesnil-Allard. Cannon strikes seen on large rectangular building at 11/A/48. Two sections of four each took off from Heston. The first section attacked 11/A/48 from N.W. and again from S to N. Light flak was experienced. The second section received intense light flak from S of target 11/A/46, no attack was made. North of target machine gun fire was experienced and gun position attacked. When this section made a left hand orbit of the target, Flight Sergeant Lejek turned right and was not seen again, and is recorded as missing. Weather: 10/10 cloud at 2 to 3,000 feet, visibility good below cloud base.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, visibility very good.

1944-01-07

HESTON

10.35.
Ramrod 431. Nine aircraft of this Squadron together with eight of 306 Squadron took off at 10.35 acting as close escort to 72 Marauders bombing 11/A/25 La Glacerie and 11/A/41 Mesnil-au-Val. R/V at 12,000 feet was made at 11.15 hours with second box of bombers. The first box was seen crossing the French coast at the time fixed for R/V. Bombs were seen to burst 500 feet S.W. of 11/A/41. Two F.W. 190’s were seen 5 miles south of Cherbourg – Maupertus but they evaded combat. Flak slight heavy from vicinity of Maupertus A/F., height 13 to 15,000 feet, accurate for direction. Weather: 2/10 cloud at 8-10,000 feet, visibility good.

1944-01-08

HESTON

No flying this day. Weather: Cloudy and rain, visibility moderate.

1944-01-09

HESTON

Five aircraft took part in squadron formation flying during the afternoon. No operational flying. Weather: Cloudy, rain and drizzle. Visibility moderate.

1944-01-10

HESTON

Eight aircraft were engaged in squadron formation flying training during the day. Weather: Clouds and drizzle, visibility very poor.

1944-01-11

HESTON

No flying to-day owing to adverse weather conditions. Weather: Fog and drizzle, visibility very poor.

1944-01-12

No flying again to-day. Weather: cloudy, visibility very poor.

1944-01-13

Very little flying took place to-day. Weather: Cloud rain and drizzle, visibility moderate.

1944-01-14

11.00.
Ramrod 453. Nine aircraft of this squadron together with twelve of 306 Squadron took off at 11.00 hours acting as close escort in third attack on targets X1/A/70, 57 & 11C. The operation went according to plan. There was intense flak on the target area. Approximately 100 small ships in clusters of 20 to 30 were seen near the coast between Dunkirk and Ostend.
Weather: Clear, visibility good.
Flying Officer Malczewski proceeded on posting to No. 16 (P) S.F.T.S.

1944-01-15

No flying this day owing to the bad weather. Weather: Fog, visibility very poor.

1944-01-16

No flying to-day, the weather stil being foggy.

1944-01-17

Flying which took place to-day was on a very small scale. Weather: Fog and drizzle, visibility very poor.

1944-01-18

No flying apart from aircraft testing. A lecture was given to the pilots on the M. 19.
Flying Officer Zielonka proceeded on posting Headquarters No. 9 Group pending posting to an O.T.U. for flying instructor duties.
Weather: Cloud, fog and drizzle. Visibility very poor.

1944-01-19

No flying this day. Weather: Cloudy, visibility moderate.
Flight Lieutenant Olszewski proceeded on posting to Headquarters No. 9 Group, pending posting to an O.T.U. for flying instructor duties.

1944-01-20

Sic aircraft took off during the afternoon acting as escort to a V.I.P. Flight Wyrozemski proceeded on posting to No. 16(P)S.F.T.S. Weather: Fine becoming fair. Visibility poor becoming moderate.

1944-01-21

11.45.
Ramrod 467. Eleven aircraft of this squadron together with eleven of 306 squadron took off at 11.45 hours acting as close escort to 54 Marauders bombing X1/A/68/ Lostbarne, X1/A/100 Zudausgues and X1/A/112 Notre Dame Ferme. One M.E. 210 was damaged by F/Lt Drybanski of No. 306 Squadron. The operation went according to plan. Light medium flak over the target. 12 F.W. 190’s followed our aircraft out to the coast, but did not attack. Weather: Fine, visibility 30 miles.
Six aircraft took part in Sector recce and foto flying training during the day.
Weather at Heston: Fair, visibility good.

1944-01-22

Very little flying training this day. Weather: Cloudy and rain, visibility moderate.

1944-01-23

14.35.
Ramrod 472. Nineteen aircraft (No. 306 and No. 315 Squadrons) acted as close escort to 54 Marauders bombing X1.A.86 Le Nieppe and X1/A/99 Pois D’enfer. South of Gravelines on the way out, the first box of bombers was attacked by 5 F.W. 190s from below out of cloud. One bomber of the first box shot down and crew seen to bale out. F/O Tronczynski (306) and F/Lt Drybanski (306) attacked two aircraft and the former saw his opponent go down into cloud emitting black smoke. F/Lt Drybanski makes no claim. The other three aircraft did not press home attack. Heavy medium flak observed from Samers and north of same seen to explode forward of first of bombers. Weather:4/10 cloud at 5 to 7,000 feet, visibility good.
Nine aircraft took part in squadron formation flying training during the day.
Weather at Heston. Clouds and rain, visibility moderate.

1944-01-24

08.50.
Ramrod 476. Sixteen aircraft of this squadron and No. 306 acted as close escort to Marauders attacking X1/A/81-76-85-21C. Light medium flak from direction of Auxi-Le-Chateau. Thick column of grey smoke signaled from northern edge of forrest of Hesdin, pinpoint 4040/72-9498162.
Also bombs seen to burst on target X1/A/76 by W.C Zak. No E/A seen. Weather: 8/10 cloud at 15,000 feet, visibility very good.
Flying Officer Sworniowski (G.D.) took over duties as adjutant from Flying Officer Nowosielski (G.D.)
Weather at Heston: Clouds, drizzle and rain. Visibility poor.

1944-01-25

09.00.
Ramrod 478. Ten aircraft of this squadron with eight of No. 306 acted as close escort to second attack of 24 Bostons bombing X1/A/53-82 and 24 Mitchells bombing X1/A/89. Medium flak experienced all the way in from the French coast to the target area and return. Third attack bombers were split into two boxes about five miles apart. This attack turned home near French coast and did not bomb. Weather over target area 6/10 comulus clouds 5-15,000 feet, visibility good. No E/A seen. No bombing observed.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, visibility good.

1944-01-26

08.55.
Ramrod 486. Twenty-two aircraft of this squadron and No. 306 Squadron acted as close escort to 24 Mitchells bombing X1/A/78 Marquenneville. R/V with bombers was made at 8,000 feet. No flak and no enemy aircraft was seen. Bombing appeared dispersed but impossible to pin point.
Weather: cloud patches 4/10 at 6-7,000 feet, visibility poor.
Weather at Heston: Clouds and rain, visibility very poor.

1944-01-27

No flying was carried out this day. Weather: Clouds and drizzle, visibility moderate.

1944-01-28

Eleven aircraft took part in squadron battle formation training and also nine squadron formation and cloud flying.
Weather: Clouds, visibility moderate.

1944-01-29

12.45.
Ramrod 493. Twelve aircraft of this squadron together with eleven of No. 306 acted as close escort to 36 Marauders bombing X1/A/29 Preuseville and X1/A/91 Beaulier Ferme. No flak and no enemy aircraft was seen. Bombing was not observed. Weather 8/10 cloud at 1,500 to 4,000 feet with clear patches over target area. Visibility above cloud, good.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, visibility poor.

1944-01-30

11.05.
Ramrod 497. Twenty-one aircraft of this squadron and No. 306 led by S/Ldr. Poplawski acted as flight cover to 24 Mosquitos attacking 11A115 Beaumont-Le-Hareng. This sortie was uneventfull and bombing was not observed. Weather: fine and clear over target, visibility very good.
Weather at Heston: Clouds, visibility moderate.

1944-01-31

HESTON

Six aircraft took part in formation flying training during the day. Spitfire VB AB784 flown by Flight Sergeant Zalenski crashed in South London. The pilot was seriously injured and was admitted to West Middlesex Hospital.
A lecture on Air to Ground Signals was given to pilots.
Weather: Cloudy, visibility moderate.

[Autograph]
(J. POPLAWSKI)
SQUADRON LEADER, COMMANDING,
NO. 315 (POLISH) SQUADRON.