Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-06-01

MARTLESHAM HEATH

At 0940 Hours, eighteen Spitfires of this Squadron took off for our new station R.A.F. Heston. They all landed safely there. At 1025 hours, by special train, the rest of the Squadron left Martlesham Heath (Woodbridge Railway Station), and arrived at Southall Railway Station at approximately 1445 hours. All equipment etc. was unloaded by 1700 hours and everything was placed in order to commence work immediately the next morning.

1943-06-02

HESTON

No flying could be carried out today owing to the weather.

1943-06-03

Sixteen pilots “vent up” to get acquainted with the sector. Four aircraft carried out cine-camera gun practices. Seven aircraft were engaged on air-sea rescue off Beachyhead.

1943-06-04

Sixteen aircraft were engaged on convoy patrol from early morning. High aircraft – four of each flight, practiced flight formation, and cine-camera gun practices. Two aircraft tests were carried out. In the late afternoon, the weather deteriorated and flying had to be suspended.

1943-06-05

Flying consisted of training exercises. The exercises were for Squadron Formation, Photo attacks and air to air firing. Two aircraft were tested and one aircraft was engaged on sector reconnaisance.

1943-06-06

Flying was again for flying practices only. Squadron formation flying was carried out by twelve aircraft and G.C.I. practice by four aircraft.

1943-06-07

Flying training was carried out again today. It consisted of G.C.I. Practices, Squadron formation flying, and dog fighting. Ten aircraft took off part in air to ground firing at Southend range. Four aircraft were practicing battle formation flying and turns when two of them collided in the air. F/O. Owczarski landed on the ‘drome with a badly damaged airscrew, engine bed and engine. Sgt. Zych’s aircraft had its tale cut clean off and he found it impossible to control the aircraft he baled out and landed safely not far from the airfield.

1943-06-08

No flying could be carried out today owing, once again, to the weather. At 1700 hours, the Squadron was released.

1943-06-09

Our eighteen aircraft were flown to Cranfield for exchange of engines, on instructions received from H.Q.F.C.

1943-06-10

The aircraft being at Cranfield for exchange of engines, no flying could be carried out.

1943-06-11

HESTON

The aircraft are still at Cranfield and again our Squadron cannot fly.

1943-06-12

Eight pilots went by omnibus to Cranfield to collect eight of our aircraft. They flew then back and landed at 1855 hours.

1943-06-13

Flying consisted of some training sorties. There aircraft carried out formation flying and two other aircraft practiced co-operation with G.C.I.. One aircraft was tested and eight more of our aircraft were fetched from Cranfield and landed at Heston.

1943-06-14

Flying consisted of twelve aircraft practicing Squadron formation. Six aircraft were at readiness throughout the night. One aircraft was tested.

1943-06-15

Seventeen sorties were made for photo attacks, battle formation and G.C.I. practices. Sector reconnaisance and local flying was carried out. In the evening, Five aircraft took off for Northolt but were recalled before landing there and landed again at Heston. Night flying was planned but not carried out.

1943-06-16

Seventeen sorties today for flying training. The exercises were formation, dog fighting, photo attacks and cloud flying. One aircraft was tested today.

1943-06-17

The first operational flight was a Circus 311 with our Squadron acting as escort for twelve Bostons. Our Twelve aircraft took off at 0600 hours led by S/LDR. KORNICKI, and refuelled at Bradwell Bay. They took off again at 0845 hours for the operation. The bombers were to bomb Flissingen. Our pilots rendezvoused with Bostons and the Kenley Wing, over Clacton at 0900 hours. They flew at sea level for 16 minutes then climbed to 14000 feet. Owing to 8/10ths. cloud, the bombers did not bomb the target and turned back. Over Flissingen, Fifteen F.W.190s were seen but no encountered resulted. They landed back at 1025 hours. The second operation was a Rodeo 23 to Faint Newport. Twelve of our aircraft led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off at 1430 hours and rendezvoused with Kenley at 1500 hours, (2) Kenley Squadrons, 1 Tangmere Sqdn, and 2 Kenley Spitfire 9 Squadron), flying under 500 feet. They climbed to 14000 feet, turned right over Newport sweeping over Calais and crossed the English coast again over Ramsgate, landing back at base at 1610 hours.

1943-06-18

Flying consisted of practice sorties only. Nine aircraft did D/F Homing, navigation and photo, and cloud flying. One aircraft was tested and practiced air to sea firing.

1943-06-19

HESTON

Twelve aircraft of “A” Flight carried out formation flying during the morning, one aircraft was tested and one aircraft did air to air firing. “B” Flight also did Formation flying and other aircraft of this Flight carried out Cine-camera gun practices and air to air firing. Many sorties were made throughout the day for these flights.

1943-06-20

No flying was carried out today by “A” Flight.”B” Flight had one aircraft engaged on Cine-camera gun practices and one aircraft tested. One aircraft also flew to Perranporth, landing back the same day.

1943-06-21

Part of the instructions for the move of this Squadron to Perranporth was that the aircraft were to be flown to Beachy Head and left there for the next unit. The personnel of the Squadron left by train in the evening and arrived at the new Station early the next morning. The pilots were flown by Bombay from Beachy Head to Perranporth.

1943-06-22

PERRANPORTH

No flying carried out today.

1943-06-23

At 1350 hours, 12 aircraft, led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off from IBSLEY to take part in an operational flight. Unfortunately no operation took place and our aircraft returned to Perranporth. One section was scrambled over base but no enemy aircraft were encountered. Other flying was one section doing convoy patrol and one aircraft did sector reconnaisance.

1943-06-24

Rather a busy day spent with one circus, scrambles and convoy patrols. The scrambles, which were over base did not result in any encounters with the enemy. Fourteen sorties were made for convoy patrol without any special events. TWELVE AIRCRAFT led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off at 1500 hours. They rendezvoused over Portreath and were to act as close escort to twelve Mitchells going out to bomb an airfield in the vicinity of Brest. The English coast was crossed at Lizard Point and the aircraft flew to sea level for twenty three minutes and then climbed to 14,000 feet. They crossed the French Coast at 1634 hours and were over the target at 1639 hours. Over the target, the aircraft made a left turn. F/Lt. Janicki’s “four” (they were flying in the Polish battle formation style), saw four F.W. 190s on their left at 1000 feet higher than themselves. F/O. WALAWSKI turned left and attacked one F.W 190 from the rear giving him a long burst from his cannons and machine guns. He saw pieces of the enemys port wing flying off as his fire hit the wing. They enemy aircraft turned into the sun and disappeared from F/O. Walawski’s sight. The Squadron dispersed during the dog fights and turned back in sections to base. On the return F/O. Walawski and P/O. Ciach were attacked by two F.W. 190s. They made a strong left turn and found themselves on the tail of the enemy aircraft. From a angle of 30° and at a distance of 300 yards, they each fired a long burst into the enemy aircraft and saw their bullets hit them. F/Lt. Janiski’s formation of four was attacked by four F.W. 190s. They turned right and on the completion of the manoeuvre, F/Lt. Janicki lost Sgt. Kostanski. Sgt. Fraczek who was last in the formation saw an cil patch on the sea. It was pesumed that Sgt. Kostanski was shot down into the sea by one of the enemy aircraft.

1943-06-25

Eighteen sorties were made for convoy patrols only. No other flying practices were carried out except for one aircraft test.

1943-06-26

12 aircraft led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off at 0850 hours to take part in a circus 39. They were over Lizard at 0901 hours and saw Typhoons for ahead. They set course at sea level, climbing after 22 minutes, to 15000 feet. They crossed coast at Landeda at 0932 hours when the wing turned left to the target. Bombing was not seen. The wing crossed coast again of Landeed at 0940 hours at same height. No enemy aircraft were seen on the ground or in the air. Slight fairly accurate heavy flak encountered over the target. They landed back again at 1030 hrs. 12 aircraft led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off for IBSLEY to take par in a Ramrod 108 as part of the withdrawal cover wing. They took off from Ibsely at 1822 hours. At 1826 hours, course was set from Ibsely. They flew at sea level for 53 miles, then climbed to 20,000 feet. At 1856 hours they crossed the French Coast and continued South 6 to 8 miles North of Argentin. The Fortresses were not sighted. The Formation turned left and patrolled the area between Caen and Lisieux for 20 minutes. No enemy aircraft were encountered, they turned back and landed at Ibsely at 2035 hours.

1943-06-27

After yeasterday’s Ramrod, the aircraft stayed the night at Ibsely. They flew from there to FORD at 0625 hours for another operation, this operation did not materialise owing to the weather. They flew back to Perranporth landing at 1150 hours. Other flying was one scramble over base in which 2 sections took part. Nothing happened and the aircraft landed again.

1943-06-28

Eight aircraft did convoy patrol from early morning. Four aircraft were tested and six aircraft of “B” Flight practiced formation flying. At 1825 hours eleven aircraft, again led by S/LDR. KORNICKI, F. took off to take part in a Circus 40. They set course over base at 1822 hours and crossed Lizard at 1830 hours. They flew at zero feet for 27 minutes, then climbed crossing Sibiral at 14000 feet at 1950 hours. They saw Typhoons climbing but drew ahead. Ten identified aircraft were seen over the target and two F.W. 190s were seen in the same place a little above them. Slight, not accurate flak was seen over target. They returned to base and landed back at 2000 hours.

1943-06-29

Flying consisted of one aircraft test, five aircraft practicing flight formation and four aircraft escorted a Liberator to Middle Wallop.
In the afternoon S/LDR. KORNICKI led twelve of our aircraft which took off from Ibsely from which place they were going to take part in an 11 Group Ramrod 114. The Polish Wing took off from Ibsely at 1937 hours and flew for two minutes behind Ibsely Wing led by W/CDR. PHONAS and crossed English coast at Noodles at zero feet. They made a gentle climb to the French coast crossing it at 14000 feet at 2015 hours. Flew N.West from Caen to Argentin area which was reached at 2026 hours at 15000 feet. No bombers were seen so they patrolled towards coast, half way to coast, bombers were seen behind so Wing flew back and took up position to the right and above bombers at 19000 feet which were thus escorted to Beachy Head. No enemy aircraft were seen. Flak – light and heavy – accurate for direction and height for lover Squadron was encountered. They landed back at Middle Wallop at 2200 hours.

1943-06-30

Fourteen sorties were made for convoy patrol from early morning. Other flying was for two aircraft tests and two sections were scrambled. Enemy aircraft were unfortunately NOT encountered.

Kornicki S/L
Squadron Leader, Commanding
NO. 317 POLISH SQUADRON.