Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-03-01

KIRTON LINDSEY

Sorties for flying training today numbered 19, which consisted of formation flying, air to air firing and photo attacks. Weather test carried out and aerobatics.

1943-03-02

The flying was mainly for air to air firing with 10 aircraft taking part. Other flying was for formation and camera attacks.

1943-03-03

20 sorties for air to air firing. Six aircraft were practicing formation flying and 3 new pilots were doing sector recco.

1943-03-04

One section of “B” Flight was “scrambled” in the early morning. They patrolled base for 25 minutes but no enemy aircraft were encountered. Other flying consisted of Air to Air firing and several sorties were made for formation flying.

1943-03-05

Flying training continued. It consisted of 21 sorties for Squadron Formation, battle formation, and photo attacks. One Flight had a section at readiness from 1300 hours until 1930 hours.

1943-03-06

Flying was limited by Squadron formation and battle formation practices. In the afternoon our Squadron received a visit from the Polish Commander-in-Chief, General Sikorski. He visited the dispersal, chatted with the Pilots and inspected, with interest, the Dispersal Point.

1943-03-07

Thirty-eight sorties were made for Air to air firing and cine-camera gun attacks. “A” Flight had one Section at readiness, 1 Section at 15 minutes available and another at 30 minutes available from 0707 hours until 1300 hours when they were released. Twelve aircraft did Battle Formation flying.

1943-03-08

Flying was limited to 8 sorties for formation flying, photo attacks and D/F homings, six aircraft taking part in the latter.

1943-03-09

Flying consisted of 12 aircraft taking part in air to air firing, 3 aircraft doing formation flying, four aircraft practicing cine-camera gun attacks and dog fighting and one aircraft tested.

1943-03-10

Thirty eight sorties today for flying training. The following flights were carried out. G.C.I., formation flying, interception, air to air firing, cine-camera gun attacks and Squadron formation. Two aircraft were also engaged on drogue towing, one aircraft test was also carried out.

1943-03-11

Flying training continued. It consisted of 30 sorties for air to air firing, G.C.I., Squadron formation flying, cine-camera gun attacks, and interception practices.

1943-03-12

KIRTON LINDSEY

The two flights made 22 sorties together. Flying training consisting of interception, formation aerobatics, cine-camera gun attacks, and battle formation. 1 aircraft was tested. Two sections were at readiness and 1 section at 15 minutes available.

1943-03-13

Flying training continued with Squadron formation flying, aerobatics, cine-camera gun attacks, and battle formation.

1943-03-14

Thirty sorties took place for air to air firing, navigation practices and Squadron formation. Cine-camera gun attacks also took place. Practice night landings were made at Hibbalstow in preparation for the furthcoming fighter night. Three aircraft did drogue towing and one aircraft was tested.

1943-03-15

It was rather foggy today and thus only one aircraft was flown for testing.

1943-03-16

17 sorties for formation flying, high flying and cloud flying. Five aircraft carried out practice night landings at Hibbalstow.

1943-03-17

Flying rather limited today owing to the weather. No flying at all during the morning. In the afternoon 10 sorties for height flying and squadron formation were carried out. 1 aircraft test took place. Night flying could not be carried out owing to a light fog.

1943-03-18

It was foggy again from early morning. In the afternoon, flying was again limited. Eleven sorties were made for Squadron formation, 4 sorties for low flying and practice landings at Hibbalstow. Night flying was planned but unfortunately it could not be carried out. Three sections at 120 minutes available.

1943-03-19

The weather had improved and day flights were carried out. The practices were low flying, Formation flying and navigation flying. No night flying could be carried out.

1943-03-20

No flying could take place owing to the weather.

1943-03-21

Flying training consisted of 17 sorties for formation, interception, low flying, Flight formation. Two aircraft were tested. At 1740 hours, two aircraft of “B” Flight were “scrambled”. The area was patrolled for 20 minutes but no enemy aircraft were seen.

1943-03-22

Twenty seven sorties for flying training in the form of formation flying, cine-camera gun attacks, and interception practices. In the late afternoon, the weather deteriorated and no night flying could be carried out.

1943-03-23

KIRTON LINDSEY

Flying training continued. Wing formation flying carried out by 5 aircraft. Squadron formation and cine-camera gun attacks were carried out. Two new P/O Pilots carried out sector recco flights. One aircraft was tested. Night flying had to be cancelled once again owing to fog.

1943-03-24

Twenty nine sorties made for flying training. It consisted of air to air firing, cine-camera gun practices and sector recco. Three aircraft were tested and 2 aircraft did dusk flying. With the deterioration of the weather no night flying was possible.

1943-03-25

Bad weather made flying impossible.

1943-03-26

The bad weather spell continued. At 11-30 the station was released and thus no flying was carried out.

1943-03-27

With the improvement in the weather, flying training was again undertaken. It consisted of nine aircraft doing air to air firing, 5 aircraft flying in battle formation and one aircraft practicing landings and aerobatics. Two aircraft were tested, and one aircraft carried out drogue towing.

1943-03-28

Since early evening yesterday, the mechanics in the maintenance were working hard getting the aircraft ready for some important event. In the morning, the long lull of non-operational flying ended. At 0810 hours, fifteen aircraft took off for Coltishall. They landed there for refuelling. At 1215 hours, 12 aircraft led by S/Ldr. Czaykowski took off and set course 118° at 1220 hours. They climbed to 8,000 feet. They approached the Dutch coast within sight of Rotterdam, where they met the returning Venturas (24 in number), escorted by long range Spitfires. They gave then rear support on the return journey and landed back at 1345 hours at Coltishall. No enemy aircraft had been sighted nor encountered. This operation was Ramrod No. 3. Two aircraft of our Squadron flew for Air-Sea-Rescue operations during the flight.

1943-03-29

The operational flying for the day were 2 Ramrods – Nos. 4 and 5, which had the same task and were carried out in the same way as the previous day. The Squadron was led on both occasions by S/Ldr. Czaykowski. The Ramrod No. 4 took from 0915 until 1050 hours. The second operational flight took from 1410 hours to 1535 hours. Air-Sea rescue carried out by aircraft of this Squadron.

1943-03-30

No flying today owing to weather.

1943-03-31

Flying limited. 11 sorties for formation, cine-camera gun, and low flying. During low flying, P/O. Kierski met with a fatal accident. While flying low over a field, after having missed the target, he turned to the left, tilting the ground with his port wing. The aircraft was completely destroyed and the pilot killed.

[Illegible], S/L
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 317 POLISH SQUADRON.