Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1946-08-01

TREVISO, /ITALY/.

Weather good and sunny. 7 Practice Flights.

1946-08-02

Weather no change. 7 Practice Flights.

1946-08-03

Saturday-No Flying. Aircraft cleaning and maintenance.

1946-08-04 & 1946-08-05

Sunday and Mondey Bank Holliday, General stand down. A lot of officers and airmen went to Venice, Lido and Alps Mountains for weekend. There were 2 waddings of officers: F/Lt. Kocot and F/O. Baber, both brides Italian citizens.

1946-08-06

Weather fine and sunny. 6 practice flights.

1946-08-07

Weather no change. 6 practice flights.

1946-08-08

Weather no change. 7 practice flights.

1946-08-09

Weather no change. 6 practice flights. Formation flying. Last day of Squadron’s Flying.

1946-08-10

Saturday. No flying. Aircraft cleaning and maintenance.

1946-08-11

Sunday. General stand down.

1946-08-12

Weather fine and sunny. No flying. Squadron received a signal ordering the move of the Squadron to U.K. between 16. and 20th of August. All leaves cancelled and personnel recalled – all instructions were given for next day to hand in aircraft and other equipment.

1946-08-13

Aircraft and other equipment handed in to 357 MU and 244 Wing. Squadron received another signal from AHQ RAF Italy that the departure of the Squadron was hastened and the Squadron has to move on the 15.8.1946 at 0300 hrs.

1946-08-14

Packing of personnel belongings and luggge and Office files and doc’s. Marriage of the C.O. W/Cdr. Berezacki took place in the morning. Bride of Polish Nationality serving as ATS. sister of a Polish Military Hospital. A farewell party washeld in the evening at the Squadron’s Officers Mess with attendance of G/C. Dundas, O.C. No. 244 Wing and various officers of HQ. Wing and other Squadrons. The party lasted in very marry spirit untill midnight. The remainder of the night was spent at the railway station Treviso sleeping on the luggage and waiting for the arrival of the train.

1946-08-15

Entrainment and departure followed at 05[Illegible] hrs. Transport arrived at Verona at noon, spent the night there at a Polish Camp.

1946-08-16 & 1946-08-18

Entrainment at Verona on “D” Medlock train at noon.
Passing through Brenner Pasts, Austria, South Germany and France.
Transport finally arrived at Calais in the morning of 18.8.46. After completing exchange formalities and lunch at Transit Camp No. 112, Squadron embarked on Channell Boat and disembarked in Dover at about 1600 hrs.
Customs, supper, and again a special train for the final destination R.A.F. Station Coltishall.

1946-08-19

RAF STATION COLTISHALL

Early in the morning at 0500 hrs. a.m. the transport arrived at the Buxton-Lamas Station. To meet the transport came up G/C. Gabszewicz A.K., O.C. RAF STATION Coltishall /Polish/ with other officers.
After the welcome the Squadron went by fixed transport to their living quarters. The breakfast was prepared at the Officers and Airmen’s Messes and was enjoyed very much. In the afternnon there was a Sick Parade.

1946-08-20

In the morning there was a conference held by G/C. Gabszewicz, EVT. Officers S/L. Malinowski, F/L. Potocki, F/L. Block. In the afternoon G/C. Gabszewicz told to the Squadron about the present situation of the Polish Armed Forces.

1946-08-21

The Squadron personnel has been divided according to their trades and attached to the different Section of the Station.

1946-08-22 to 1946-08-31

A lot of officers and airment went on disembarkation leave. EVT. courses started the attendance was satysfying. During firs ten days of August altogether 38 flights were flown in 40 hrs. There were-no flying accidents in August. Health state of the personnel satisfactory.
Seven more airmen applied for repatriation to Poland.
The move of the Squadron from Italy to U.K. was performed satisfactory.
A part of the Squadron; i.e. 10 officers, 1 SNCO and 22 airmen were left in Italy;
these are mostly married to Italian girls and according to instructions they are waiting in Italy for performing the formalities to bring their wives with them to U.K.
Among the left personnel are also personnel having children below 1 year of age and also who has been admitted to hospitals.

W. BEREZECKI
Wing Commander, Commanding
No. 318 /Polish/ Squadron