Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-08-01

Hutton Cranswick.

Both Flights came to availability at 05.30 hrs. and at least one section was at readiness throughout the whole of the day. Aerial activity was confined to non-operational flying, which included sector reconnaissance and Air to Air Firing. Four pilots carried out a dusk and night flying programme commencing at approximately 22.00 hrs. and concluding an hour later. The squadron was released at 22.30 hrs. the day having been without incident. F/O. A. Polek was posted supernumerary N.E. Sick to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick, on admission to hospital, on this date.

1942-08-02

Duty commenced at 05.35 hours, a similar state of preparedness as that of yesterday existing throughout the day. Weather conditions were slightly unfavourable, low clouds tending to obstruct visibility, but a certain amount of flying was necessary consequent upon several instances of the approach of hostile aircraft. One section carried out a patrol over convoy, following an instruction to scramble at 07.35. the patrol continuing until 08.10. and orders to scramble were again received at 14.50. and 16.30. No e/a. were seen during the patrols. Non-operational flying was limited to sector reconnaissance flights and a camera gun exercises which was partaken in by two pilots. The day concluded at 22.30 hours with the release of the squadron.

1942-08-03

The day, for the squadron, again opened at 05.35. hrs. and the same state of readiness was maintained throughout its course. On the whole the pilots were exceptionally busy, instructions for sections to “scramble” having been received at 12.20, 12.25, 16.00, 17.55, and 18.50, and at 12.45. six aircraft from “B” Flight and 2 from “A” Flight took off following the receipt of “scramble” instructions. One section carried out a patrol over convoy totalling 2 hrs. 50 mins. None of the operations proved incidental, however, and the day concluded at 22.25 hrs.

1942-08-04

At 05.35. the squadron came to a state of readiness and availability as instructed. Aerial activity during the day included convoy patrols, totalling 17 hrs. 10 mins. and several local non- operational flights. A night flying training programme was carried out, this having been participated in by three pilots. All flying had concluded by 23.20 hrs.

1942-08-05

Hutton Cranswick.

Personnel were on duty at 05.40 on this day and a state of readiness was invariably maintained by at least one section. Four pilots carried out an Air to Air Firing programme and quite a considerable amount of non-operational flying was carried out, this including fighter affiliation with a bomber squadron, in which one section took part. Operational flying was limited to one “scramble”, which employed a section of two aircraft and weather conditions in the evening again facilitated the execution of a practice dusk and night flying programme. The day was brought to a conclusion with the release of the pilots at 22.25 hrs.

1942-08-06

At 05.40 the squadron came on duty on this day. Activitis were confined to non-operational flying which included an Air to Air Firing programme, cloud flying and practice interception. Four pilots took part in a dusk flying training exercise and the Squadron Commander in a night flying exercise, subsequent to which duty concluded, nothing of note having taken place.

1942-08-07

The squadron were detailed for duty at 05.40 hrs. Aerial activity, with the exception of one “scramble” in which one section took part, was confined to non-operational flying, this being consistent to the greater extent of formation exercises. In the late evening the squadron again carried out a dusk and night flying exercise. Nothing of note occurred.

1942-08-08

The squadron came to duty at 05.45. hours. Consequent upon poor weather conditions the flying programme for the day was less extensive, but one section took part in a Rescue patrol whilst another participated in a “scramble”, which commenced at 20.25 hrs. and concluded at 21.30. Both patrols failed to provide incident, and the day closed at 22.20. having been comparatively uninteresting. Sgt, Pilot. L. Zygarlicki reported to the squadron from Hutton Cranswick following a period of non-effectiveness.

1942-08-09

At 04.45. hours the Flights were at duty. No operational flying was done during the day, but non-operational flying included Air to Air Firing, Formation flying and camera gun exercises. The day was unincidental.

1942-08-10

Hutton Cranswick.

After the squadron had commenced duty at 04.50. one section commenced a patrol over convoy at 08.05 and a further section took off at 09.10 to carry out a similar task. Instructions for one section to scramble were received at 11.50 but none of these flights proved incidental. Non-operational flying was limited to Navigation and Low Flying exercises and the flights were released at 21.29. P/O. Przygodzki was posted supernumerary N.E. Sick to R.A.F. Station, Hutton Cranswick on admission to hospital.

1942-08-11

A similar state of preparedness to that existing on the previous days of the month came into being subsequent to 04.50 on this day. Aerial activity was limited to training flying, this including cloud flying and cine camera gun exercises. On the whole the day lacked incident, the flights being released at 21.20 hours.

1942-08-12

The flights again commenced duty at 04.50. A rather mixed programme of flying was undertaken, this including a patrol over convoy and a rescue patrol, both of which provided the pilots with nothing to report and in the non-operational category, aerobatics, cine camera gun exercises, formation flying, navigation practise and practise attacks on a Typhoon aircraft. In the late evening four pilots took part in a dusk flying programme. Authority was received on this day for the posting of F/L. W.Baranski to No. 308 Squadron and F/L. Z.S. Moszycki from No. 308 Squadron both officers to undertake Operations Room duties and both postings to take effect from 30.7.42. The flights were released at 21.15.

1942-08-13

The squadron were on duty again today at the sane time as yesterday. One “scramble” took place participated in by one section and commencing at 05.25. and concluding at 06.40. and the remainder of the day was utilised for training, the main features being an Air to Air Firing practice and practice attacks on Halifax Bombers. Nothing further, which would merit its placing on record occurred and the day concluded with the release of the Flights at 20.15 hrs.

1942-08-14

Hutton Cranswick.

Having come to readiness at 04.55 hrs. the pilots commenced to carry out a patrol over convoy at 10.00 hrs. the patrol continuing until 13.20 and consisting of 8 hours flying. Non-operational flying included affiliation with bomber aircraft and practice attacks. Nothing of note occurred during the day and the pilots were released at 21.40.

1942-08-15

A limited amount of flying took place on this day subsequent to the squadron commencing duty at 04.55. Two sections were, however, instructed to ‘scramble” at 17.45. and 18.45 respectively, the patrols which were unincidental involving a total of 5 hours 20 mins flying. The squadron was released at 21.15 following an unincidental day.

1942-08-16

The flights again reported at a similar time to that of yesterday. 23 pilots, the squadron engineer Officer, Intelligence Officer and Medical Officer, together with 67 other rank ground crew personnel, were attached to Kirton in Lindsey to re-inforce that sector consequent upon the temporary movement of No. 303 Squadron to an aerodrome further south. Patrols over convoy totalling 5 hours 20 mins. were carried out and a “scramble: was participated in by one section, this taking off at 12.50. The patrol lacked incident. F/O. E.J. Kowalski was attached to No. 2 School of Air Navigation w.e.f. this date for a Navigation Refresher Course and P/O. M. Wyszkowski proceeded on posting to No. 306 Squadron.

1942-08-17

Operation from Kirton and coming to duty at 04.55 hrs. the squadron carried out a fairly extensive flying programme on this day. A patrol over convoy consisting of 2 hours 50 mins. flying was carried out by one section which took off at 05.20 hrs. and sections were ordered to “scramble” at 06.00, 18.35, and 19.00 hrs. No contestants were met during the flights. Quite a number of sector reconnaissance flights were carried out in addition to an Air to Air Firing practice and dusk and night flying by one pilot. Instructions that the squadron was released were received at 21.05.

1942-08-18

At 05.00 hrs. the flights came to readiness and availability as appropriate. Operational flying was inclusive of patrols over convoy, these totalling 6 hrs. and involving two sections, and a rescue patrol, also involving one section commencing at 07.20. A night landing R/T procedure practice was carried out at Hibaldstow during the daytime and a dusk flying and landing practice in the late evening. F/O. R. Strozak and Sgt. Nowaczyn, W. and Sgt. Bartlomiejczyk, C. were posted to the squadron from No. 58 O.T.U. for flying duties. Nothing of further interest occurred.

1942-08-19

Hutton Cranswick.

Having come to their respective states of preparedness at 05.00 hrs. one section of the squadron took off to carry out a dawn patrol at 05.15. whilst one section patrolled over a convoy commencing at 05.25. and two sections took off following instructions to “scramble” at 10.20 hrs. Two further “scramble” patrols in each of which one section took part, were carried out commencing at 14.35 and 14.40 respectively and a patrol over the sea commenced at 11.30. None of these patrols contained incident. The flights were released at 21.10.

1942-08-20

Duty commenced at 05.05. on this date. Training flying included practice dog fights with a Lockheed Lightning, low level attacks and high altitude flying. All the personnel who were attached to Kirton-in-Lindsey on 16.8.42. ceased to be attached to that station on this date. P/O. J. Szymankiewicz was attached to R.A.F. Station, Sutton Bridge for a Gunnery Instructors Course and F/O. L. Zakrzewski and P/O. A.F.Prochnicki were attached to R.A.F. Station, Matlaske for Air Firing Course. The flights ceased to be at readiness or available at 19.55 hrs.

1942-08-21

The day opened at 05.05. and there followed a period in which no operational flying was necessary. Several training flights were executed inclusive of an Air to Sea firing exercise done by the Squadron Commander, practice interception, formation and practice homing, G.C.I. co-operation, and sector reconnaissance by the new pilots. F/O. L. Zakrzewski ceased to be attached to Matlaske on this date whilst F/O. R. Strozak replaced him at that station, this officer also proceeding for an Air Firing Course. P/O. K. Samofal was attached to R.A.F. Station, Church Fenton for a course in Operation Room duties. The Flights were released at 20.57.

1942-08-22

A state of readiness was reached at 05.05 again on this day. Flying was limited to practice flights of va[…….] descriptions and the pilots were released at 21.10., with the exception of six pilots who were on night readiness and six who carried out a dusk and night flying training programme.

1942-08-23

Hutton Cranswick.

Patrols over convoy commenced on this day at 06.05 after the flights had come to readiness at 05.05. these constituting a total of 6 hrs. 40 mins. flying and apart from which only training flying took place. The flights were released at 20.59. with the exception of six pilots who were retained on night readiness and the day on the whole was uneventful.

1942-08-24

The flights reached a state of readiness or availability as instructed on this day, but there were eventualities and it was not necessary to take off on operational flying at any time. An appreciable amount of training flying was carried out but the day lacked incidents. The pilots apart from those detailed for night readiness, were released at 20.50.

1942-08-25

The flights were available at 5 mins. later on this day and the whole of the day was devoted to training flying, it closing at 20.45 hrs. having been without incident. F/O. A. Polek reported to the squadron from Hutton Cranswick, following a period of Non-effectiveness.

1942-08-26

The day opened at 05.10 and again it lacked operations. Some training flying was accomplished but on the whole the day was uninteresting. F/O. T. Szumowski was posted to No. 2 Flying Instructors School for Flying Instructor’s Course, whilst P/O. A. Prochnicki and F/O. R. Strozak ceased to be attached to Matlaske on the completion of Air to Air Firing course. Pilots were released at 21.40. with the exception of those who were instructed to remain a 60 mins. available throughout the night.

1942-08-27

Duty commenced at 05.15 and quite a number of training flights were carried out, these including bomber co-operation, sector reconnaissance and Air to Air Firing, Commencing at 20.35 hrs. Squadron Leader, J. Zurakowski carried out a black-out reconnaissance over the neighbouring towns but apart from this and the fact that F/O. J. Radomski left the squadron on posting to No. 72 Squadron for flying duties, the day provided nothing to report.

1942-08-28

A state of preparedness was reached at 05.10. on this date and only one operational patrol, for rescue was carried out. The remainder of the flying accomplished was of the non-operational category and included dog fighting, cine camera gun exercises and navigational training. In carrying out a low flying exercise, P/O. W. Balon caught the tip of his mainplane in the sea at Sewerby, near Bridlington, causing the machine to crash into the sea at a point about one mile from the shore, the pilot being fatally injured. P/O. M. Zolcinski, and Sgt. Pilot Bartlomiejczyk, C. were attached to R.A.F. Station, Matlaske for an Air Firing Course.

1942-08-29

Hutton Cranswick.

Weather conditions being slightly unfavourable, only a limited amount of flying was carried out. On this date, but this including two flights which were intended to develop into patrols over convoy but from which the respective sections were recalled after approximately 10 mins. flying. Nothing further to report.

1942-08-30

Again consequent upon the weather conditions, the amount of flying carried out on this day was limited. One section was instructed to Scramble at 07.45. but the patrol was not incidental. The Flights were released at 21.40.

1942-08-31

At 05.25. a state of preparedness was reached. Non-operational flying included formation flying and sector reconnaissance. Nothing of interest occurred during this day.

for Gottowt P/O [Autograph]
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 316 Squadron.