RIEF HISTORY OF No. 307 SQUADRON
Written by Wilhelm Ratuszynski

        When in second half of the year 1940 German bombers intensified their night offensive against England, the need arise for more trained night fighters. Drawing form - at that time still vast - reserves of Polish airmen at the Polish Depot in Blackpool, the No. 307 (Polish) Night Fighter Squadron was formed. The code letters EW where assign to the new unit. Its first base was RAF Station Kirton-in- Lindsay, where the personnel began to arrive on 10 September 1940. This date was later adopted as the squadron’s official day. S/Ldr Pietraszkiewicz became unit’s first CO, although accepting the order under protest. S/Ldr Tomlinson became his British adviser. 
    However enthusiastic, pilots posted off to No. 307 Squadron were rather disappointed when they learn they would fly Bolton Paul Defiants. They were prone to discredit that aircraft in numerous ways and declared themselves “chauffeurs” of the gunners. The only positive thing about their new planes was a fact that Defiants appeared as aces in the popular deck of playing cards, when Spitfires were kings, and Hurricanes only queens.
After its brief success over unexpected Germans during Dunkirk days, Defiants were quickly relegated to the role of a night fighter, since ones learnt; the enemy exposed its vulnerability without mercy. On September 14th, the unit received its first aircraft, serial numbers: N1559, N1560, N1639, N1640, N1641, N1642, N1643, N1686 and L7035.

            Being equipped not to their liking was only a part of the problem, which made beginnings difficult for the Poles. Part of the group of pilots considered night flying altogether as a very risky business with minimal chances to meet enemy in the air. There were tense situations when gunners, of whom many were ex- navigators and had considered themselves as captains of an aircraft. Most of those annoyed with the whole situation, were experienced fighter pilots and they demanded to be transferred to day-fighter units, where they felt would be more useful. Their wish was granted and almost entire roster was changed overnight. S/Ldr Benz replaced S/Ldr Pietraszkiewicz in his post as CO. Most of newly arrived replacements were instructors from various flying schools, ferry pilots and so on. Many were not strangers to the night flying, and some even liked it. Majority of them were very well educated, passionate flyers and Air Force volunteers. This helped to heal the atmosphere in the unit, and whole personnel quickly cemented into a harmonious group.
    The relations with the local population and the base’s personnel also started with the wrong foot. When assembling at the station, Poles found a strange flag flying to their honor: a sinister black eagle on a white field. This of course, had nothing to do with Poland’s arms, which were a white eagle on a red field, while the flag was simply white and red. Fortunately, this show of ignorance was quickly put to an end. There were apologies, but the initial mutual mistrust prevailed. It was additionally enhanced by a false advertisement that proceeded Poles to Kirton-in- Lindsay: they all were supposed to be fluent in French, cheerful and cocky Hun hunters. Yet the flying personnel of No. 307 Squadron looked generally hard-faced and glum. Only a major change of personnel in October brought the squadron’s look close to its original design.

            At the beginning of 1941, five crews were detached for the advanced airfield at Squires Gate, near Blackpool, to night patrol against raiding German bombers. At that time, for the first time, Polish red-and-white checkers were painted on the 307 aircraft. There were no enemy’s encounters, since radar techniques were inadequate and controllers and pilots were as yet inexperienced. First such patrol was flown on the night of 9th/10th January, when two EW aircraft patrolled over northern England. The weather was dreadful, and after one hour of flying, the crews were recalled to the base. The crew of Grodzicki /Karwowski landed safely, but Sgt Joda and Sgt Gandurski were forced to ditch and were both killed.

    On 23 January, the rest of the squadron was transferred to Squires Gate, to defend Liverpool and Manchester. The unit’s first successful interception came on the night of 12th/13th March, when the crew of Sgt Jankowiak and Sgt Karais damaged Heinkel 111.  The next night P/O Lewandowski and Sgt Niewolski shot another Heinkel probable. After these first successes the Group rendered its Polish command fully capable. A dual system of command was abandoned and S/Ldr Tomlinson left the unit.
    Without interrupting operational flying, the squadron moved to Colerene, near Bristol on 26 March 1941. While stooped at Gloucester for a meal the ground party went under attack of German Bf109s and Ju88s. Fortunately there were was no casualties. From Colerene, the unit scored its first confirmed victory. On the night of 11th/12th April, the “lucky” crew of Jankowiak/Lipinski shot down He-111 from 9./KG 27 flown by Unteroffizier Leo Roth, which crashed 35 miles south of Bristol. A piece of the Heinkel’s wing was nailed to the door of ‘A’ Flight’s hut.

    On 24 April 1940, the station’s CO received a cable informing that No. 307 Squadron to be moved to RAF Clyst Honiton, located 4 miles SE of Exeter. The unit moved on the 26th, starting the long period of service at this station. Although the Poles found most of the airfields infrastructure ruined by the German raids, it soon became a very homey place for them. On the beginning of its operations from Exeter – as vast majority referred to their new base - No. 307 patrolled over the Channel, which was a strenuous and mostly fruitless service.
On the night of l1th/l2th May, the airfield was bombed, and although there was a lot of damage done (some 450 bombs dropped), not a single casualty was sustained. During that attack, the crew of Sgt Malinowski and Sgt Jarzembowski “could stand it on the ground”, and successfully took-off carefully avoiding craters in the fire-lit airstrip. Once in the air, they quickly found a He-111 and shot it down. It was the last squadron’s victory scored on Defiants.
    On 9 June 1941 S/Ldr Antonowicz became squadron’s new CO. Till that time, he was the Flight “A” commander and popular pilot among the crews. He was the one who appealed to authorities for conversion to Beaufighters - the aircraft, which promised much more ssuccess for the unit.

    Equipped with airborne radar (AI), much faster and better armed than Defiant, Bristol Beaufighter was much-welcomed plane. Every member of the flying or technical staff who had anything to do with AI was obliged to pledge a complete silence outside his duties about the invention, even with his superior officers. No. 307 Squadron was then the only non-British unit equipped with this new apparatus. However, powered by two Merlin XX 1200 hp engines, this aircraft was unforgiving when flown on only one of them. There were several close calls and accidents. In one of them, W/Cdr Antonowicz and P/O Karwowski were killed when attempting to land their Beau’ with defective engine. The crew died in a fiery crash. In result, airmen started to call this aircraft a “flying casket”, and the atmosphere in the unit became a little tense.
With conversion training came reposting. Air-gunners had to become radio observers and many former had to be posted off and replaced by the latter. The number of the ground crew increased as new specialists were added. They were the first Poles to be trained in this field.
In October, the Squadron began operational service on Beaufighters. The first contact with the enemy on a new aircraft was made on October 28th, when the crew Turzanski/Ostrowski was intercepted a He111. From a distance of 80 yards Turzanski gave it a four seconds burst from everything he had aiming at the fuselage. Heinkel dove into the clouds and the crew claimed it as probable. The Group credited them with nothing. In November Luftwaffe increased its activity over the channel, and crews of No. 307 had more work to do. On the night of 1st/2nd, the crew of Turzanski/Ostrowski successfully intercepted and shot down two Do-215s. This time both kills were confirmed.

            The beginning of the 1942 was marked with few tragic mishaps. In mid-February, in a span of four days, three crews were killed in flying accidents. That month the unit received few brand new aircraft and numerous defects were detected by its mechanics. During a test flight of one of those by F/O Andrzejewski, in a shallow dive pieces of the fuselage started to come off and the whole port wing twisted. Andrzejewski landed the plane and the investigating committee found serious problems resulted from a sloppy quality control at Crewe.
On 3 April the crew of Bukowiecki / Puzyna crashed during take-off.  Soon after another crew perished in the sea. There were few minor accidents as well. Of all those cases, only once pilot’s bravado was an official cause of a crash, in rest them weather was blamed.
    For another cheerful moment, the unit had to wait till April 25th. On that day, the crew of F/O Neyder and Sgt Wozny shot down a Ju-88, while F/Sgt Illaszewicz with P/O Lissowski damaged a Do-215. The next night the 307 scored similar success.

            For the squadron, the great success brought the night of 3rd/4th May. The Luftwaffe mustered up a big raid on Exeter (‘Baedeker’ raids) and airmen of 307 bagged four kills. The crew of F/Sgt Illaszewicz and F/O Lissowski scored twice, while F/O Neyder and Sgt Wozny, with F/O Andrzejewski and Sgt Wozny, recorded each one German aircraft shot down. The winning crews paid for these kills with theirs meager possessions, which were burnt when one of the bombers crashed at their living quarters. After this victory, F/O Lissowski received the DFC - the first to be awarded in the unit.        
    Soon after, the Squadron was converted to Beaufighter VI, powered by Hercules engines. This aircraft gained instant popularity among crews due to its much more reliable power plants and more sophisticated equipment. After the Exeter raid, things quieted down a little and crews used that time to become fully proficient with theirs new aircraft.
    During the last days of June, Luftwaffe became more active; what for the 307 meant an increased chance to meet the enemy. Even though radar equipment improved significantly and operations room personnel become more and more experienced, luck was still a big element of successful night interception of enemy’s bomber.
    On the night of 27th/28th June, “lucky” were crews: Rach / Mika credited with one Do-217 destroyed; Ranoszek / Trzaskowski and Wojczynski / Sluszkiewicz, each with one Do-217 damaged. Similar score recorded F/O Podgorski and F/Lt Sawczynski on the night of 1st July. Soon after, the squadron’s good fortune turned for worse. On 17 July the 307 lost one of its best crews: F/Sgt Ilaszewicz and F/O Lissowski. They were patrolling over convoy in the channel, flying low over ships in adverse weather. Pilot R/T engine problem and moments later the contact was lost. The squadron’s pilots lively debated that mishap, and their common opinion was that the Beaufighter must had been shot by some ship’s gunners. They believed that excellent pilot as he was, Illaszewicz could easily made it to Exeter on one engine, especially since it was obvious that he had a lot fuel left.

        On 22 July a new CO, W/Cdr Michalowski took over the unit. He was a former bomber pilot with one tour of operational flying already completed with No. 300 (Polish) Squadron. W/Cdr Brejnak was rested and posted off for staff duties.
    During patrol on July 30th, F/O Podgorski and F/Lt Sawczynski had to bail out over the channel. Next morning nearly all the crews volunteered for rescue mission. Five “EW” Beaus took off and one of them found their floating colleagues and reported their position. Instead by the Royal Navy, the Poles were rescued by a fishing boat where jolly sailors administered the most common medicine for soaked and frozen bodies: the rum. Their goods spirits returned, Poles and fishermen applied this medicine zealously, and at harbor nobody was keen to leave moored boat. The squadron’s adjutant had a quite a job to collect his two airmen.

         In first days of January the conversion to new aircraft was in a full swing, but for operational patrols crews were still using theirs Beaufighters VI. Around that time a curious crew was formed for several flights: F/O Roman Grzanka, pilot and F/O Juliusz Baykowski radio navigator. Both had only one leg. Their official call sign was “Horlic 53”, unofficial “two legs”.

The first operational sortie on Mosquito was done on 14 January by Ranoszek / Krawiecki. Soon after the squadron operated only on Mosquitoes. For a brief moment in February, German bombers started show up more often and 307 airmen flew more operational sorties. Interceptions were sporadic and only once, on February 15th, P/O Zwolinski with Sgt Gajewski managed to get a good shot at Ju88, which was credited as a probable.
    In Spring the training for “Intruder” and “Ranger” operations begun. The objective of the first type was to seek out and destroy German aircraft over their own territory, and attacking enemy aerodromes from which night flying was taking place, while the latter’s, to attack ground targets, mostly communications. New duties required a detailed retraining of the flying personnel, which up till then was accustomed to quite different kind of flying.
    The unit suffered a painful loss on 21 March 1943. Its CO, W/Cdr Michalowski and his radio observer F/O Szkop were killed when trying to land Mosquito on one engine. Although experienced as he was, Michalowski made an error on his emergency approach. S/Ldr Szablowski, the Flight “A” commander, temporarily replaced him.

On 30 March 1943, S/Ldr Orzechowski was detailed off to take command of the squadron. Together with his navigator F/Lt Szponarowicz he was transferred from No 23 (Night) Squadron in defense of Malta.
    For regular operational sorties over continent, the squadron was moved to Fairwood Common, near Swansea. Relocation took place on April 15th. At Fairwood the unit was reorganized into three flights, instead of regular two. The purpose of this design was to have one extra flight devoted solely to a new type of mission. Flight “C” had no aircrews, only a commander and maintenance personnel. Its aircraft were stripped of the radar apparatus but equipped with “G-box” for radio navigation. Two regular flights served in squadron’s normal operational mode: patrolling at night. Every now and then, for few days, the crews were detailed off to Flight “C” for “Intruder” or “Ranger” missions.
    The first intruder raids in which 307 aircrews took part, instead anticipated action brought them frustration. On May 18, crews were briefed about their routes and altitudes and were strictly forbidden to attack any ground or air target. In case of encounter with enemy aircraft they had to open full throttle and sped home. Poles found those tactics shameful and set off for a mission highly irritated. Later they were thanked by the Group and explained that the Mosquitoes had been used as a diversion, so as to keep the German fighters occupied, while the Bomber Command did its work with Möhne Dam.
    In May squadron lost two crews over occupied Europe. For the next two months, almost every night one or two 307 crews were sent over the continent, what gradually became unit’s main duty. Meantime, the squadron was reequipped with Mosquito Mk-VI.

            At the same time, occasionally, some crews of the 307 flew daytime sorties, patrolling over the Bay of Biscay. EW Mosquitoes would fly over to Predannack airfield located on the Lizard Head peninsula - most southern tip of England – refuel and set off for so-called, “Instep Patrol”. On 7 August 1943, No. 307 was moved to Predannack in Cornwall permanently and was incorporated into the Coastal Command. Flying personnel was billeted in a very comfortable hotel located by the shoreline.
    During one of the first briefings before flight over Atlantic, an intelligence officer memorably “elaborated” to the Poles, the situation there:
“Our ships full goodies like food, troops and munitions cross the Atlantic. Against these ships, the enemy sends out U-boats. They are full of bad stuff. Against these U-boats we send out our Wellingtons and Sunderlands. Against these Wellingtons and Sunderlands, Hun sends out Junkers 88s and Messerschmitt 110s. Against these Ju-88s and Me-110s we send out Beaufighters and Mosquitoes. Against these Beaufighters and Mosquitoes the enemy send out Focke-Wulfs. Against these Focke-Wulfs we’re going to send out Tempests or Mustangs. That’s it. Now you know what to look for and what to avoid.”
As explained, Poles were to seek out enemy’s long-range fighters. These missions were flown usually in the force of three or four aircraft and low over water, to be able to spot Germans who preferred to fly high. Average “Instep Patrol” lasted over five hours, on routes over 1000 km long, and crews took off either at dawn or early afternoon.

            The first ops over Atlantic were rather promising. On 14 June, the pair of 307 Mosquitoes, piloted by F/Lt Szablowski and F/O Pelka, spotted and strafed surfaced U-boats. This was done against clear orders not to attack surfaced U-boats. Mosquitoes couldn’t do much damage to them, and were vulnerable against usually strong and accurate AA fire. However, U-68 and U-155 were damaged and suffering casualties, aborted their patrol. Five days later, the same pair, flying with company of No. 410 (Australian) Squadron shot down German BV138 flying boat.
    As soon as 307 started its regular service in the Coastal Command, the new routine was established, which obligated crews to fly at certain planned route deliberately chosen by Intelligence Officers. Usually, pilots flew west of Bishop Rock avoiding the area patrolled by FW190s, and only then turning south. Often, Polish Mosquitoes cooperated with British cruisers: HMS Sheffield and HMS Glasgow. These ships were equipped with radar stations manned by people experienced with vectoring aircraft.
    Flying long distance patrol over water wasn’t an easy task. Coming from such sorties crews were often very tired and very… bored. Sometimes, to break monotony Poles swiped over the northern coast of Spain, what caused few diplomatic skirmished with Spain, with equal number of reprimands for the crews. There were also some losses. On August 22nd, few Fw190s jumped section led by S/Ldr Lewandowski. F/Sgt Ekert with F/O Maluszek were shot down and killed.

On 11 September No. 307 tallied a big success. Over the Bay of Biscay, two separate sections of four aircraft each shot down four Ju88s and two Me110s, damaging three more Me110s and one Ju88, with no losses. Polish controllers, F/Lt Malinski and F/Lt Koterla, serving on British cruisers vectored both groups, thus directly participating in this success.
    Because of the lack of trained flying personnel, some British airmen were detailed off to serve with the 307. Some formed mixed crews with Poles, but naturally, they preferred staying together. One such crew, F/Sgt Lowndess and F/Sgt Cotton was lost in a patrol over Biscay on 25 September, when four 307 Mosquitoes encountered formation of eight Ju88s. Three Polish crews returned safely, bagging two Junkers destroyed, one probable, and three damaged. After the war, the squadron CO received from the British Intelligence an interesting report found in German archives. This stated that on that particular day, only one out of eight Ju-88s sent over the Bay of Biscay, returned home.
    Toward the end of October, the aerial activity at the 307 area of operations gradually decreased, and crews saw less flying. That did not mean their task were any easier. On 26 October, W/O Los and F/Sgt Posner (British) were lost during a patrol. The rumors started about the squadron to be moved to Scotland. They soon turned out to be truth.

        In January 1944, No. 307 Squadron was converted to Mosquito XIIs and XIIIs, which were equipped with new airborne radar. The unit started to visit enemy targets in Norway. Before a noticeable success was achieved there, however, squadron suffered a painful loss. On 13 January, very popular mixed Polish-British crew of W/O Szemplinski and F/Sgt Tillman was killed during an operational flight in adverse weather. They took for a patrol in which they had to cooperate with the Royal Navy, were recalled and crashed on a mountainside near Benholne.
    A successful mission was flown on 19 January, when four “EW” Mosquitoes swooped down on a Luftwaffe base at Stavanger. In that trip a Junkers W.34 was shot down, two floatplanes were probably destroyed; cargo train and enemy shipping were strafed.

    On March 2nd, the squadron was moved to Coleby Grange and became part of the 10 Fighter Group. Its main duty was to patrol the east coast between Hull and London. This short, two-months stay at Coleby was uneventful. Worth noticing is kill by F/O Brochocki with F/Lt Ziolkowski, who intercepted and shot down a lone He177 over the North Sea, on March 19th. On 11 April, in unknown circumstances, lost over the waters were F/Sgt Wistal and Sgt Wozny, the crew that flew in the 307 from the beginning.

    A transfer to Church Fenton on May 4th marked the squadron’s return to offensive action. The crews were briefed anew for Intruder and Ranger operations. To their attention were brought targets mostly in Germany, but also in Belgium, France, Holland and Norway. The 307 attacked enemy’s shipping, radar stations, and multiple other secondary targets.
    In May W/Cdr Lewandowski was posted to the Headquarters of the 12 Group, and W/Cdr Ranoszek replaced him as the new CO.

        In June, Poles begun period of close co-operation with the bombers, either escorting them or patrolling over enemy bases so as to keep the Germans night fighters at bay. With the start of the operation “Overlord”, every day two-aircraft section was detached to Coltishal for “Intruder” mission. Occasionally, bigger number of EW planes flew “Ranger” missions. Occasionally, day missions were flown like the one on 27 July, when F/O Pacholczyk with F/O Gasecki seriously damaged German radar station on the Isle of Sylt, making it inoperative for a prolong period of time.
    For the rest of the year, the squadron continued to fly assorted ops, to which crews devoted themselves entirely. No notable successes were recorded, but along steady rhythm of service came losses. On 8 August the crew Zwolinski/Gajewski was lost over Holland. On 17 September, when flying a cover to landing paratroopers at Arnhem – where the Polish Airborne Brigade distinguished itself – the squadron’s Mosquito was shot down burying crew Jaworski/Szymilewicz. Their mission was to draw flak fire away from Allies gliders and Dakotas. The next day during a training flight, F/Lt Madej and F/O Gasecki collided in mid air with another Mosquito and were killed. Unusual ceremony in the unit took place on August 31st. Chief mechanic of the Flight “M”, F/Sgt Kazimierz Gutowski was decorated with British Empire Medal by Air Vice Marshall Henderson. In the citation Gutowski’s extremely effective methods of work uninterrupted since the unit was born, were noted.

    In September the unit started to fly “anti-diver” patrols, and another operational loss came on 13 October when the crew Kot/Kepak (Czech) was killed. From a close distance, they attacked a Heinkel 111 replete with V-1, which exploded bringing down the Mosquito with it.
   In October the 307 was reequipped once again, for a newer version of Mosquito, Mk XXX. The “wooden wonder” received yet still more powerful engines and aircraft became even more popular among Poles. The flying activity, as usually, slowed down toward the end of the year, and last of its weeks were uneventful. Worth mentioning however, is the case of the crew Wieczorek/Ostrowski, which on 12 December took off for “Intruder”, only to collide in mid-air with a V-2 rocket few minutes after. The crew force landed and was safe; Mosquito was written off.

        The 1945 begun with adverse weather conditions, and for a good part of January, the squadron was idle. Only few “Intruders” were flown.
    On 27th, the unit was detailed off to Castle Camp near Cambridge, but continued to fly the same type of operations as before: night patrols, intruder, ranger and bomber support misions. The Luftwaffe was still undefeated by its days were counted. It is enough to say that for the rest of the war, the 307 crews encountered German aircraft only on few occasions. The last squadron’s victory happened on March 7th, when F/Lt Tarkowski with F/O Taylor (British) shot down a Ju188 during ‘intruder’ near Bonn. On 25 April, the CO of the unit, W/Cdr Andrzejewski destroyed one FW190 and damaged another, both on the ground. The same night, Sgt Leszkiewicz and Sgt Lewandowski damaged parked Ju88 in Flensburg, but were forced to ditch their aircraft after being hit by flak. They spent three days in dinghy and were taken prisoners by the Germans.
    On 9 May 1945, led by W/Cdr Andrzejewski, six aircraft of the 307 took part in the operation “Nestegg”. Mosquitoes were to force the surrender of German garrisons at Guernsey and Jersey. On both, the Poles made low passes at German positions without firing and saw white flags soon after.
    The war came to an end - somewhat bitter for the Poles - and the squadron was disbanded on 2 January 1947.

No. 307 Squadron war effort: