Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-02-01

Northolt

F/O. Szumowski has been posted from No. 317 (P) Squadron for flying duties. No flying possible owing to weather conditions.

1942-02-02

Northolt

No flying again today.

1942-02-03

Northolt

Still no flying possible and everybody feeling rather “browned-off”

1942-02-04

Northolt

At last the pilots are able to get off the ground and everybody is taking full advantage of the opportunity.

1942-02-05

Northolt

Training, in particular with camera gun, was again carried out today.

1942-02-06

Northolt

Formation flying practiced and dusk landings carried out.

1942-02-07

Northolt

A similar programme was carried out today.

1942-02-08

Northolt

Four pilots wont up to do air to air firing.

1942-02-09

Northolt

Conditions did not permit of any flying today.

1942-02-10

Northolt

The squadron did wing formation and cloud flying in the afternoon and dusk landings were practiced by seven pilots.

1942-02-11

Northolt

W/C.Brzezina flew in a squadron spitfire to Exeter. The squadron continued with formation flying training.

1942-02-12

Northolt

At 12.35. hours, the squadron took off to take part in the Fuller operation. Together with the rest of the wing they were vectored to a point 20 miles S.E. of Hawkinge.
About a dozen M.T.B´s were seen and recognised as friendly. Apart from this nothing of interest was seen and five pilots landed at Northolt at 13.45. hours. The remainder after making an intermediate landing at Manston returned to base at 14.30 hours, At 16.10 hours the squadron again took off on a protective mission and all aircraft had returned by 18.10 hours.

1942-02-13

Northolt

Ten Spitfires took off at 11.15 hours to sweep between Gravelines and Ostend in search of shipping. Nothing of interest was seen. On the return flight, while changing formation, just South of Maidstone, an airman pilot collided with the aircraft piloted by F/O.Radwanski. Both aircraft crashed but F/O.Radwanski succeeded in baling out and landed at Linton Park, three miles south of Maidstone, suffering from shock and bruiae s The other aircraft crashed at White Farm, five miles south of Maidstone and the body of the airman pilot was found still strapped in the cockpit.

1942-02-14

Northolt

The squadron, together with the rest at the wing, carried out bomber escort practice.
F/O.Dec flew over the Marlow – Henley course in co-operation with the Observer Corps. Four pilots went up to practice dusk landings.

1942-02-15

Northolt

No flying possible today.

1942-02-16

Northolt

Intensive formation flying practice.

1942-02-18

Northolt

Weather conditions restricted flying today.

1942-02-19

Northolt

F/O.T.Szymankiewicz flew to and from Abingdon in a Spitfire. Formation flying was again carried out.

1942-02-20

Northolt

One section from “B” Flight took off at 10.25 hours on a “Rhubarb”. They were unable to locate the target near Dieppe and returned to base at 11.30. hours. One section of “A” Flight took off at 10.30 hours on a similar operation, this time the target being at St. Valery-en-Caux. They were, likewise, unable to locate, but F/L.Sawicz shot up a water tower. On the return flight the other member of the section had to force-land the channel about 15 miles north of Fecamp. F/L.Sawicz gave a fix on the position after having some difficulty in contacting a station. He then flew to Shoreham and landed at base at 13.20 hours. Six aircraft of the squadron “scrambled” at 12.05 hours to assist in rescue operations but no sign of the airman pilot was seen. The enemy intercepted our broadcast and it may be that he was picked up by their rescue service. An airman pilot has been posted from 58 O.T.U. for flying duties.

1942-02-21

Northolt

A practice sweep over the channel was made by “A” Flight while “B” Flight carried out an interception practice.

1942-02-22

Northolt

Formation flying and practice attacks by the squadron.

1942-02-24

Northolt

Air firing carried out by “B” Flight, while “A” Flight did training in practice attacks, and also carried out dusk landings and night flying.

1942-02-25

Northolt

Formation flying and practice interceptions were carried out by “A” Flight.

1942-02-26

Northolt

Weather conditions restricted flying to one aircraft and one weather test.

1942-02-27

Northolt

Weather continued to restrict flying but a little formation practice was done.

1942-02-28

Northolt

The squadron took off at 15.30 hours as part of wing to act as close escort to six Blenheims which were to bomb a target at Ostend. Good rendezvous with bombers was made at 15.57. hours. A course was Dunkirk and then along the coast to Ostend. Heavy and accurate flak was encountered north of Nieuport and after leaving the target, pecking attacks were made by about 15 M.E. 109´s, on the wing. These were continued until well over the channel. Five minutes from the Belgian coast F/O.Gorski had to bale out. A fix was given and several of our aircraft orbited the spot for some time. About 25 miles S.E. of Menston, S/L.Gabszewicz saw two M.E. 109´s attacking a Spitfire. He gave the first a one second burst from above and did likewise to the second. He then gave a fix on the Pilot, (P/O.Dobrucki) who had baled out of the Spitfire. Although rescue patrols were made until darkness fell, no trace of the pilots could be found. There is a certain bitterness and one might almost say a lowering of morale in the squadron regarding the efficiency or lack of same in the Air/Sea Rescue Service, as this is the third pilot to be lost in this way in the course of a week.