On the morning of 1st January 1945, all three squadrons of 131 (Polish) Wing were assigned to bomb various communications targets and reconnoitre the area north of the River Maas and east of the Rhine. Three four-aircraft sections of 308 squadron's Spitfire LF.IXs, led by F/Lt Olszewski, took off from St. Denijs Westrem at 08:15, followed by 11 Spitfire IXs of 317 Squadron, led by S/Ldr Chełmecki, 20 minutes later. Last were two four aircraft sections of Spitfire IXS and XVIs from 302 Squadron.
Ten Spitfires from 308 Squadron successfully attacked their targets and turned to home. The other two, unable to drop their bombs because of jammed release gear returned singly. At about 09:30 the returning pilots received signals from B.61 Flying Control that German aircraft were present in the Ghent area soon followed by a call that the airfield was under heavy attack by the Luftwaffe. F/Lt Mach's section spotted Fw 190s at low altitude near Lokeren, east of Ghent, and dived towards them. Sgt Breyner close in on a pair whose pilots must have seen him at the last moment, both simultaneously making a sharp turn crashing into each other and hitting the ground in flames. F/Lt Mach singled out two Fw 190s and destroyed them then damaging a third.
F/O Choynacki and F/Sgt Stanowski who curtailed their sorties due to minor technical difficulties were the first to reach St. Denijs Westrem. Both pilots saw about 40 Fw 190s attacking the base and columns of black smoke rising from the ground. Chojnacki dived and destroyed one of them before being shot down himself. Stanowski shot down two but ran out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing in a field. Seconds later the rest of 308 Squadron arrived and pounced on the Fw 190s wheeling around the airfield bringing them down one by one before they realised what was happening. A number of individual dogfights ensued. Flg/Off Szlenkier shot down a Fw 190 southwest of Ghent before being hit himself and having to make a belly landing. One source says the Fw 190 was probably flown by Uff. Gerhard Behrens of 8./JG 1 and Szlenkier was shot up by Fw Fritz Hofmann of 3./JG 1. Another source says Szlenkier's victim was Fw 190A-8 Blue 5 flown by Uff Harijs Klints, one of five Latvian pilots serving with JG 1. Both agree the pilot was killed.
317 Squadron joined the melee in pursuit of the fleeing enemy but were hampered by lack of fuel knowing that they would have to land within minutes. 302 Squadron arrived too late to take part in the battle.
The Polish squadrons claimed 21 Fw 190s destroyed, one probable and four damaged. After scrutiny of the combat reports by 84 Group HQ the Poles were credited with 18 ½ confirmed destroyed, 1 probably destroyed and 5 damaged. The ½ was given to F/Sgt Jerzy Główczewski who had to share with AA guns as his victim was found to have shrapnel damage. Own losses were F/O Choynacki in ZF*P MJ281 and F/Lt Powierza of 317 squadron in MK190, both shot down and killed, and three other aircraft damaged in battle. Two Spitfires of 308 Squadron, MJ647 flown by Breyner and MJ888 flown by Stanowski, and one 317 Squadron Spitfire, MJ883 flown by Wdowczyński, were damaged in crash landings when they ran out of fuel.
Details from Form 78 Aircraft Movement Card
4-2-446 MU.
28-2-44 329 Sqn
26-4-44 Air collision with MK373 in cloud Wappington Farm Horsham Sussex Cat B
15-6-44 Air Service Training 332 Squadron.
14-10-44 Air Service Training Hamble.
9-11-44 308 Squadron.
2-1-45 Damaged Cat B ops.
12-3-45 Recat E.