Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1945-04-01

R.A.F Station Andrews Field.

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

1945-04-02

No operational flying; one aircraft was flown to Boxted and another given an aircraft test.

1945-04-03

12 Mustangs took part in Ramrod 1527 as escorted front of 250 Lancs on Nordhausen. One a/c landed at B.64 with tech. trouble and returned to base later. Two a/c did local flying.

1945-04-04

12 Mustangs gave cover to 8 Mosquitos marking Nordhausen and target cover to 250 Lancs in Ramrod 1528. Two S/E/A were chases in r/v area. Two a/c landed in Belgium with tech. trouble and returned to base later. One a/c was air tested, and two more carried out a flight to Odiham.

1945-04-05

F/L M. Wedzik, F/L A. Cholajda and F/O W. Wojtyga were posted to P.A.F. Depot, supernumerary. F/Lt. T. Kwiatkowski, F/O S. Belza and P/O Z. Suppel were posted in to the Squadron for flying duties, F/L Kwiatkowski and F/O Belza from 61 O.T.U., and P/O Suppel from H.Q. 133 Wing. There was no operational flying, Four a/c combined an air test with formation flying exercises, and another carried out local flying.

1945-04-06

No operational flying. 11 a/c were air tested and six practised formation flying.

1945-04-07

Bad Feather prevented operational Flying; twenty aircraft tests were carried out in the air.

1945-04-08

10 a/c were air tested, and one a/c was flown to Bramcote and back from base.

1945-04-09

13 a/c took part In Ramrod 1533 as escort cover to 56 Lancs on Hamburg. Two 262’s attacked bombers and a/c of 316 Sqdn. Gave chase but could not engage e/a. Two of our a/c returned early, one due to mech. trouble, the other due to illness of the pilot. One a/c landed at B.58 returning to base next day. One a/c was air tested and another flown to St. Eval and back.

1945-04-10

F/O H. Majewski was posted to H.Q.70 Group. 12 Mustangs and 2 as R/T relays took part in Ramrod 1534. as escort penetration and withdrawal to 224 bombers and 6 Mosquitos bombing Leipzig. One a/c returned to base early with mech. trouble. Two a/c were air tested. Squadron landed at B.58 after operation.

1945-04-11

Squadron took off from B.58 to return to base. Two a/c collided in the vicinity of base and crashed – Cat. E. The pilots, F/O S. Belza and F/Sgt. Z. Bockowski were killed. Three a/c were air tested.

1945-04-12

No aircraft flew either operationally or non-operationally.

1945-04-13

12 Mustangs acted as escort cover to 35 Lancs on penetration port area Swinemunde in Ramrod 1539. Operation according to plan, uneventful. Two a/c landed at B.77, one with u/c trouble, the other with engine trouble. Squadron landed on continent after operation and returned later in the day. Two a/c were air tested.

1945-04-14

No operational flying. One a/c flew to Holland to escort only Mustang which did not return from previous day’s operation. Both then returned to base.

1945-04-15

11 Mustangs took part in Ramrod 1541. Escort cover on penetration and withdrawal to 35 Lancs bombing port area Swinemunde. Task abandoned owing to weather. 5 a/c were air tested.

1945-04-16

Andrews Field.

12 Mustangs took part in Ramrod 1542 as escort cover on penetration and withdrawal to 20 Lancs bombing port area Swinemunde. Six a/c of 316 Sqdn. gave chase to an ME. 410 but lost sight of him at sea level. One a/c landed soon after taking off with mech. trouble, and another landed later on the continent. Two a/c were air tested and one flown to Faldingworth and back.

1945-04-17

There was no operational flying. One a/c flew to Brussels and back, and two were air tested.

1945-04-18

W/O J. Murzyn and Sgt. E. Szlosberg were posted to the Squadron for Flying duties from No. 61 O.T.U. 11 Mustangs patrolled bomber stream during attack by 882 Lancs and Halifaxes on Heligoland sub. base in Ramrod 1544. Attack described as “Wizard Prang”. Three small sailing ships and one larger vessel approx. 6-7000 tons attacked by a/c of 316 & 122 Sqdns. Larger vessel left stopped and smoking. Cat. III. One a/c was air tested and one flown to B.51 and back.

1945-04-19

12 Mustangs on Ramrod 1545 escort cover on withdrawal to 50 Lancs bombing M/Yards at Munich. 316 Sqdn a/c attacked several ME. 410’s parked near Memmingen, destroying 4 and damaging 6. 1 a/c turned back near target with engine trouble. Squadron landed at B.58 after operation and returned later in the day. Two a/c were air tested.

1945-04-20

8 Mustangs provided top cover to 100 Lancs on Regensburg oil distillery on Ramrod 1547. Two a/c did local flying and sector recco.

1945-04-21

No operational flying. 4 a/c practised battle formation flying.

1945-04-22

10 Mustangs took part in Ramrod 1551. Sweep Hamburg – Lubeck area. Operation according to plan uneventful. Two a/c returned to base early, one with tech. trouble, one as escort. One a/c landed B.58 with engine trouble and returned to base next day. 4 a/c air tested.

1945-04-23

12 Mustangs participated in Ramrod 1552 escort on penetration to 150 Lancs bombing Flenburg. Transport attacked by our a/c, destroying two vehicles and damaging three more. Two a/c were air tested.

1945-04-24

No operational flying. 8 a/c were air tested and 4 carried out battle formation and photo attack exercises.

1945-04-25

9 Mustangs escorted Lancasters bombing Bechtersgaden in Ramrod 1554. Results of bombing appeared excellent. Squadron landed at B.86, refuelled and returned to base. 2 a/c were air tested.

1945-04-26

No operational flying. One a/c was air tested.

1945-04-27

Bad weather conditions prevented all flying.

1945-04-28

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

1945-04-29

Flying prohibited owing to weather conditions.

1945-04-30

Bad weather again prevented flying.

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