Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-10-01

WOODVALE.

Weather slightly improved. Flying consisted of 2 aircraft co-operating with the army and 6 aircraft doing practice attacks.

1942-10-02

Flying very limited. No flying all day. Three aircraft practicing dusk flying. A.O.C. i/w Fighter Command came on a visit to Woodvale. Part of the visit included an inspection of our Squadron. The A.O.C. C-in C, Fighter Command, Sir Sholto Douglas, decorated our Squadron Leader with a bar to his D.F.C.. He inspected our Pilots and airmen.

1942-10-03

Flying rather limited. 2 aircraft did cloud flying and 3 others made local flights. The pilots and servicing crew returned from R.A.F. Station, Valley after completing firing exercises for the pilots.

1942-10-04

The Squadron carried out on with flying training which was on a rather “broad basis”. It included dog fighting, low flying, cine camera gun practice, local flying and formation flying. Two of our pilots today went on a course “Army-air support:.

1942-10-05

The Squadron carried out some flying training. Air to see firing and formation flying. When P/O. Lukaszewicz had landed he was taxying to his dispersal and collided with a lorry which was parked in the middle of the runway in use.

1942-10-06

Extensive flying training carried out. Dog fighting cine camera gun practice and low flying was carried out. One section – servicing party, and two pilots left for Valley for “readiness”.

1942-10-07

The Squadron was at readiness. One Flight at 30 minutes, the other ‘till 1300 hours when release followed. Four aircraft were scrambled in the morning to protect a convoy. The other flying was was training including Army co-operation, cloud flying and formation flying.

1942-10-08

The Squadron carried out on with Flying training in spite of the weather. Formation flying, aerobatics, and low flying were the exercises carried out.

1942-10-09

Very bad weather. Strong wind and rain. No flying permitted.

1942-10-10

WOODVALE.

Weather improved. Flying, thought not extensive carried out. Formation and low flying carried out. A Station defence exercise was carried out through the night. The “enemy” consisted of army and home quard units, and succeeded in breaking through and occupying the ‘drome. Inspite of “fierce fighting” we did not manage to dislodge him and so the “defenders” lost the battle.

1942-10-11

Flying very limited indeed. One aircraft at local flying. The weather, though much better, did not “influence” the training time table !.

1942-10-12

Flying Training continued. Cloud flying and formation flying carried out. Dusk flying by six aircraft at early evening.

1942-10-13

Flying during the day consisted of several sorties for aerobatics. In the early evening dusk flying was carried out.

1942-10-14

Flying training and air firing carried out. As it was rather cloudy the aircraft firing had difficulty in finding the drague towing aircraft.

1942-10-15

Weather not too bad, but extremely windy. No flying during the day. Although a programme for dusk and night flying was prepared, none was carried out for the reason before mentioned.

1942-10-16

The weather has improved. Flying training carried out. Formation and low flying. One aircraft was tested and one aircraft co-operated in weather testing. In the early evening dusk flying was carried out.

1942-10-17

Although the weather was not very good, quite extensive flying training was carried out. Fourteen sorties, in all, took place during the day, for cine camera gun practice and firing practice etc.. One aircraft tested the weather. Three aircraft were tested.

1942-10-18

Weather deteriorated. Flying limited to one aircraft doing sector recco. and 6 aircraft practicing low and formation flying.

1942-10-19

The weather has improved and flying training is carried out. Flying consisted of local flying, dog fighting, formation flying and army co-operation. At early evening dusk flying was carried out. Night flying, unfortunately, could not be carried out as it became very foggy.

1942-10-20

Flying consisted of air to air firing. No flying in the afternoon as the weather deteriorated. The programme of night flying also had to be cancelled.

1942-10-21

WOODVALE.

Quite extensive flying today, twenty sorties in all. Flying consisted of formation flying, low flying aerobatics, and cine-camera gun practice. Three aircraft took part in army exercises by giving air co-operation.

1942-10-22

Weather fairly good. Training was carried out. Formation flying by the two flights and local flying by one aircraft “B” Flight. As has been the case several nights during this week, night flying programme had again to be cancelled, owing to weather.

1942-10-23

Weather not too bad in the morning and our pilots got into shape with formation flying and “stunts” They were to demonstrate to a group of journalists who were visiting Woodvale in the afternoon. They arrived in the early afternoon but unfortunately the weather was too bad for any flying to be carried out. The newspaper men were told about our Squadron by F/O. Lukaszewicz, who also gave them some impressions of Dieppe. A Film of the Squadron’s “life”, taken by the Squadron photographers was shown them. The weather improved towards the evening and extensive night flying took place. Some of our pilots were flying and late 0200 hours the next morning.

1942-10-24

The weather was “passable” in the early morning, Flying training was carried out consisting of Formation flying and sector recco.. Three aircraft took part in Army co-operation. The weather became very bad and no flying was carried out after 1100 hours.

1942-10-25

Weather continued to be unfit for flying. No flying took place today.

1942-10-26

With the improvement of the weather flying was again undertaken. Several aircraft co-operated with the Army. Many sorties were made in formation flying, low flying and cloud flying. Four aircraft were scrambled (2 of each Flight). They took off very quickly and were congratulated for their grand performance by the Controllers &c. The enemy was not encountered and they landed back after an hours searching. Weather deteriorated again in the vening and no dusk flying could be carried out as was previously arranged.

1942-10-27

Flying rather limited. Two aircraft did army co-operation and six other doing aerobatics. Night and dusk flying unfortunately again cancelled owing to weather conditions.

1942-10-28

WOODVALE.

Flying limited to 10 aircraft doing aerobatics and one aircraft being tested. In the afternoon it was rather foggy. The fog kept on in the evening and again prevented our programme of dusk and night flying from taking place.

1942-10-29

The weather had improved slightly. Flying training was carried out. It consisted of the two flights (6 aircraft each) doing formation flying. Our new pilots had local and sector recco. flying practice. Two aircraft co-operated with the army. No night flying carried out.

1942-10-30

Weather continued to be “passable”. Quite extensive flying training carried out. Cine-camera gun, formation and sector recco. flying. Two aircraft took part in army co-operation.

1942-10-31

Flying training continued. It consisted of formation flights, cine-camera gun practice and aerobatics. Two aircraft from ‘A” Flight were scrambled. No enemy aircraft encountered.