Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-11-01

NORTHOLT.

No flying could be undertaken owing to adverse weather conditions.

1943-11-02

Flying training only was carried out. Six aircraft were despatched for formation and photo.

1943-11-03

Twelve aircraft led by S/LDR. RUTKOWSKI took off at 0925 hours for a Ramrod 289. They were acting as high cover for the bombers who were to bomb an aerodrome in northern France. The French Coast was crossed over LE HAVRE. Bombs were seen to burst in the target area. No enemy aircraft were encountered but some light A.A. fire was met. Squadron landed at 1215 hours.
Twelve of our aircraft led by S/LDR. RUTKOWSKI took off for MANSTON from where an operational flight was planned. The operation was Ramrod 290. Our Squadron as part of the wing was detailed to act as a second fighter sweep. Our pilots took off at 1455 hours and was over AMSTERDAM at 240000 feet at 1520 hours. THE aircraft landed at MANSTON at 1630 hours. They took off again at 1735 hours and flew to FORD where they landed at 1815 hours.

1943-11-04

The aircraft returned in the afternoon from FORD where they had landed yesterday.

1943-11-05

Twelve of our aircraft led by G/C ROLSKI took part in a Ramrod 291A acting as a escort to the bombers who were to bomb target Z790. They took off at 1225 hours and rendezvoused with the bombers at 1259 hours at 20000 feet. They patrolled over the target until 12330 hours when they turned for home landing at 1410 hours. No enemy aircraft encountered.
At 1530 hours the squadron, twelve aircraft, led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off again for a Ramrod 292 as a escort to 72 Marauders who were to bomb the same target Z790. They met the bombers on schedule and escorted them to the target where at 14000 feet. The squadron landed at 1725 hours. No enemy aircraft were seen but fairly heavy. Flak was encountered. Good bombing results were observed.

1943-11-06

Flying training only carried out. It consisted of formation flying and photo attacks.

1943-11-07

At 0915 hours twelve of our aircraft under the leadership of S/LDR. KORNICKI took off on a Ramrod 297. They escorted 72 Marauders which were to bomb MONTIVILLIERS. The French Coast was crossed between DIEPPE and LE TREPORT at the height of 20,000 feet. The bombers did not carry out their task owing to bad weather and at 1005 hours turned for home. The squadron landed at 1105 hours.
At 1225 hours twelve aircraft led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off for REDHILL from where they were to take part in another operation. This was cancelled and our aircraft returned to base at 1635.

1943-11-08

NORTHOLT

No flying took place owing to the weather.

1943-11-09

In the morning flying training was carried out. this consisted of Army Co-op. exercises. One aircraft flew to Ford and back. At 1640 hours twelve aircraft led by S/LDR. RUTKOWSKI took off for Manston whence they were to take part in an operation on the following day.

1943-11-10

Our squadron as part of the Polish Wing took part in a Ramrod 307 acting as a high cover to the bombers which were to bomb target near LILLE. They took off from Manston at 1230 hours intercepted the bombers and flew to the target. Landing back at Manston at 1415 hours. No bombing results were seen owing to bad visibility and clouds. This operation was followed by Ramrod 308 when twelve of our aircraft led by S/LDR. RUTKOWSKI took off at 1530 hours to escort 72 bombers who were to bomb AUDINGHEN. They crossed the French Coast over BOULOGNE at 1555 hours at the height of 18,000 feet. At 1620 hours they were over the target. They recrossed the French Coast over GROVELINER landing at base at 1715 hours having encountered no enemy aircraft. Some heavy flak was seen bursting at BOULOGNE and DUNKIRK.

1943-11-11

Twelve aircraft led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took off at 0815 hours for Warmwell. At 1200 hours they took off from Warmwell to take part in a Ramrod 312 and were to act as a second fighter umbrella The operation was uneventful some flak was seen bursting at CHERBOURG. Our aircraft landed at base at 1350 hours having encountered no enemy aircraft.
In the afternoon Ramrod 312 took place when twelve aircraft led by G/C. ROLSKI took off at 1500 hours to act as an escort to the bombers which were to bomb ADINGHEN. The squadron crossed the French Coast at 18,000 feet over HARDELOT. They made an orbit to the left while the bombers went to bomb their target. They left the target at 1600 hours and landed at base at 1655 hours. Heavy flak was encountered at ST. OMER and GRAVELINES.

1943-11-12

Flying consisted of 12 aircraft taking part in formation flying and photo attacks.

1943-11-13

Bad weather made flying impossible.

1943-11-14

The bad weather spell continued. No flying was carried out.

1943-11-15

With the improvement of the weather they squadron did formation flying and photo exercises. Two aircraft were tested.

1943-11-16

Seven aircraft did formation flying and cine attacks.

1943-11-17

NORTHOLT.

Flying consisted of 12 aircraft taking part in formation flying, 2 aircraft flight to Shoreham for air to air firing.

1943-11-18

Flying training only carried out. It consisted of interception, squadron formation, and air to air firing.

1943-11-19

Twelve aircraft led by S/LDR. KORNICKI took part in Ramrod 316 as an escort to 36 Marauders. They took off at 1145 hours for Tangmere. They landed there for refuelling. Our aircraft took off again at 1405 hours and were to rendezvous the bombers over Louviers. They did not intercept the bombers and they were called to investigate other formation of aircraft. They landed back at Tangmere at 1550 hours after an uneventful trip. Two aircraft rewe engaged in air-sea rescue operations.

1943-11-20

No flying could take place owing to the weather.

1943-11-21

Bad weather made flying impossible.

1943-11-22

The bad weather spell continued. No flying took place.

1943-11-23

Today Ramrod 326 took place. Twelve aircraft led by S/LDR ZULIKOWSKI took off at 1230 hours. They were to act as top cover to the bombers which were to bomb ST. OMER. Our aircraft were to rendezvous with the bombers at Hastings but owing to fog the take off was delayed and the bombers were met 5 miles before the target. No enemy aircraft were seen but heavy flak was encountered over the target. All our aircraft landed at 1415 hours.

1943-11-24

Today an operation was to take place and 12 of our aircraft took off at 1055 hours for Manston. This was however cancelled and our aircraft returned to base landing at 1405 hours. Two sections of two aircraft each carried out low flying.

1943-11-25

W/C GABSZEWICZ led ten aircraft on a Ramrod 333. It was a sweep LILLE – ST. OMER. The squadron took off at 1520 hours. They flew on to the target where after making several orbits they turned for home landing at 1710 hours. No enemy aircraft were seen but heavy flak was encountered.
Eight sorties on air to air firing were made and 2 aircraft were tested.

1943-11-26

At 1240 hours the squadron led by F/LT RADOMSKI took off to take part in Ramrod 336. Owing to adverse weather conditions our aircraft turned back without taking part in this operation. They landed at 1445 hours.

1943-11-27

NORTHOLT.
No flying took place owing to the weather.

1943-11-28

Flying was limited to one aircraft test, 1 aircraft local flying, and 1 aircraft flew from Ford to Northolt.

1943-11-29

F/LT RADOMSKI led ten aircraft on a Ramrod 339. Our aircraft were to act as a high cover for the bombers who were to bomb aerodrome at CAMBRAIS. The squadron took off at 0945 hours. Owing to the bad weather the bombers were unable to carry out their task and our aircraft did a fighter sweep in the region of COMBARAIS. They landed at 1130 hours. Other flying included 4 tests and formation.

1943-11-30

At 1015 hours 12 aircraft led by S/LDR KORNICKI took off for Manston to take part in a Ramrod 343 acting as at he escort to returning Fortresses. They took off from Manston at 1230 hours and climbing through the clouds crossed the coast in the vicinity of Ostend encountering inaccurate A.A. fire. They intercepted the returning Fortresses over Woodsdrecht and escorted them well towards the English Coast. This was quite uneventful. The flying at 30,000 feet in bad visibility was difficult and our aircraft landed at various times. One section landed at Hornchurch.

Kornicki F S/L
SQUADRON LEADER, commanding
NO. 317 POLISH SQUADRON