Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-07-01

Weather:- Misty with cloud ten tenths at 0 feet. Afternoon sunny vis. 5-7 miles [Illegible] cloud 3,000. 01.30 Squadron becomes oparational with “A” Flight at readiness Maps permised by Sector Intelligence Officer at Pembrey. Due 18.00 F/O Brzezinski & F/Lt. Kowalczyk proceed to Blackpool on temporary duty.

1941-07-02

14.15-15.30, 15.15-16.30, 16.10-17.55, 17.00-19.05 One section of “B” Flight on convoy patrol throughout afternoon. F/O Paczkowski and 3 airmen reported for duty from Ouston. Sgt. Malinowski damaged Hurricane V.7339 whilst taxying after landing. He ran off runways 1 a/c on Sector reconnaissance.

1941-07-03

09.35-10.25, 09.55-10.40, 10.00-10.15, 11.05-11.30. One section of “B” Flight on convoy patrol 2 sections “B” Flight ordered to patrol base no e/a sighted. One pilot of Green section again ordered up but nothing seen. Camera gun training during morning for “A” Flight. F/O Ozyra and 2 airmen reported back by air from Ouston in Battle. Hurricane V. 7316 transferred to 43 Group.

1941-07-04

12.55-14.15, 14.00-15.30, 15.10-16.35, 16.10-17.50, 17.25-18.50, 18.35-19.55. “A” Flight. Three sections [Illegible] convoy patrol during afternoon vectored by Pembrey Operations.
19.45-21.20, 20.05-21.40. Two sections “B” Flight on convoy protection. English lessons given to personel by P/O Thompson for 1 hour.

1941-07-05

11.45-13.15, 12.50-13.30 2 sections “A” Flight convoy patrol
13.15-14.40, 14.15-15.55, 15.35-17.35, 17.15-19.20, 18.35-19.55 Green, Blue & Black sections of “B” Flight on convoy protection. Gropu Captain Perlikowski visited Squadron as chief of Polish Fighter Squadrons and expressed approval after inspection.

1941-07-06

08.00-09.45 Red section “A” Flight convoy patrol. 23.3501.15, 23.45-01.05 2 sections “A” Flight on night patrol along Bird B and after along Bird A 09.00-10.05 Blue section with one Polish Pilot from Pembrey Operations on convoy patrol. 09.45-11.35, 10.30-12.25, 12.50-13.40 Green and Blue sections on convoy patrol and shipping protection. P/O Sikorski crashed V.7013 while on night flying practice but not hurt.

1941-07-07

09.45-11.45 One section on convoy patrol for two hours 11.[Illegible]-12.50, 12.00-13.40, 14.20-16.00, 16.25-18.10, 15.20-16.55, 17.35-19.05, 18.30-20.20. One section at a time of “A” Flight continued on convoy patrol throughout afternoon. 12.45-14.50 One section on convoy patrol. 15.10-16.10, 15.35-16.40, 15.35-16.35. 3 Sections of “B” Flight on convoy patrol and shipping protection. 19.15-19.50 1 section “B” Flight on convoy patrol 15.10-16.10. 1 a/c P/O Lukaszewicz aerobatics and engine test.

1941-07-08

12.55-14.40, 14.00-15.45, 16.[Illegible]-17.25. Three sections “B” Flight on convoy patrol. 12.50-14.05 S/Ldr. Brzezina flew to Colerne. 17.10-18.30 1 Section “B” Flight convoy patrol. 12.50-17.15 S/Ldr. Brzezina flew to Colerne and returned to base.
11.30-11.50 One section “A” Flight landed when radio found faulty.

1941-07-09

Blue section “B” Flight took off but Flying Officer Niemiec crashed whilst taking off, his wing tip striking civilian lorry standing in runway. He was unhurt, and aircraft was damaged.
09.05-10.30 One section “B” Flight took-off and patrolled convoy.
09.45-11.20, 10.30-12.00, 11.20-12.55, 12.00-13.20 3 sections convoy patroll until afternoon.
Hurricanes V.7502, V.7123, V.6797 transferred to 43 Group.

1941-07-10

Weather [Illegible] cloud, but visibility good in higher levels with strong hase at sea level. Whole squadron acting in wing supporting Blenheims took part in raid on Le Havre. 07.45-08.55 left Fairwood Common and arrivied Priston. 11.45-13.25 Left Priston and proceed to Le Havre where squadron flew in defence circle 2 miles from port over sea, at 1000 ft. [Illegible] dived at by 5-8 Me. 109’s and maintaining their formation. S/Ldr. Brzezina shot down 1 a/c, F/Lt. Szczesny and Sgt. Brzeski shot down a second, while Sgt. Malinowski damaged a third. Action last 27 minutes and they returned to Priston. [Illegible]. Hurricane V.[Illegible]797 transferred to 43 Group Deposit Account.

1941-07-11

13.15-13.30, 14.00-14.15/P/O Lukaszewicz flew to Pembrey and back.

1941-07-12

09.25-10.25 One section “B” Flight went on convoy patrol.

1941-07-13

No flying.

1941-07-14

Squadron repasted wing participation as protection to Bomber sweep over Le Havre
05.0[Illegible]-06.20 Squadron Left Fairwood Common for Priston. Sgt. Koscik crashed on the way but was unhurt.
07.45-09.10 Squadron Left Priston for Le Havre and after remaining in position for five minutes, as ordered they returned to Priston. Several e/a were seen in the distance, but wold not join combat. Weather very bad. 12.00-12.55 Squadron returned from Priston to Fairwood with exception of Sgt. Koscik who come back later. 16.25-17.45, 17.35-18.45, 18.35-19.50 “B” Flight on patrol over convoy.
17.35-18.45 F/Lt. Szczesny and Sgt. Brzeski on this patrol sighted Ju 88 at sea level about to attack convoy convoy 10 miles S. Worms Head. They made a dive head attack, fronted and got in good bursts in e/a beam. pursuing it over convoy it [Illegible] bombs and fell into sea. No prisoners. No damage done to convoy. Action finished 20 miles S. Temby. Rain had cleared away leaving wonderful visibility below clouds. There was no assistance from Operations.

1941-07-15

No flying. Magister T.9883 transferred to No. 317 Squadron.

1941-07-16

19.25-20.20 One section “B” Flight on convoy patrol. 6 Pilots proceeded by train to Northholt (306 Squadron) to collect Hurricane Iis

1941-07-17

13.05-14.25, 14.05-15.25, 15.05-16.25, 16.05-17.30, 17.05-17.30 “B”Flight on Convoy patrol during afternoon weather very cloudy but good visibility at intervals.
11.15-12.30 “A” Flight 2 sections on convoy patrol “B” Flight took over afterwards. Hurricane Iis Z.3438, Z.3572, Z.3500, Z.3584, Z.3513 arrived from Northolt by air.

1941-07-18

12.00-13.30 1 section on convoy patrol. Weather rain during morning and clearing up. 7 pilots proceeded to Northolt to collect Hurricane Iis. Instructions to procced to Exeter. Weather wet but cleared up in middle of day.

1941-07-19

14.20-14.45 Three sections “A” Flight went on convoy patrol ut had nothing to report. Hurricane II’s Z.2923, Z.3445, Z.2915, Z.2920, Z.3565 delivered by air from 306 Sqdn by ferry pilots.
Weather sunny some rain and gusty. Fine in evening Hurricane II’s Z.4992, Z.3353, Z.3568, Z.3578, Z.3502, Z3439. delivered by air from 306 Sqdn. by own pilots to 317 Sqdn.

1941-07-20

Weather. Sunny some rain and gusty. Fine in evening. Hurricane Iis Z.3578, Z.3439, Z.4992, Z.3353, Z.3587, Z.3568 delivered by air from 306 Squadron by own pilots to 317 Squadron. This completed the re-equipping of the Squadron with Hurricane IIBs. Hurricane Is R.4123, V.6604, W.9170, V.6565, P.3227, V.7223 sent by air to 53 O.T.U.

1941-07-21

Weather fair, hasy and slight cloud. Squadron moved from Fairwood Common to Exeter. 11.45-12.30 2 Hurricane Is and 16 Hurricane IIs flown by pilots and Exercise of 10 Group postponed. Two Bombays and provate train carried remainder of personnel and baggage.
18.30-19.00 1 section “A” Flight convoy patrol off Exmouth.

1941-07-22

Weather fair Hazy, slight cloud.
12.35-14.10 3 sections of A Flight and 3 sections B Flight on practice in co-operation with bombers,
12.40-14.20 Acted as escort. This exercise had been postponed from 21/7/41
21.15-21.45 3 sections of “A” Flight on convoy patrol in Start Bay in English Channel.

1941-07-23

Weather fair but hazy; sunshine and slight cloud. Weather find.
05.40-06.40, 06.20-08.00, 07.20-08.15, 08.15-09.25, 09.00-10.35, 10.00-11.35, 10.55-12.35, 12.00-12.20 One section of A Flight left at dawn for convoy patrol, and patrol maintained until lunch time by one section at a time of the 3 sections of “A” Flight. Patrol off S. Coast of Devon.

1941-07-24

Weather fine. Squadron employed in attack on Brest. On very large scale with Flying Fortresses, bombing from 35,000 feet as well as lower level attacks with Hampdens Wellingtons. Over a hundred bombers employed. Proportion of fighters to bombers much less thes of late. Our pilots [Illegible] 3 or 4 Me. 109’s made no contacts with enemy aircraft. P/O Rainey (I.O.) goes on leave.
Times of offensive sweep
12.40-14.55 “B” and “A” Flight airborne. 317 Squadron and 316 Squadron formed first cover wing and made rendezvous at Predaunack, 5,000 ft. over aerodrome 12.40. Set course at 12.47 Instructions to fly 170 m.p.h. Wing climbed to 13,000 at halfway to target. 13.20 Reached target course, Brest 13.24 Saw Hampdens and provided rearguard protection, leaving them 6,000 over Predarmack and returned to base.

1941-07-25

Weather fine. All Pilots employed on training exercises 06.15-07.25, 06.55-08.30, 07.55-09.20 A Flight 3 sections on convoy patrol first section taking-off after dawn.

1941-07-26

11.00-11.30 One section of A Flight on convoy patrol. 13.50-15.10, 14.40-16.05, 15.40-16.40, 16.20-17.30, 17.10,18.20. Three sections of “B” Flight maintain patrol on convoy during afternoon and evening. Weather drizzly at Exeter was fine out to sea.

1941-07-27

Weather wery hot and sunny. 07.15-08.45, 08.10-09.25 2 sections of “A” Flight on Convoy patrol. 08.45-10.00, 09.35-11.05, 10.25-11.50, 11.20-12.20 Three sections of “B” Flight kept up convoy patrol until noon.

1941-07-28

14.30-16.30 S/Ldr. Brzezina flew to Thurnhouse. Weather spell of fine weather breaks with showers and cloud.
20.25-21.45, 21.45-21.45 2 sections “A” Flight make weather test.

1941-07-29

Weather showery with sunshine. Germany reported stopped on whole Soviet front with Russian thrust forward. Serious stay in strike in Aluminium works in Canada. 15.00-16.55 S/Ldr. Brzezina flew from Usworth to Hucknall 18.50-20.05 from Hucknall to Exeter. 20.20-20.50 Patrol base at 19,000 ft. One section of “A” Flight. 06.25-08.05, 07.30-09.30, 08.15-09.30 3 Sections “A” Flight on Convoy patrol one at a time off S. Devon coast.

1941-07-30

Weather grey 10 tenths cloud. 200,000 Poles prisoners of Soviet Russia relased and Russia renounces partition of Poland treaty with Germany. P/O Rainey returns to duty and visits Royal Observer Corps Operations Room in Exeter with Sector Intelligence Officer on courtesy call.
11.45-12.45 P/O Lukaszewicz flew from Exeter to Friston. 13.40-15.00 P/O Lukaszewicz returns Exeter.
13.50-15.00, 14.30-16.05, 15.00-16.15, 15.35-17.00, 16.35-17.40, 17.00-18.30, 17.50-19.00, 18.35-19.55, 19.25-20.15 3 sections “B” flight on convoy patrol off South Coast in rotation, 1 section at a time, until nearly dusk.

1941-07-31

08.20-09.25, 06.20-07.50, 07.20-08.50, 08.40-10.05, 09.30-11.10, 10.25-12.[Illegible]. All sections “A” & “B” Flights convoy patrol until noon. P/O [Illegible] reported from 55 O.T.U.