[drgondog]

Franek - interesting that the Polish pilots would use 'Ramrod' differently from Americans.. The USAAF Fighter Command basically had three terms to describe the type mission they flew -
1. Ramrod - a mission escorting bombers along a planned path and duration.. the mission could evolve into a Sweep or Fighter Sweep after breaking escort duties and shoot up targets on the deck on the way home. Brits used Rodeo did they not?

2. Sweep - as in above but also a planned activity w/o engaging in bomber escort duty.. The variations included Fighter Bomber Sweep which the 8th AF Fighter Command flew frequently between June and August and carried bombs instead of wing tanks... or simply fly a planned route after dropping tanks and strafe. Variations here were 'Chatanooga' for specifically going after trains and 'Jackpot' for going after airfields.
Believe British term = Rhubarb

3. Area Patrol - the Fighter mission was to 'patrol a specific area, either high altitude along the bomber track but not really moving with the bomber stream (rare) or a low level mission covering a specific area to look for airfields, trains, troops, etc.

It was the latter two missions that were contributions to overall force projection by the 8th AF behind (but not very far) the actual Battle Line - which was the domain of TAC air.

I know the American derivative for Ramrod spun from Cattle drives in the American West in which the cowboys were 'escorting' the cows along the trail.. what was the Polish reference?

Regards,

Bill