Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-05-01

Pembrey

8Shipping patrols totalling 23 hours 10 minutes were carried out by the Squadron.

1941-05-02

S/L. Frey returned from Northolt in Magister. S/L. Starosta, Polish padre, arrived on visit to Squadron. 10 Patrols, totalling 30 hours 20 minutes, were carried out.

1941-05-03

On the occasion of the Polish National Day a parade was held. F/O. Nosowicz left for Blackpool in Battle. The Squadron made 10 patrols of a total of 25 hours 15 minutes.

1941-05-04

F/O. Nosowicz returned from Blackpool in Battle. 12 Shipping patrols, totalling 41 hours 30 minutes, were carried out by the Squadron. S/L. Starosta left.

1941-05-05

While on convoy patrol at 1200 feet, P/O Gorski noticed black pieces resembling soot coming from the starboard exhaust. A little later thick white smoke began to come out of both exhaust and the pilot could not keep the engine running. He forced landed at Moorlands Gate Farm near St. Ann’s Head with undercarriage retracted and flaps down. The pilot was unhurt. S/L. Kolodynski arrived from 81 Group Worcester on attachment for operational flying. 24 hours 20 minutes, involving 9 patrols, were flown on shipping protection.

1941-05-06

The Squadron carried out 9 patrols, totalling 27 hours 20 minutes.

1941-05-07

3 Patrols, total 8 hours 10 minutes, were made.

1941-05-08

32 Hours 20 minutes, or 10 patrols, were flown by the Squadron on shipping protection.

1941-05-09

Group Captain Pawlikowski arrived from H.Q.F.C. 12 Patrols, totalling 34 hours 20 minutes, were flown on shipping protection.

1941-05-10

Group Captain Pawlikowski left for H.Q.F.C. The Squadron carried out 8 patrols of a total of 25 hours 10 minutes over the sector during the day.

1941-05-11

4 Protective patrols and 1 Scramble of 13 aircraft totalling 21 hours 30 minutes were made today.

1941-05-12

S/L. Goodzicki, O.C. of No. 307 (Polish) Squadron, flew to Northolt and returned in Battle. P/O. Gorski delivered a Hurricane I at Cowley. 14 hours 30 minutes, or 5 patrols, were flown on shipping protection.

1941-05-13

Pembrey

12 Shipping patrols, totalling 33 hours 55 minutes, more carried out today.

1941-05-14

F/Lt. Baranski flew to and from Carew Cheriton in the Magister. S/L. Benz from 10 Group arrived on administrative duties. The Squadron made 3 patrols of a total of 8 hours 30 minutes.

1941-05-15

S/L. Benz left for 10 Group. F/Lt. Baranski left for Whitefield (near Porth) in Magister.
F/L. Wilczewski, P/O. Gorski and P/O. Buchwald flew to St. Eval in the Battle. 11 Shipping patrols, totalling 27 hours, were carried out today.

1941-05-16

F/O Gabszewicz delivered a Hurricane at Hanworth and F/O. Nosowicz one at Leicester. F/Lt. Baranski flew from Scone via Blackpool to Oxford in Magister. The Squadron made 1 patrol of 2 hours 30 minutes.

1941-05-17

While on shipping patrol at 15.15 hours F/Lt. Wilczewski noticed his engine vibrating strongly and he tried to reach his home aerodrome. However when near Llanelly this engine got worse and he locked for a landing spot. A sports field nearby could not be used on account of the number of people on it. He gained height and endeavoured to forced land in a small field but saw it was impossible and had therefore to crash the aircraft at 70 m.p.h. on the right wing. The pilot was unhurt. 10 Shipping patrols, involving 30 hours 25 minutes, were flown by the Squadron. F/Lt Baranski flew from Oxford to Pembrey in Magister.

1941-05-18

P/O. Anders brought a Hurricane I. from Coltishall. No patrols were made.

1941-05-19

S/L. Kolodynski left for 81 Group Worcester. The Squadron carried out 6 patrols, totalling 18 hours 20 minutes.

1941-05-20

At approximately 18.20 hours Sgt. Kiedrzynski, while on convoy patrol 5 miles west of St. David’s Head when he heard his engine knocking and saw white smoke coming from the starboard exhausts. His height was 1000 feet and he decided to fly Towards Rawsey Island. Near the island smoke was no longer coming from the exhaust but burning rubber could be smelt. At this moment the pilot felt burns on his face and saw flame. in the cockpit. He baled out and the parachute opened about 50 feet above the sea. Getting out of the parachute harness the pilot swam the 180 yards to the shore where he was picked up by a lifeboat 30 minutes later. The pilot was severely burned about the face and arms and was taken to Haverfordwest Memorial Hospital. 33 hours 40 minutes, or 12 patrols, were flown by the Squadron on shipping protection.

1941-05-21

Pembrey

F/O. Nosowicz and P/O. Gozdecki flew to North Weald in the Battle to collect a Hurricane which F/O. Nosowicz flew back to Pembrey. P/O. Gozdecki brought the Battle back via Yeovil. The Squadron carried out 6 patrols, totalling 7 hours 30 minutes, over the sector.

1941-05-22

3 Patrols, 10 hours 10 minutes in all, were made today.

1941-05-23

6 Hours 30 minutes, involving 3 patrols, were made flown by the Squadron.

1941-05-25

The Squadron carried out 2 patrols totalling 2 hours 10 minutes.

1941-05-26

P/O. Buchwald and Sgt. Dobrucki flew to Coltishall in the Battle where a Hurricane I was collected and flown to Pembrey by P/O. Buchwald while the Battle was brought back by Sgt. Dobrucki. No operational flying was done today.

1941-05-27

The Squadron carried out 4 patrols totalling 11 hours 50 minutes.

1941-05-28

S/L. Benz arrived from 10 Group on administrative duties and left in the evening. 10 Hours 10 minutes, involving 4 patrols, were flown over the sector on shipping protection.

1941-05-29

F/O. Virpsha, Interpreter, flew to Exeter in the Battle piloted by P/O. Klawe on administrative duties. The Squadron carried out 14 shipping patrols, totalling 44 hours 35 minutes.

1941-05-30

3 Patrols of a total of 7 hours 20 minutes were made over the sector. F/O. Virpsha returned by train.

1941-05-31

P/O. Klawe returned in the Battle from Exeter. 1 Patrol of 2 hours 15 minutes. was carried out today.

[Illegible]
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 316 Squadron.