Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-01-01

Hutton Cranswick.

Inclement Feather conditions, appropriate to the period of the year rendered flying impracticable on this day, on the whole, it closed having provided nothing of interest to record.

1943-01-02

Flying was resume, consequent upon an improvement in the state of the weather, the day’s activity being inclusive of Low Flying. Aerobatic and Air to Air Firing exercises, in addition to anaffiliation to Halifax bombers. During landing, after completing an aerobatic exercise the starboard landing wheel tyre of the Spitfire flown by F/O. L. Zakrzewski burst, the aircraft swinging off the runway and on coming into contact with the soft ground at the edge of the perimeter, tipping up on its nose and port mainplane. The aircraft was damaged to the extent of its being categorized “AC” but the pilot was uninjured. S/L/ J. Zurakowski left the squadron on posting to Northolt, whilst P/O. E. Mlynarski proceeded to No. 317 Squadron, also on posting the effective dates having been 28th. and 30th. of December, respectively.

1943-01-03

A further improvement in weather conditions experienced and a reasonably extensive practice flying progamme was carried out. At 10.20. one aircraft flown by F/O. J. Dec, took off on instructions from Operations to locate and shoot down a barrage balloon which had broken away from its moorings.
The officer patrolled for one hour and forty minutes but was unable to locate the balloon.
P/O. T. Legowski was attached to A.F.D.U. Duxford, for a Cine Camera Gun Assessment Course.

1943-01-04

Apart from the average days practice flying the day lacked incident.

1943-01-05

The state of the weather began to depreciate and only a limited programme of flying was executed. Nothing to report from other departments.

1943-01-06

Aerial activity was suspended on this day by poor visibility, which was accompanied by local snow and sleet. P/O. A.F. Prochnicki was attached to No. 1 Officer School, Cosford for No. 10 Polish Officers Course, whilst P/O. M. Zolcinski ceased to be attached to that unit on completion of his course.

1943-01-07

The only flight carried out was a local flight done in a squadron Spitfire flown by W/C. K. Holden, Station Commander, otherwise the day was not incidental in any way.

1943-01-08

Flying assumed its normal course consequent upon weather improvement, the day, however, constituted only practice flying, with the exception of one patrol over convoy, involving one section and proving unincidental. Taking off in a Spitfire aircraft, Sgt. Pilot S. Sztuka caught his landing wheels on a pile of frozen snow at the edge of the runway, the port oleo leg breaking away and sufficient damage being done to the landing device to prevent it from retracting. The pilot made a successful crash landing on one wheel, damaging his aircraft, but sustaining no injury himself. Nothing to report from other departments.

1943-01-09

The average days flying programme was carried out. F/S. Pilot Gora T. proceeded to the Polish Army Camp at Auchtermuchty, Scotland and was, in consequence posted, supernumerary to the strength of the Deputy Polish Inspectorate General.

1943-01-10

Inclement weather conditions locally suspended aerial activity, poor visibility being accompanied by a heavy fall of snow. Nothing of interest to record.

1943-01-11

Bad weather conditions continued and no flying was carried out.

1943-01-12

A continuation of bad weather conditions caused the almost complete suspension of aerial activity on flight only, an aircraft test, having been carried out. Sgt. Pilot Grzywacz was posted to the squadron from No. 58 O.T.U. for flying duties.

1943-01-13

Flying resumed, the weather conditions having been sugject to improvement. No operational flying was carried out, however. Flying Officer, J. Dec, was attached to The Fighter Leader School, Aston Down. for a course of instruction.

1943-01-14

Quite an extensive practice flying programme carried out, including a practice :Fighter Night”. Nothing of further interest to record.

1943-01-15

Practice flying continued on an appreciably large scale, this Also inclusive of a night flying programme. Other departments provided nothing to record.

1943-01-16

A major depreciation in weather conditions observed, all aerial activity being suspended thereby.

1943-01-17

The weather showed a slight sign of improvement n this day, but could not be regarded as suitable for flying, this activity in consequence was limited. Nothing of interest to report.

1943-01-18

Hutton Cranswick.

Flying once more hampered by local weather conditions though a limited programme of formation exercises took place. The day was iminteresting.

1943-01-19

The state of the weather suspended flying and the day locked incident.

1943-01-20

Unfavourable weather conditions persisted and one flight only, a weather test of 10 minutes duration, was carried out. P/O. Z. Szal was posted to the squadron from No. 306 Squadron, supernumerary for Intelligence duties with effect from today’s date, whilst F/O. K. Dolicher was posted from No. 56 O.T.U. for flying duties.

1943-01-21

Taking off at 10.35. hours, 12 Spitfire aircraft proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Northolt, with an offensive operation, landing at that station at 11.45. hours. Becoming airborne at Northolt at 14.25. the same aircraft, flown by S/L. J. Trzebinski; F/O. S. Stegman, F/O. L. Zakrzewski, P/O. J. Szymankiewicz, P/O. Z. Przygodzki, F/Sgt. Gallus, P, F/Sgt. Lipiec, K. Sgt. Plenkiewicz, A. Sgt. Syperek, P. Sgt. Murkowski, A. Sgt. Bartlomiejczyk, C. and Sgt. Wlosok – Nowarski, I. took part in an 11 Group Rodeo. Flying as bottom squadron of the Polish Wing, at 21,000 ft. subsequently increased to 26,000 ft. course was set for Abbeville where a fairly large number of F.W. ‘s 190 were sighted. The formation went into combat, and as a result two F.W.’s were claimed as probably destroyed by P/O. J. Szymankiewicz, and F/Sgt. Gallus, P. With the exception of F/Sgt. Lipiec who made an intermediate landing at Benson, all the squadron returned to Northolt. From other departments there was nothing of interest to record.

1943-01-22

Poor weather locally prevented the squadron from returning from Northolt. Nothing of interest occurred.

1943-01-23

The day opened with weather poor, but a slight improvement later in the day facilitated the squadron’s returned from Northolt. Other flying was limited and the day comparatively unincidental.

1943-01-24

Flying was very limited consequent upon the inclement weather conditions. Nothing of interest occurred.

1943-01-25

The squadron took off for Gravesend at 09.00 hours to partake in an 11 Group “Circus” operation, which was subsequently cancelled owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, the formation in consequence returning to base at 15.10 hours. Nothing further to report.

1943-01-26

The weather on this day was reasonably good locally and practice flying on a fairly large scale took place. Two aircraft took off on instructions to “scramble” but the patrol lacked incident. Nothing to record from other departments.

1943-01-27

The squadron came to readiness on this morning in anticipation of a move to Gravesend in connection with offensive operations, the movement, however, was cancelled due to the unfavourable state of the weather. One operational patrol following instructions to “Scramble” was carried out by one Section, and involved one hour thirty minutes flying. The patrol lacked incident. The remainder of the day was utilized in the execution of practice flying.

1943-01-28

A fairly extensive flying programme carried out, but devoid of operations. P/O. L. Kondracki posted to the squadron from No. 222 Squadron for flying duties, whilst Sgt. Pilot Starzynski, N. left the unit on posting to No. 164 Squadron also for flying duties.

1943-01-29

This day’s flying activity included one ‘Scramble” patrol involving one Section and forty minutes flying, the remainder of the aerial programme being confined to training flying. The operational patrol was unincidental. F/Lieut. Z.S. Moszynski was posted from Operations Room duties with the squadron to flying duties with No. 183 Squadron, whilst F/Lieut. B. Klosin, ex No. 303 Squadron was detailed as replacement.

1943-01-30

Apart from the normal programme of practice flying the day was comparatively unincidental.

1943-01-31

Bad weather conditions suspended aerial activity and the day, on the whole lacked interest.

[Illegible] F/L
for Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 316 Squadron.