AAR - BrisWingsofGlory WGS Campaign 1, Mission 21 - Polish Air Force 1939-45
Britain 1940 Mission 21 Defensive Patrol Gillingham 05/09/1940
The 5 September 1940 proved to be an ideal day for combat, the weather was clear with only a slight breeze. Conditions for flying were ideal and large formations of Luftwaffe continued to target RAF airfields and aircraft factories to wear down Fighter Command. That morning at RAF Northolt No.303 Squadron received two replacement Hurricanes, bringing Blue Section almost up to full strength.
At 1440hrs Blue Section consisting of F/O Władysław Gnyś (RF-F), Sgt Tadeusz Arabski (RF-H), P/O Tadeuz Nowak (RF-E), F/Sgt Władysław Chciuk (RF-U) with No.302 Sqn pilot F/O Tadeusz Kowalewski (E) took off from RAF Northolt with instructions from Ground Control to intercept large formation of Luftwaffe bombers crossing the coast south of the Thames Estuary.
Climbing to 22,000 feet over Gillingham, the Poles saw intense ack-ack fire over the southside side of the Thames.
Turning towards the puffs of white smoke, F/O Gnyś identified the Luftwaffe formation consisted of Heinkel He-111s escorted by a larger number of Messerschmitt Bf-109s.
The players line-up for this mission, from left to right Rod (forum member Rodders), our FLGS proprietor Paul (seated) and Wayne (forum member Whiskysierra) running their Polish pilots and Liam back for his second game with old hands Ned and Charlie (forum member provost121) flying for the Luftwaffe.
Liam and Ned were running the 109s (Ned with the yellow nosed machines) while Charlie flew the Heinkels.
As the formations close two Messerschmitts banked towards the Hurricanes, coming in from twelve o’clock high.
The closing speed of 600mph proves too fast to allow either side to effectively engage …..
….. and the higher flying 109s flash past Blue Section.
The yellow nosed Messerschmitts bank hard over the bomber Kette, coming straight in at No.303 Squadron.
In the initial exchange however it is the Germans who came off second best. Three Hurricanes blast Yellow 5 of 9.JG26, rounds plastering the cockpit and nose of the Messerschmitt sending the aircraft down. P/O Tadeuz Nowak is credited with the victory, his fourth confirmed kill. Ltn. Eberhard Henrici is wounded and his engine shot out. Finding his Emil transformed into a glider Henrici manages to make an unpowered forced landing and is immediately taken prisoner. Henrici spends four weeks in hospital recovering from his wounds before being transferred to a prisoner of war camp.
The remaining 109s reform as the Hurricanes round on the bombers.
Gnyś and Arabski find themselves out of the position trailing the Heinkels but the rest of Blue Section attacks from the bomber formation’s six o’clock.
As the Heinkels pass the IP for their bombing run …..
….. Blue Section loses F/O Tadeusz Kowalewski’s Hurricane. Having taken a devastating 20mm hit in the initial exchange with the yellow nosed 109s, Kowalewski’s machine attacking alone is peppered by accurate fire from the Heinkels gunners. With his aircraft shot to pieces Kowalewski pulls back the canopy and bails out as the Hurricane falls away. The Polish officer lands unhurt and makes it back to Northolt in time for tea.
Almost immediately after the loss of Kowalewski’s Hurricane Sgt Arabski in Hurricane RF-H is attacked by the second yellow nosed 109. Despite being wounded earlier in the battle German pilot Uffz. Heinz Hoffmann slips in on the Hurricane’s seven o’clock and opens fire. His cannon shells miss the British fighter but his cowl mounted twin 7.92mm machine guns shoot up critical systems. Losing control of his machine Sgt. Arabski is forced to bail out. Landing safely, the Polish NCO pilot hitches a ride with F/O Kowalewski back to their airfield.
Even as Arabski is floating down under his parachute canopy F/Sgt Chciuk downs one of the Heinkels (his seventh victory) that had been subjected to repeated attacks by him and P/O Nowak, as well as sustaining damage in a collision with another of the He-111s whilst taking evasive action. Chciuk observes the stricken bomber enter a steep dive and a series of parachutes open as the crew escape. Captured as they land, for this Luftwaffe aircrew the war is over.
Above the fray Uffz. Fritz Geisshardt flying 1.JG77 Messerschmitt 109 ‘White 2’ heads back to base, his aircraft having taken heavy damage. Geisshardt makes it back to his Pas de Calais airfield but his Emil declared a write-off and scrapped for parts.
As the Heinkels break having dropped their bombs, they are pursued by the Poles who in turn are followed by the remaining 109s.
Two of the Heinkels drop their bombs squarely on the targeted factory. The third He-111 releases its bombload late, hitting a railway station on the other side of a canal.
The Heinkel turning north escapes the attention of Blue Section, and is escorted back across the Channel by 9.JG26 pilot Uffz. Heinz Hoffmann. The He-111 returns unscathed, while Hoffmann’s Messerschmitt requires considerable repairs before retuning to operational status on 12 September. Hoffmann’s wounds are serious and initially medical authorities assess he may never fly again (drew an explosion chit for campaign wound effects). The German NCO makes a better than expected recovery (expending a luck point to re-draw) but is still out of action for three weeks.
The remaining No.303 Squadron pilots Gnyś, Nowak and Chciuk continue to chase the last Heinkel. Above them 1.JG77 pilot Ltn. Hans von Strelow threatens to fall on any Hurricane that comes too close to the Heinkel.
While Nowak and Chciuk throttle back in the hope von Strelow's 109 will overshoot and provide them a target, Władysław Gnyś engages the German bomber.
F/O Gnyś presses the attack, shooting up the Heinkel with no effect. With their Hurricanes already badly damaged Nowak and Chciuk break left to avoid the marauding 109. Gnyś also dives away, forced to break off his attack due to the threat of the 109 on his six. Von Strelow piloting the undamaged ‘White 1’ escorts the badly shot up Heinkel back to France. Although the bomber crew come through the fight unscathed the Heinkel is assessed as having sustained 93% damage and is scrapped.
Blue Section lands back at Northolt, all Hurricanes also bearing the scars of battle. F/O Władysław Gnyś brings RF-F back home with several large holes caused by 20mm cannon shells. Despite this the ground crew effect repairs returning the aircraft to operations within a week. Nowak’s Hurricane RF-E is the least damaged and is ready to fly in three days. F/Sgt. Chciuk’s RF-U has been so badly shot about it is categorised as a write off and converted to components.
Despite the mixed fortunes of that day’s mission welcome news is received in the evening that Pilot Officer Tadeusz Nowak has been promoted to Flying Officer in recognition of his three Messerschmitt 109s shot down since 31 August 1940. The beer flows in No.303 Squadron’s mess as Nowak’s promotion is celebrated.
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Originally Posted by Stumptonian
Great to read of the further exploits of 303 Sqd Carl.
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