4 września 1943 r. - kpr. Tadeusz Szymkowiak (303 Dywizjon)
Poniższy tekst to meldunek kpr. Tadeusza Szymkowiaka (wówczas pilota 303 Dywizjonu Myśliwskiego im. Tadeusza Kościuszki) z walki w dniu 4 września 1943 r.:
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. (...)
One pilot of 303 Squadron, seeing single FW 190 flying several thousand feet below, attacked and destroyed it in the following circumstances:
"I was flying as No. 2 in White Section at 20,000 feet. When 10 miles N.W. of Lille the Squadron began to dive and I saw a lone FW 190 about 5,000 feet below. I then went after the FW 190 alone and seeing me he turned to fight. We attacked each other head on, both firing. I observed no results from my fire and his did not touch me. We both turned and I blacked out completely for a moment, and when I came to I saw him about 200 feet below on my port side going down in spirals. I went after him and at about 5,000 feet got in a long burst from 90 degrees below. We were so close I could see the pilot and saw bursts on his engine and round the cockpit. He was on his side and jettisoning his hood he baled out from 2,000 feet. I saw the FW 190 crash in flames near some houses and I turned back to look for the pilot. He was floating down by 'chute and I took photos."
/-/ F/Sgt. Pilot
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.