Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-02-01

HESTON

Owing to the adverse Feather conditions, very little flying took place.
P/O P. Kliman arrived on posting from No. 61 O.T.U.
Weather: Continuous drizzle, slight haze.

1944-02-02

4 aircraft took part in formation flying training, 2 aircraft in low cross country flying, and 2 in a bombing exercise in addition to some local flying.
Weather: Intermittent rain – Cloudy.

1944-02-03

12.20.
OPERATION RAMROD 505. 11 aircraft together with 12 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to 54 Marauders bombing X1/A/54 EMBRY, X1/A/65 RUISSEAUVILLE and X1/A/117 LA LONGEVILLE. Bombers were six minutes late at R/V. Bombing not observed on targets detailed, but bombs seen to fall in FOREST OF HARDELOT. No E/A seen. Moderate light flak against bombers over X1/A/65. Weather: thin layer dispersed cloud at 6,000 feet, and 9/10ths from 8 – 12,000 feet. Visibility above cloud, good.
Spitfire V.B. R.7348 flown by F/S. Czerwinski took off for the above operational flight, the pilot had some difficulty with the engine however, and turned back, making a belly landing.
12.20.
The pilot suffered slight injury.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, slight haze.

1944-02-04

No flying took place to-day.
A lecture was given to pilots on “Escape and German Prisoner of War Camps” by F/Lt. Durnford.
Weather: Fair to cloudy, slight haze.

1944-02-05

12.45.
OPERATION RAMROD 517. 11 aircraft together with 11 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to first attack on operation Ramrod 517. The operation went according to plan. Grecy En Ponthieu, Gervent area and target X1/A/117, moderate accurate light flak experienced. One Marauder seen to go into a spin and catch fire over FERVENT area. Weather: 4-5/10ths cloud at 6-8,000 feet.
F/O B. Nowosielski (pilot) assumed duties as adjutant, vice F/O A. Sworniowski on leave.
Weather at Heston: Fair to cloudy, slight haze.

1944-02-06

No flying took place place to-day.
The Squadron took into its custody the FLAG of VILNO at a parade on the aerodrome to-day.
The Flag was previously held by No. 309 Polish Reconnaissance Squadron.
Weather: Fair to cloudy, fog.

1944-02-07

A good amount of flying training was carried out to-day, including Foto and low navigation, and low level cross country flights.
Weather: cloudy to fair, slight haze.

1944-02-08

08.35.
OPERATION RAMROD 526. 21 aircraft of this Squadron and No. 306 Squadron acted as close escort to first attack on Operation Ramrod 526. Operation went according to plan. From FRUGES, WEST BETHUNE and CASSEL areas moderate heavy flak. Weather: 8/10 cloud at 5/8,000 feet.
13.50.
OPERATION RAMROD 529. 11 aircraft together with 12 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to first attack on Operation Ramrod 529. This operation went according to plan. From South West ST. OMER and SOUTH HESDIN moderate accurate light flak. Weather: Target area, 4/10 cloud at 8,000 feet.
Weather at Heston: Fair to cloudy.

1944-02-09

HESTON

08.50.
OPERATION RAMROD 533. 12 aircraft together with 10 aircraft of 306 Squadron took part in operation Ramrod 533. This Squadron acted as close escort to second attack and 306 Squadron as close escort to third attack. The operation went according to plan. Both targets, moderate accurate heavy flak. Weather: 5/10ths cloud at 6/8,000 feet.
13.40.
OPERATION RAMROD 537. 11 aircraft together with 8 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to second attack on Operation Ramrod 537. The operation went according to plan.
Weather: 10/10ths cloud at 12,000 feet.
Weather at Heston: Fair to cloudy & rain continuous.

1944-02-10

08.45.
OPERATION RAMROD 538. 12 aircraft together with 11 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to second attack on Operation Ramrod 538. The operation went according to plan. One Marauder hit and two parachutes seen approx 10M before coast on way out. Target area, slight accurate heavy flak. Weather: 9/10ths cloud at 4/6,000 feet.
F/Sgt. T. Berka arrived on posting from No. 61 O.T.U.
Weather at Heston: Slight haze, fair to cloudy.

1944-02-11

11.00.
OPERATION RAMROD 544. 12 aircraft together with 10 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to third attack on Operation Ramrod 544. The Bombers turned back before reaching the target. Weather: 10/10ths cloud at 6/7,000 feet.
Training to-day consisted of sector recco’ and local flying.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy with showers.

1944-02-12

No flying was carried out to-day.
Weather: Fair, fog & mist.

1944-02-13

No flying was carried out to-day.
Weather: Cloudy, intermittent rain to continuous drizzle.

1944-02-14

12.25.
OPERATION RAMROD 552. 11 aircraft of this squadron together with 10 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to fourth attack. 18 Mitchells bombing X1/A/28 ST PIERRE DESJONQUIES. This operation went according to plan. About 15 fishing boats flying yellow and black signal flags were seen two miles off coast at AULT, proceeding in a north-easterly direction. No enemy aircraft was seen and there was no flak. Weather: clear over France. Visibility excellent.
Pilot Officers G. Swistun, J. Smigielski and B. Smidowicz arrived on posting from Deputy Polish Inspectorate General.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, slight rain.

1944-02-15

09.35.
OPERATION RAMROD 556. 11 aircraft together with 9 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to second attack on Operation Ramrod 556. The operation went according to plan. Bomb bursts were seen in target area Pinpoint not possible owing to haze. From target area, intense and accurate heavy flak. Weather: cloudless, visibility good.
15.15.
OPERATION RAMROD 560. 12 aircraft (including W/C Kowalski) together with 10 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to second attack on Operation Ramrod 560. The operation went according to plan. Heavy column of brown smoke seen after bombing target. Over LE TREPORT area, going in, slight inaccurate light flak experienced. Weather: Clear.
S/Ldr. Horbaczewski arrived on posting from R.A.F. Station, Northolt to take over command of this Squadron from S/Ldr. J. Poplawski.
F/O A. Sworniowski (Pilot) resumed duty as Adjutant of his return from leave, taking over from F/O B. Nowosielski (Pilot). Weather: Cloudy, becoming fair, slight haze.

1944-02-16

HESTON

No flying was carried out.
Weather: Cloudy, intermittent to continuous rain.

1944-02-17

No flying was carried out to-day.
Weather: Cloudy, intermittent rain and drizzle.

1944-02-18

No flying to-day. A lecture was given to pilots on “Aircraft recognition – Part II” by Lieut. Stasiaczek.
Weather: Cloudy, intermittent drizzle, snow.

1944-02-19

No flying was carried out to-day.
Weather: Cloudy, snow showers.

1944-02-20

15.50.
OPERATION RAMROD 569. 12 aircraft together with 12 aircraft of 306 Squadron acted as fighter umbrella in first attack on Operation Ramrod 569. The operation went according to plan. Weather: 10/10ths cloud from 1,500 to 5,000 feet.
Five aircraft took part in squadron formation flying training during the morning
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, slight haze.

1944-02-21

Training to-day consisted of navigation and local flying.
A lecture on “Combined Panel Code” was given by Lieut. Stasiaczek to pilots.
Weather: Cloudy, slight haze.

1944-02-22

There was a good amount of training flying to-day but no operations.
Weather: Fair to cloudy and snow showers.

1944-02-23

No flying was carried out to-day. A lecture was given by Lieut. Stasiaczek to the pilots on “The Army in the Field organisation”
Weather: Cloudy, moderate fog, showers of snow.

1944-02-24

12 aircraft took part in squadron formation flying training during the afternoon.
Weather: Fine, moderate fog, slight haze in the afternoon.

1944-02-25

11.45.
OPERATION RAMROD 589. 12 aircraft together with 9 aircraft of 306 Squadron (the former acting as close escort and the latter as fighter cover) escorted third attack on Operation Ramrod 589 which went according to plan. From target intense accurate heavy flak. Two Mitchells down in Channel. Fix given, three parachutes 2 miles east of fix in sea. Weather: Clear over target.
15.40.
OPERATION RAMROD 593. 12 aircraft with 8 of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to first attack on Operation Ramrod 593. This operation went according to plan. Weather: 10/10ths cloud at 3,000 feet.
S/Ldr. J. Poplawski left on posting to the Polish Inspectorate General and assumed duties as Polish Liaison Officer at H.Q. No. 11 Group.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, fog and mist.

1944-02-26

No flying was carried out to-day.
Weather: Cloudy, moderate fog.

1944-02-27

HESTON.

No flying was carried out to-day.
Weather: Intermittent drizzle.

1944-02-28

12.40.
OPERATION RAMROD 597. 12 aircraft with 11 of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to third attack on operation Ramrod 597. The operation went according to plan. Bombers were five minutes late at R/V. No flak and no enemy aircraft was seen. Weather: Cloudless and hazy.
A lecture by Lieut. Stasiaczek on the “Organisation of the German Armoured Division” was given to pilots.
Weather at Heston: Cloudy, moderate fog, hazy in the afternoon.

1944-02-29

12.45.
OPERATION RAMROD 602. 11 aircraft with 12 of 306 Squadron acted as close escort to fourth attack on operation Ramrod 602. This operation went according to plan. No bombs were seen to be dropped. No flak and no enemy aircraft was seen. Weather: Cloud at 5/6,000 feet.
Spitfire VC EE624 flown by P/O G. Swistun whilst taxying in readiness for the above operation knocked Spitfire VC EE 659. Both aircraft placed in category “A”.
Weather at Heston: Fair to cloudy. Showers of snow.

[Illegible] F/Lt
for SQUADRON LEADER, COMMANDING,
NO. 315 POLISH SQUADRON.