Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-01-01

Exeter

Pilot Officer Lanowski, Pilot, posted to No. 317 Squadron and attached to No. 308 Squadron. No flying because of fog.

1942-01-02

Two aircraft on weather test. No other flying because of fog.

1942-01-03

Pilot Officer Lanowski,W. (Pilot) ceased attachment to No. 308 Squadron and reported to squadron for duty. Flying Officer Mann, G. posted to squadron from Polish Depot, Blackpool. Supernumery Intelligence. Two aircraft on weather test. No other flying. Weather still bad.

1942-01-04

Pilots, Aircraft and ground Crews proceeded to Warnwell for 5 days on Air Firing.

1942-01-05

Firing training at Warnwell. F/O Mann, S. reposted to squadron for Intelligence duties. F/O Harczlak posted to R.A.F. Station Exeter and [Illegible] to squadron intelligence.

1942-01-06

Spitfire VB No. BL 303 transferred to squadron [Illegible] air from No. 6 M.U. Firing Training at Warnwell.

1942-01-07

Pilot Officer Szulc, W. admitted to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Firing Training at Warnwell. Spitfire VB No. AA.677 transferred to R.A.F . Station, Exeter.

1942-01-08

Firing Training at Warnwell.

1942-01-09

Firing Training at Warnwell.

1942-01-10

Spitfire VB. No. [Illegible] .343 transferred to squadron by air from No. 6 M.U. Aircraft, Pilots and crews returned from Warnwell on completion of course.

1942-01-11

Two aircraft, section 317 (Polish) squadron (Spitfire VB) took off from Exeter 12.00 hours 11.1.42 to propect a cruiser (Skipper) proceeding westwards from Plymouth. While on patrol at 500 feet some 3 miles S.W. of Eddystone, Blue Two (F/O Lukaszewicz) sighted a doubtful aircraft 1 1/12 miles distant at sea level approaching the ship from S.S.E. Blue Two warned Blue One (F/L Ozyra) on the intercom. that he was going to investigate, and Blue One thereupon spotted the doubtful aircraft flying just above sea level. On approaching nearer our pilots recognised the aircraft as Ju 88 [Illegible] had [Illegible] immediately sighted our fighters and turned for the south at full throttle. Our pilots followed. /Blue Two
Blue Two at starboard astern quarter and Blue One a little to the rear of Blue Two at port astern quarter at 12.50 hours. Blue Two opened the attack at 300 yards closing to 150 yards range with a short burst from starboard astern quarter closely followed by Blue One who gave a short and a long burst from port astern quarter. Blue Two then made his second attack experiencing slight return fire from rear gun position the bullets recocheting off the sea up at our pilots. Our pilots then carried out alternate attacks closing at times to less than fifty yards until all there ammunition was exhausted. Our pilots silenced the rear gunner after the second attack and the enemy aircraft took only slight evasive action swerving a little as our pilots approached very close. When approx. 40 miles out from Plymouth Blue Two’s engine began to overheat and having expended all his ammunition he set course for Plymouth. Blue One circled round looking for both Blue Two and Ju. 88 and then saw one wing of the Ju. 88 sticking up out of the water No survivors were seen. Blue One circled the spot again [Illegible] his Cine Gun during the combat.

1942-01-12

Aircraft employed on local flying R/T and air to ground firing.

1942-01-13

Pilot Officer Hrycak and sergeant Kuryllowicz (pilots proceeded to Davenport to join Polish destroyer for Naval [Illegible]. aircraft employed on convoy patrol, local flying, dusk flying Camera Gun Training and R/T interception pra ctise. [Illegible] aircraft scrambled without interception.

1942-01-14

Aircraft employed on convoy patrol, local flying air to ground training firing.

1942-01-15

F/Lt. Ostaszewski posted to R.A.F. Station Tangmere for operations duties. Aircraft employed on dusk flying, air to ground firing and R/T practise.

1942-01-16

No flying because of bad weather. Nothing futher to report.

1942-01-17

Information received that 780443 Sgt. Baranowski T. previously reported missing on 30.12.41 is now prisoner of war. Whereabouts not stated. One aircraft on weather test. No other flying because of bad weather.

1942-01-18

Aircraft employed on camera gun, air to ground firing and formation flying.

1942-01-19

F/O Harczlak ceased attached to a squadron. No flying because of bad weather.

1942-01-20

Aircraft employed on convoy patrol and air firing.

1942-01-21

No flying because of bad weather. Nothing to report.

1942-01-22

No. 780959 Sgt/Pilot Olsewski, E. reported for duty from No. 308 Squadron. No flying because of bad weather.

1942-01-23

Aircraft employed on convoy patrol and air firing. Two aircraft scrambled without interception.

1942-01-24

Spitfire VB No. AD. 307 transferred to 43 Group Deposit account. Aircraft employed on formation flying and camera gun. Four aircraft flew to Bolthend and returned same day.

1942-01-25

Sgt. Kuryllowicz made forced landing on drome with wheels up u/s through engine trouble. The aircraft Spitfire VB No. AD. 321 was damaged and transferred to 43 Group Deposit account. Aircraft employed on formation flying,camera gun, altitude flying, low flying and dusk flying Four aircraft on convoy patrol.

1942-01-26

Twelve aircraft proceeded to Bolthend. Five on them were employed during day in search for two pilots of 306 Squadron. reported missing and presumed to be shot down in sea. All aircraft returned same day.

1942-01-27

No flying because of bad weather. Nothing futher to report.

1942-01-28

P/O Xiezopolski damaged airacrew of Spitfire VB No. W .3424 whilst taxying round perineter track colliding with a Hillman Van which was going in the opposite direction. Six aircraft employed on camera gun and formation flying. Aircraft employed on night flying and dusk flying.

1942-01-29

Spitfire VB No. BL.439 allotted to No. 317 Squadron from 39 M.U. and delivered by air.
Three aircraft scrambled without interception. Aircraft employed on camera gun training. Air to ground firing and air control practices. Two aircraft employed on dawn flying. F/O Grazyrski No. P.0732 posted to squadron from No. 3 S. of T.T. [Illegible] Engineer Officer. and attached to No. 3 S. of T.T.

1942-01-30

F/O L. Martel posted to 38 O .T .U. Grangemouth. A/F/Lt. Duriasz M. No. 78750 posted to squadron from 302 squadron for operations duties. No flying because of bad weather. Two aircrafts scrambled without interception.

1942-01-31

F/Lt. Ozyra overshot and crashed in Spitfire VB AA.756 and damaged the aircraft but without injury to himself. Eleven aircraft practiced re-arm and re-fuel under gas conditions. “A” Flight using one tanker completed operations in 20 minutes. “B” Flight using two tankers completed operation in 16 minutes. Aircraft employed on formation flying. Practice attacks, local flying, R/T practice and air to ground firing.