Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

No 303 (Polish) Squadron Diary - August / September 1940

Each RAF squadron compiles a daily diary of events known as the RAF Form 540. These documents give a facinating insight into the highs (and lows) of squadron life from the very earliest days of the Royal Air Force. In conjunction with these, squadrons also complete the RAF Form 541 which details individual operations carried out.

NORTHOLT	1st Sep		One aerodrome defence patrol. 12 aircraft. Nothing to report.
	2nd Sep	17.30	2 Hurricanes left Northolt at 17.30 hours to intercept Raid No 6 then Raid No 17, then patrol Ashford. 11 Hurricanes landed Northolt 18.35 to 18.50 hours. F/O Feric force-landed near Dover, but was uninjured, but aircraft Cat 3. About 10 Me109s dived out of sun on to Squadron near Dover at 19,000 ft. Red Section were compelled to evade enemy and lost them. Sgt Rogowski, Green 3, pursued 1 Me109, which crashed in the sea 10 miles from the French coast. Sgt Frantiszek pursued one 109 over the French coast. Enemy aircraft damaged in engine and fuselage - escaped smoking. F/O Henneburg pursued one Me109 also over the French coast firing six bursts into engine from 150 to 25 yards. Enemy aircraft lost height and speed, trailing thick black smoke and engine on fire. F/O Henneburg and Sgt Frantiszek were compelled due to AA fire to break off at 3,000 ft. Summary: F/O Henneburg destroyed one Me109, Sgt Rogowski destroyed 1 Me109, Sgt Frantiszek destroyed 1 Me109, P/O Feric destroyed 1 Me109.   P/O Mierzwa , P/O Radomski and Sgt Gallus attached for course to No 5 O.T.U.
	3rd Sep	10.28	12 Hurricanes left Northolt 10.28. 11 Hurricanes landed 12.15 - various patrol orders and vectors. Momentary contact with 2 Me109s near Dungeness. Sgt Wojtowicz was attacked and engine damaged, last seen going in to land near Dungeness. He was slightly wounded. F/O Henneburg's aircraft hit by MG in tail and also in wings and fuselage. He was not wounded and flew the machine to Northolt and landed normally. Rest of Squadron had no contact with the enemy. No enemy casualties.
		14.15	Nine Hurricanes left Northolt 14.15 hrs. Nine Hurricanes landed Northolt 16.10 hrs. Patrolled, Maidstone and Dover; met many friendly fighters. Sgt Frantiszek, Green 2 rearguard, descended from 22,000 feet to investigate aircraft at 8,000 feet above cloud, and found spits, and then below he saw a solitary He113 over sea. He dived and closed to 100 yards firing 2 second burst into cockpit. Enemy aircraft dived slowly and disappeared into sea mid-Channel from Dover.
	4th Sep	09.20- 10.15	Fighter patrol. No contact made.
		13.30- 14.00	Fighter patrol. No contact made.
	5th Sep	09.45- 10.45	Aerodrome defence patrol. No contact made.
		14.53	Nine Hurricanes left Northolt 14.53 hours. Eight Hurricanes landed 15.35 to 15.50. F/O Lapkowski baled out and was taken to Rochford Hospital with fractured arm. After various sectors, S/Ldr Kellett, Red 1, at 22,000 ft, near Gillingham, saw AA across the Estuary and led Squadron to attack. Red Section attacked Me109s circling around 35 Ju88s, and about a dozen enemy fighters in addition came in to attack from above. Yellow Section, apparently mistook enemy's direction owing to circling fighters, and after taking avoiding action lost the enemy. Blue Section went in under Red and attacked the bombers. Squadron became scattered and returned independently. Summary: S/Ldr Kellett 1 Me109 and 1 Me109 probable, F/Lt Forbes 1 Ju88, Sgt Karubin 2 Me109s, F/O Lapkowski 1 Ju88, Sgt Wunsche 1 Me109, Sgt Frantiszek 1 Me109 probable and 1 Ju88.
	6th Sep	09.00	Nine Hurricanes left Northolt at 08.40 hours. Four Hurricanes landed Northolt 08.35 [sic] - 09.50 hours. After various patrol orders the Squadron was over Western Kent and saw very large formations of enemy aircraft moving up from the coast to the east of them and above. Their lack of height forced them to attack climbing and at only 140 mph. This contributed largely to our heavy casualties. S/Ldr Kellett destroyed one Do215 and force-landed at Biggin Hill slightly wounded. F/O Urbanowicz reports:- 'I was Yellow 2 with S/Ldr Krasnodebski, the second section. I saw a raid a mile away travelling westward - about 40 Dorniers. Red Section went in to attack. I saw Me109s and Hurricanes flying across from left to right on each other's tails. One Me109 then attacked me from starboard. We had a short dogfight. I fired 3 or 4 seconds at 200 yards. The engine caught fire and E/A fell vertically to earth. I lost my section and orbited. I saw bombs dropping in one place and Me109s circling round that place and much AA fire. I circled there and attacked a bomber. One Me 109 was in the way and two more attacked me. I had to dogfight with the three Me's. I had no chance to fire. I escaped over some balloons by the sea, and the Me's climbed up. I heard "All Apany Pancake" and I came home.' F/Lt Forbes shot down one Me109 and damaged another. He was forced down by petrol pouring in to the cockpit. He tried to land but overshot the field and was slightly wounded by splinters. The aircraft was damaged by shellfire and the landing and was Cat 3. F/O Feric destroyed one Me109 and probably another. Sgt Frantiszek shot down one Me109 and his aircraft was hit in the tail by a shell. He landed at Northolt and his aircraft has been repaired here. S/Ldr Krasnodebski's aircraft a/c was hit by a shell before he had engaged the enemy and immediately caught fire. He was taken to Farnborough Hospital suffering from burns and shock. Sgt Karubin claims to have shot down one He111. He crashed near Pembury, shot down by a Me109, and was admitted to Pembury Hospital, slightly injured. Summary: Enemy casualties - 1 Do215, 5 Me109s and 1 He111 destroyed. 2 Me109s probable. Own casualties - 5 Hurricanes Cat 3, 1 Hurricane Cat 2., Two pilots wounded and two pilots slightly wounded.
		13.10	From 13.10 to 13.55 hours, aerodrome defence patrol. No contact made. F/Lt Kent force-landed on aerodrome successfully with engine on fire. He was uninjured.
		17.25	From 17.25 to 19.10 hrs Aerodrome defence patrol with No 1 Squadron. No contact made.
		17.45	F/O Janusziewicz flew with No 1 Canadian Squadron. He attacked 3 Me. Jaguars at Lenham, Kent, and was shot down by a He113 and crashed, but was uninjured. He returned to Northolt on 8.9.40
	7th Sep	16.20	11 Hurricanes left Northolt 16.20. 9 Hurricanes landed Northolt 17.50 hrs onwards. Combat over Essex about 17.00 hrs. About 40 Dornier 215s with Me109s behind. Squadron was to rendezvous with No 1 Squadron which took off first, patrol eastwards at 15,000 ft then 20,000 ft. F/Lt Forbes took the Squadron up to 24,000 ft and into position above and partially up-sun. Enemy was travelling northwards and when No 1 Squadron attacked, his tail turned eastwards. F/Lt Forbes led the Squadron in formation to attack the bomber's quarter from head-on and out of the sun. Protecting fighters only came into action after first successful attacks were finished. After bringing down one Dornier, F/Lt Forbes was wounded slightly and damage to aircraft him to return, landing safely. Aircraft was Cat 2. The following officers scored:- P/O Zumbach 2 Dorniers destroyed; F/O Henneburg 1 Me109 and one probable; F/Lt Forbes 1 Dornier destroyed and one probable; F/Lt Paszkiewicz 2 Dorniers destroyed; P/O Lokuciewski 1 Dornier destroyed and one probable; F/O Pisarek 1 Me109; F/O Urbanowicz 1 Dornier destroyed and 1 Me109 probable; P/O Daszewski 1 Dornier destroyed and 1 probable; Sgt Szaposznikow 1 Dornier destroyed and 1 Me109 destroyed; Sgt Wojtowicz 2 Dorniers destroyed. Squadron returned independently having expended their ammunition. F/O Urbanowicz refuelled at Detling and only arrived Northolt at 19.50 hours. F/O Pisarek abandoned aircraft which a Me109 had set on fire near Laughton. Summary: Enemy casualties - 10 Do215 and 3 Me109 destroyed, 2 Do215 and 2 Me109 probable. Our casualties - P/O Daszewski wounded and taken to Waldershire Hospital. 2 Hurricanes Cat 1, 1 Hurricane Cat 2 and 2 Hurricanes Cat 3.
		17.50	From 17.50 to 18.55 hours fighter patrol, no contact made. F/Lt Opulski posted to RAF Station Blackpool.
	8th Sep	12.30	From 12.30 to 13.30 hours fighter patrol, no contact made.
	9th Sep	17.20	12 Hurricanes left Northolt at 17.25 hours. Ordered to proceed south-east. Ten Hurricanes landed 18.25 - 19.00 hrs. Enemy met near Beachy Head at 18.00 hours, about 40 bombers (Ju88 and He111) and Me109 and Me110 in large numbers. Enemy was escaping southwards at great speed and losing height. First seen when 1,000 ft above Squadron and contacted by lead aircraft only at about 13,500 ft. F/Lt Kent damaged a Ju88 which escaped in cloud and it fell into the sea in mid-Channel - rubber boat seen. He then chased a Me110. F/O Zumbach was attacked by Me109s. He destroyed one which disappeared in cloud and caught another banking in front of him and fired into the cockpit and engine from above at 30 yards seeing tracers hit. E/A turned on its back and fell into cloud. Sgt Frantiszek destroyed one Me109 and 1 He111 and force-landed in a cabbage field besides the Downs Hotel 1½ miles NE of Woodingdrine, Brighton - excellent landing. Pilot uninjured but Hurricane shot by machine-gun in radiator, fuselage and port wing. Sgt Wunsche baled out and was admitted to Hove Hospital. Rest of Squadron has nothing to report. Summary: Enemy casualties - 1 Me110, 1 He111 and 2 Me109 destroyed, 1 Me109 probable and 1 Ju88 damaged. Our casualties - Sgt Wunsche wounded. 1 Hurricane Cat2 and 1 Cat 3.
	10th Sep	16.50	From 16.50 to 17.55 hours fighter patrol, 1 Ju88 seen but no contact made. F/Lt Pietraszkiewicz posted to No 307 Squadron. Sgt Andruszkow returned Northolt from course at No 5 O.T.U. F/O Lapkowski transferred from Southend Hospital to Northolt.
	11th Sep	15.30	12 Hurricanes left Northolt at 15.30 to intercept enemy raid with No 229 Squadron. Eight Hurricanes landed Northolt 17.10 to 17.40 hours. Enemy met in Horsham area at 16.00 hours. About 150 Do215 and He111 with Me110 above and Me109 around and up to 25,000 ft. Enemy aircraft travelling NNW towards London with bombers at 18,000 ft. Squadron was at the same level as bombers and wheeled in to attack the rear as they were a little late. Enemy bombers were in Vics of 5 and Me110s in Vics of 3. Pilots tried with some success to penetrate fighter defences and the following enemy casualties were inflicted: - F/Lt Forbes (leading the Squadron) - 2 Do215 destroyed; F/O Henneburg - 1 He111 and 1 Me109 destroyed; P/O Zumbach - 1 Me109 destroyed; F/O Lokuciewski - 1 Do215 and 1 Me109 destroyed; F/Lt Paszkiewicz - 1 Me110 destroyed; Sgt Szaposznikow - 2 Me110 destroyed; Sgt Brzozowski - 2 He111 destroyed; Sgt Wojtowicz - 2 Me109 destroyed. Some of the pilots chased enemy raiders right out over the coast and enemy formation was considerably broken up. Pilots report that they believe many enemy aircraft jettisoned their bombs on wooded country well to the south of London and on returning met no E/A. Summary: Enemy casualties - 4 He111, 3 Do215, 3 Me110, 7 Me109s destroyed. Our casualties - F/Lt Forbes landed at Heston wounded, F/O Cebrzynski killed at Pembury and Sgt Wojtowicz killed at Westerham. Two Hurricanes Cat 3.
	12th Sep	09.15	From 09.15 to 10.00 hrs three aircraft patrolled base, no contact made.
		11.00	From 11.00 to 11.25 hrs two aircraft patrolled base, no contact made.
	13th Sep	18.55	From 18.55 to 19.10 hrs three aircraft patrolled base, no contact made.
	14th Sep	15.45	From 15.45 to 17.30 hrs twelve aircraft patrolled base, no contact made.
		18.20	From 18.20 to 19.40 hrs three aircraft patrolled base, no contact made.