Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-11-01

Exeter

Spitfire VB W.3423 allotted to Squadron from No. 9 M.U. Cosford and delivered by air. Aircraft carried out Local Flying and to Air Firing. 2 aircraft on convoy patrol.

1941-11-02

Spitfires VB AA 877 allotted from 8 M.U. Little Rissington and AA 767 from 6 M.U. Brize Norton Both delivered by air. Formation Flying, Air to Ground Firing, Local Flying and Aerobatics. Hurricanes IIB Z.2920, Z.3439, & Z.3353 transferred by air to No. 87 Squadron, Colerne.

1941-11-03

Aircraft of Squadron employed on Formation Flying. Cooperation with Seachlights, Local Flying, and Testing of Camera Gun at Butts.

1941-11-04

Hurricane II B Z.3330 transferred to 52 M.U. Cardiff. Spitfires II B transferred to 133 Squadron, Eglinton, both by air. No flying by “A” Flight. “B” Flight local flying and Anti-Aircraft co-operation.

1941-11-05

Aircraft employed on Formation, Searchlight Co-operation, Air to Ground firing, Escort Practice, and R/T.

1941-11-06

Aircraftxx employed on Air to Ground firing, Formation Flying and Co-operation with A.A. Guns.

1941-11-07

Air Firing, Formation and Local Flying.

1941-11-08

12 aircraft of Squadron carried out Offensive Sweep over Lille. 12 Spitfires VB 316 Squadron, 11 Spitfires VB 317 Squadron plus Wing Commander Brzezina leading the Wing (Polish) left Redhill 10.55 on 8/11. Wing to act as escort cover on Circus 110. Rendezvous was made with bombers over Manston 11.30 and French coast crossed five miles east of Dunkirk. 317 Squadron at 17,000 feet 302 Squadron at 18,000 ft and 316 Squadron to 20,000 feet. Proceeded to Lille where bombs were seen to fall on factory buildings in the target area between target and French Coast on way home a number of E/A were seen and many combats [Illegible] place. Four FW 190’s were seen together and one pilot reported seeing, FW 190’s flying singly. SGT KOSCIK attacked a FW 190 at 80 yards range.
On firing bursts of [Illegible] or [Illegible] seconds E/A dived straight down smoking and went straight to the ground. This E/A had square tipped wing and tail plane. Sgt BRZESKI saw an ME 109 attacking a Spitfire he cams up behind without being observed and fired 2 bursts at 250 and 150 yards range. Following E/A down from 13.000 to 7.000 feet he saw E/A catch fire and go down in flames. Between St. Omar and Hazebrouck as he broke away he saw an FW 190 quite close he gave a short burst from 200 yards and saw E/A dive steeply with white smoke coming from it. He was then attacked from behind by another SW OP so broke away. P/O Koc soon after leaving the target area saw a spitfire chasing an ME 109 and being itself chased by 2 ME 109F’s. He turned on the last one and gave it a short burst followed by a longer burst after which the E/A went down out of control pouring out black smoke. W/Cdr Brzezina saw several Me 109’s and was attacked by two of them He turned towards them and the three E/A flew in circles for [Illegible] minutes. One of these enemy aircraft was seen to spin down towards the ground without however having been fired at.
The W/Cdr fired at the other A/C but he makes no claim. Weather over France was clear visibility about 10 miles all three squadrons landed to refuel at Manston 302 and 317 squadrons them returned to Redhill. 11 A/C 317 Squadron landed 14.50 W/Cdr Brzezina landed 15.40 A/C 302 squadron landed at 14,45 1 A/C 302 Squadron landed at Manston owing to faultly undercarriage. E/WA (317 Squadron) 1 FW 190, destroyed by Sgt KOSCIK 1 Me 109F destroyed by Sgt BRZEZSKI and Me 109F probably destroyed by F/O Koc. I FW 190 damaged by Sgt BRZEZSKI. 302 squadron Nil.
Our Casualities 317 Squadron Nil 302 Squadron P/O Gutowski not yet returned – 17.30
The windscreen of Sgt BRZEZSKI’s A/C was struck by bullets which failed to penetrate. All aircraft returned safely.

1941-11-09

Sector Recco and local flying. No flying “B” Flight.

1941-11-10

Spitfire IIB transferred by air to 133 Squadron, Eglington. A/C employed in convoy patrol and local flying.

1941-11-11

President of Poland visitex Exeter and held invest. The “Krzyz Walecznych” was presented to S/Ldr Szczesny, F/O Ostaszewski, F/Lt Brzezinski, F/O Niemiec, F/O’s Martel, Solak, Trzebinski, and Sgt’s Baranowski, Trybullic, Domagala. Brzeski. In a ddition S/Ldr Szczesny received the „Virtute Military”. No flying by “B” flight Other a/c on convoy patrol and local flying.

1941-11-[12 or 13]

1 aircraft in searchlight co-operation. No. other flying.

1941-11-14

A/C Formation Flying, Searchlight Co-operation, Camera Gun Training and testing of guns.

1941-11-15

Hurricane Z.2923 transferred to 245 Squadron by air. 2 A/C “B” Flight. practised co-operation with bombers.

1941-11-16

A/C of Squadron proceeded to Warmwell for wweep XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX on France and had to return owing to bad weather.

1941-11-17

A/C of Squadron proceedee to Warmwell for sweep and again returned owing to weather. F/O Wisniewski crashed Spitfire AA.767 [Illegible] damaged machine, but with only slight injuries to self.

1941-11-18

Spitfire VB No. W.3945 transferred to 316 Squadron. A/C on convoy patrol and local flying 4 A/C scrambled as 20.000 feet for interception.

1941-11-19

A/C on weather test and convoy patrol.

1941-11-20

P/O Borusiewicz posted from No. 2 Delivery Flight. A/C employed on convoy patrol.

1941-11-21

A/C employed on convoy patrol. Camera Gun Training, and Air to Ground firing,

1941-11-22

4 A/C on scramble. No contact with E/A. Other A/C on convoy patrol.

1941-11-23

6 A/C on convoy patrol. Other a/c on low flying, Air to Ground firing, Co-operation with [Illegible] guns Aerobatics and practise air attack.

1941-11-24

2 A/C on scramble. No. Contact. Other a/c on convoy patrol.

1941-11-25

F/O Sylwestrowicz Engineer Officer, posted to 307 Squadron. F/O Wisniewski admitted to Officer’s Hospital, Torquay. 8 A/C on convoy patrol, Practise Formation Flying.with R/T and Camera Gun Training.

1941-11-26

Practise Squadron formation flying. 2 A/C G.C.I. Co-operation.

1941-11-27

4 A/C on scramble. No Contact. A/C convoy patrol.

1941-11-28

6 A/C on convoy patrol and 6 on convoy dusk flying. 1 dusk scramble. No contact. Other A/C on low flying practise.

1941-11-29

Yellow section scrambled at 10.35hrs. Yellow 1 P/O Wojcik- Spitfire W.3968 failed to return and was reported missing. 6 A/C employed on search for missing pilot without result.

1941-11-30

No flying. Reported during evening that missing pilot and A/C had been found. The a/c had crashed on Shir Hill Dortmoor and the pilot killed.