Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1945-02-01

Andrews Field.

14 Mustang Mk. III took part in Ramrod 1448 as rear escort to 160 Lancasters bombing Munchen - Gladbach. Operation according to plan – Uneventful. 1 Mustang returned early from the target area owing to mechanical trouble. – Landed B.61.- 6 A/C test flights were made 3 high and local flying exercise were carried out. F/Lt. A. Cholajda attached to School of Air Support to attend Staff Course No. 2.

1945-02-02

There was no operational flying, two a/c test were made.

1945-02-03

12 Mustang took part in Rodeo 411 on fighter sweep to the Frankfurt area. Two MET where destroyed E. of Giesen and two damaged W/ of Giesen. A small flak gun post. In the Eastern suburb of Giesen with four light guns was shot up, and a transformer station attacked and damaged. A small army camp was also shot up on the roud running E. of Giesen and several soldiers were hit. Two a/c shot up a line of stationary RR wagons N. of Giesen. P/O. Z. Sosnowski was reported missing from this operation. – Two a/c test carried out, two a/c were engaged in formation flying and aerobatics. The a/c which landed at B.61 on 1.2.45 returned to base.

1945-02-04

There was no operational flying. The Squadron carried out formation Cine-Camera exercises, four a/c test flights were made and one a/c was engaged in an Air to Sea firing exercises.

1945-02-05

No operational flying. – five a/c carried out formation and cloud flying exercises, one a/c flight was made and one a/c practice aerobatics. – F/Lt. Piechota, B. attached to Polish Depot for duty as Polish Military Hospital Taymouth.

1945-02-06

12 Mustang (with 2 Mustang as reserves) took part in Ramrod 1453 and provided uneventful escort to Bombers. The two reserves landed at Ursel and returned to base later.

1945-02-07

11 Mustangs, engaged in Ramrod 1454, made R/V with some odd Bombers but the main forces could not be found owing to frontal cloud up to 25.000 ft or more. The Squadron was ordered to return to base. One a/c test flight was made.

1945-02-08

Bad weather conditions prevented both operational and non-operational flying.- F/Lt. Cholajda, A. returned from the School of Sir Support, on completion of course No. 2

1945-02-09

There was no operational flying. One a/c was air tested.

1945-02-10

12 Mustangs took part in a Fighter Sweep (Rodeo 4145 on enemy aerodrome. A stationary goods train comprised of RR Waggons was attacked. The first, second and last were set on fire. One barge was destroyed on a canal near Goeverden. Three a/c test flights were made. W/O. Pietrzak posted to No. 309 Squadron.

1945-02-11

There was no flying.

1945-02-12

There was no operational flying. Two a/c were air tested.

1945-02-13

There was no flying due to bad weather conditions.

1945-02-14

Andrews Field.

12 Mustangs acted as escort cover to 18 Lancasters on the viaduct at Bielefeld in Ramrod 1461. The operations was flown according to plan. Four a/c carried out formation cine camera exercises and one in did local flying. F/O. Wlazlo, A. proceeded to C.B.M. London, returned same date.

1945-02-15

There was no operational flying: - In different weather conditions prevented training flying.

1945-02-16

There was no operational flying: - In different weather conditions prevented training flying.

1945-02-17

There was no operational flying. One a/c made a weather test flight.

1945-02-18

Bad weather again prohibited training flying.

1945-02-19

There a/c were air tested, two carried out cine camera exercises in formation, and eight made a cross country flight, incorporating low flying exercises.

1945-02-20

There was no operational flying. In the morning the Squadron practiced cine camera exercises in formation and in the afternoon Squadron formation flying, low flying and ground attacks were carried out. During this practice P/O. J. Mielnicki crashed near Bradwell Bay and was killed.

1945-02-21

12 Mustangs were engaged in Rodeo 416 – a fighter sweep to the Selzwedel area. The operation was carried out according to plan. One loco with about 20 RR Waggons was attacked at Eschede at 16.10 hrs. A terrific explosion occurred and the loco and wagons disintegrated together with nearby station and surrounding buildings. Two of our pilots, P/O. E. Dyrmont – Jussewicz and W/O. S. Zych were caught in the blast of this explosion and did not return. Two more trains, each of approximately 15 – 20 waggons, were attacked, the locals being blown up and the wagons left smoking.

1945-02-22

12 Mustangs took part in Ramrod 1468 as escort cover to 16 Lancasters on Bielefeld railway viaduct. The operation was carried out according to plan. One a/c landed at Ursel, on returning from the operation, and flew back to base later. One a/c test flight was made.

1945-02-23

Bad weather prevented all flying.

1945-02-24

11 Mustangs provided escort cover to 180 Halifaxes and 110 Lancasters bombing Kamen – Ramrod 1471. R/V and operation according to plan. One a/c landed at B.60 owing to R/T trouble and returned to base later. Two a/c were air tested.

1945-02-25

Two a/c flew to Odiham and two a/c test flight were carried out. There was no operational flying.

1945-02-26

12 Mustangs in Ramrod 1473 acted as target and withdrawal cover to 150 Lancasters on Dortmund. The operation was carried out according to plan, uneventfully. One a/c landed at Ursel, on returning from the operation, and flew back to base later.

1945-02-27

11 Mustangs provided escort to front of 6 Gp. Halifaxes and Lancasters on Mainz, in Ramrod 1474. Operation according to plan, uneventfully. One a/c developed mechanical trouble 15 miles from the target and returned to base early. One a/c was air tested.

1945-02-28

6 Mustangs in Ramrod 1475 provided escort cover to 150 Lancasters. Operation according to plan. One a/c landed at Eindhoven with mechanical trouble.

[Illegible] F/O
For Squadron Leader, Commanding.
No 316 (Polish) Squadron.