309 Squadron
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Believed to have been taken in the spring of 1945 on an escort mission over France, FZ124 displays a peculiar shaped letter Z in the serial and appears to have been repainted in a more fancy camouflage as do several other Mustangs in the formation. The Mustang behind is much darker in appearance and does not seem to have an individual letter behind the roundel. In the centre of the formation is Wing Commander Walerian Żak's personnel Mustang FB217 coded ŻW. It had previous history with 65 Squadron where it was damaged Cat B in September 1944 before transfer to the RAF Coltishall Station Flight in March 1945.
ŻW about to land. An early P-51C-INT it was retrofitted with a dorsal fin.
ŻW parked on a hardstand at RAF Coltishall with 306 squadron Mustangs in the air.
Walerian Żak in the cockpit. The dot over the Z can just been seen by the corner of the hood.
ŻW about to land. An early P-51C-INT it was retrofitted with a dorsal fin.
ŻW parked on a hardstand at RAF Coltishall with 306 squadron Mustangs in the air.
Walerian Żak in the cockpit. The dot over the Z can just been seen by the corner of the hood.
Attachments
There are very few known photographs of 309 Squadron's Hurricanes.
Photo 1. Hurricane IIc at Drem.
Photo 2. The most published photograph, Hurricane IIc LF630/WC*S in flight. Note that the legend 'POLAND' was always placed above the chessboard on 309 Squadron's aircraft. Polish fighter squadrons placed 'POLAND' below the chessboard but other Polish squadrons usually placed it above the chessboard. 309 Squadron began as a army cooperation/tactical reconnaissance squadron and so placed 'POLAND' above their chessboards. After converting to a fighter squadron they continued the tradition of placing it above the chessboards.
Photos 3, 4, 5. A group of 309 pilots with Hurricane IIc LF331/WC*G at Drem June 1944. The Hurricane featured some nose art, a girl with the slogan "TARGET FOR TONIGHT". The Hurricane was with the squadron from 23rd may until 4th October 1944. It appears to be painted all over in one shade of grey, Medium Sea Grey perhaps. Some of the pilots are wearing the black leather coats they obtained during service in France.
Photo 6. Group of pilots with OC S/Ldr Antoni Głowacki with Hurricane IIc, of B Flight, most probably LF633/WC*T or LF335/WC*Z.
Photos 7 8. Hurricane IIc LF644/WC*D. There appears to be a certain amount of rework on the fuselage with a large area of lighter grey (MSG?) behind the canopy and scribbles in front of the letter D.
Photos 9 10. A Flight commander F/Lt Jerzy Mencel with Hurricane II LF644/WC*D. Jurek is the diminutive of Jerzy, the girl we will meet again later. Mencel was one of the highly experience fighter pilots posted to 309 Squadron to convert it to a pure fighter squadron.
Photo 11. Another Hurricane IIc with nose art. Either WC*B or F. Unfortunately the emblem is obscured by the hand of one o the fitters. In the background is LF656/WC*E.
Photo 1. Hurricane IIc at Drem.
Photo 2. The most published photograph, Hurricane IIc LF630/WC*S in flight. Note that the legend 'POLAND' was always placed above the chessboard on 309 Squadron's aircraft. Polish fighter squadrons placed 'POLAND' below the chessboard but other Polish squadrons usually placed it above the chessboard. 309 Squadron began as a army cooperation/tactical reconnaissance squadron and so placed 'POLAND' above their chessboards. After converting to a fighter squadron they continued the tradition of placing it above the chessboards.
Photos 3, 4, 5. A group of 309 pilots with Hurricane IIc LF331/WC*G at Drem June 1944. The Hurricane featured some nose art, a girl with the slogan "TARGET FOR TONIGHT". The Hurricane was with the squadron from 23rd may until 4th October 1944. It appears to be painted all over in one shade of grey, Medium Sea Grey perhaps. Some of the pilots are wearing the black leather coats they obtained during service in France.
Photo 6. Group of pilots with OC S/Ldr Antoni Głowacki with Hurricane IIc, of B Flight, most probably LF633/WC*T or LF335/WC*Z.
Photos 7 8. Hurricane IIc LF644/WC*D. There appears to be a certain amount of rework on the fuselage with a large area of lighter grey (MSG?) behind the canopy and scribbles in front of the letter D.
Photos 9 10. A Flight commander F/Lt Jerzy Mencel with Hurricane II LF644/WC*D. Jurek is the diminutive of Jerzy, the girl we will meet again later. Mencel was one of the highly experience fighter pilots posted to 309 Squadron to convert it to a pure fighter squadron.
Photo 11. Another Hurricane IIc with nose art. Either WC*B or F. Unfortunately the emblem is obscured by the hand of one o the fitters. In the background is LF656/WC*E.
Attachments
Last edited:
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 38,221
- Mar 26, 2007
Operation Record books of the 309 can be found
Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947 No. 306 Squadron
Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947 No. 306 Squadron
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Add it to an appropraite thread or start a new one. Then add the data in electronic form. Is it a .pdf file?
Good afternoon
I know this thread has been inactive for a couple of years but i came across it as I'm looking into my grandfathers history during the war, i know he was with 309 squadron in 1945 as i have a photograph of him. He is sat on the middle row, 4th in from the right hand side. He was flight officer Harold Cutting and as far as I'm aware he helped train pilots. I don't have a lot more information about him or for how long he was with 309 squadron. I know in 1941 he was based in Moose Jaw in Canada. Unfortunately my grandfather died a few years ago and its taking time to find any information. If anyone can help me with any information that would be great.
I know this thread has been inactive for a couple of years but i came across it as I'm looking into my grandfathers history during the war, i know he was with 309 squadron in 1945 as i have a photograph of him. He is sat on the middle row, 4th in from the right hand side. He was flight officer Harold Cutting and as far as I'm aware he helped train pilots. I don't have a lot more information about him or for how long he was with 309 squadron. I know in 1941 he was based in Moose Jaw in Canada. Unfortunately my grandfather died a few years ago and its taking time to find any information. If anyone can help me with any information that would be great.
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Welcome to the forum and thanks for the pic! I'm sure one of the guys will be along to help answer your questions.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Very cool, welcome aboard!
Good afternoon
I know this thread has been inactive for a couple of years but i came across it as I'm looking into my grandfathers history during the war, i know he was with 309 squadron in 1945 as i have a photograph of him. He is sat on the middle row, 4th in from the right hand side. He was flight officer Harold Cutting and as far as I'm aware he helped train pilots. I don't have a lot more information about him or for how long he was with 309 squadron. I know in 1941 he was based in Moose Jaw in Canada. Unfortunately my grandfather died a few years ago and its taking time to find any information. If anyone can help me with any information that would be great.
No. 309 squadron. Probably September 1945.
Front row, from left: F/Sgt Swiecicki, Sgt Sulikowski, W/O Murkowski, Sgt Kogut and Sgt Podolski. Second row: F/O Stankiewicz, F/O Budzik, F/Lt Lewis (British), F/Lt Polak, S/Ldr Pietrzak, F/Lt Birtus, F/O Cutting (British), F/O Gierycz, F/O Mozolowski and P/O Turek. Back row: P/O Lewandowski, Radkiewicz, F/O Krus, P/O Czerni, F/Lt Zielonka, F/O Jaeschke, Zaufal, F/Sgt Godlewski, F/Sgt Gallus, Zagloba, Sgt Eisenbach, Sgt Loska, W/O B. Czerwinski and F/O Wisniewski. Far back: Hanka and Kulecki.
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Awesome V2! I hope the poster comes back.
Hi guys
my uncle Waclaw Szypulewski was in the 309 squadron from the beginning of the war. I have his log book and many many pictures a lot that are posted on the Polish Squadrons remembered site. I'm looking at finding out more about the missions that took place with this squadron.
cheers
my uncle Waclaw Szypulewski was in the 309 squadron from the beginning of the war. I have his log book and many many pictures a lot that are posted on the Polish Squadrons remembered site. I'm looking at finding out more about the missions that took place with this squadron.
cheers
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fubar57
General
Welcome Chris. Someone here should be able to help. I'll look to see what I have on the 309sqn.
Geo
Geo
fubar57
General
I have this book but as the title says, it only contains the years 39-43. There are only 6 pages about 309 with photos. If you want the pages, PM me your email address and I'll send them to you.
Geo
Geo
