4 września 1943 r. - ppor. Tadeusz Góra (316 Dywizjon)

WING INTELLIGENCE COMBAT REPORT

NORTHOLT POLISH WING

RAMROD S.30 PART I

A ... DATE 4.9.43

B ... UNIT Northolt Polish Wing (303, 316, and 4 A/c. of 124 Squadron)

C ... TYPE OF OUR AIRCRAFT Spitfire IX and Spitfire VII

D ... TIME OF ATTACK 1800-1810 hrs.

E ... PLACE OF ATTACK Lille-Roubaix area

F ... WEATHER Clear

G ... SUMMARY OF OUR CASUALTIES - AIRCRAFT Nil

H ... SUMMARY OF OUR CASUALTIES - PILOTS Nil

J ... ENEMY CASUALTIES IN AIR COMBAT 1 FW 190 destroyed (F/Sgt. Szymkowiak T. 303 Squadron 1 FW 190 probably destroyed (F/O Gora T. 316 Squadron)

K ... ENEMY CASUALTIES - GROUND TARGETS Nil.

GENERAL

24 Spitfires IX, 12 each from 303 and 316 Polish Squadrons, and 4 Spitfire VII from 124 Squadron, including Squadron Leader Zurakowski leading, took off from Northolt at 1700 hrs. Rendezvous was made on time over Deal. When approaching the target (Lille marshalling yards) at 1752 hrs., Wing saw 8 FW 190's in two fours about 10,000 feet below. Leading 316 Squadron dived down to attack, leaving 303 and 124 Squadron as top cover to bombers. E/A went down on seeing 316 Squadron diving to attack. Only one pilot closed range to open fire and his story is as follows:

"I dived and recognised one FW 190 and Spitfire V in dog fight. The Hun probably saw us coming down, and went down in a right turn. I followed him and when at 14,000 ft. I opened fire from about 200 yards, giving him a long burst at an angle of 20 degrees. In this attack I came straight astern of E/A and stopped firing at a distance of 80 yards at 10,000 ft. At the same time the Hun made a sharp pull up, turned over without any control and dived vertically down pouring a long trail of black smoke. I followed him down to 5,000 ft., when I heard a warning of some attacks. I turned back to have a look round and then I lost sight of my enemy."

/-/ F/O

Wing returned without incident, landing at Northolt at 1900 hrs.

Observations:

(a) Bomb bursts in target area - most pilots saw large fire on the target

(b) Slight heavy and light flak from Lille and Roubaix.

/-/ S/Ldr

Senior Intelligence Officer

R.A.F. STATION, NORTHOLT.