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This
Day In History
Summary
of Events for No.
439 (CAN) Squadron
as
recorded in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book
for
10
April 1944
R.C.A.F.
Funtingten, Essex, England
Awakened
early for briefing at 0830 hrs. Show finally came off at 1300hrs
being delayed by low cloud. The take-off was rosy, but some low
cloud interfered with our form-up, which was, despite this,
somewhat better than past performances of our sister squadrons.
While heading for Beachy Head at deck level, the clouds closed
down and we were forced to climb through the 4,000' layer of
cloud.
All aircraft started up through okay, but we were one short
coming out on top. The missing man was F/O Paul Elfner in Typhoon
"M" (JR264). After receiving a fix & vector above
the clouds, we were given permission to jettison bombs and
proceeded to return to home and what a trip that was! Some above
cloud, in cloud, and below cloud, practice galore !*?!?!*!!
(sic)
After we had landed with
Elfner still missing, we were informed that an aircraft had
crashed into the water, just off Beachy Head.
Detail
of Work Carried Out by
No. 439
RCAF Squadron
as
compiled by in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book
Form 541
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
Typhoon
D
A
Z
M
O
P
T
T |
S/L
Norsworthy
F/O Smith I.W.
P/O Burton
F/O Elfner
F/L Saville
F/O Brown R.A.
F/O MacDonald
F/O Johns |
Dive
Bombing |
12:50 |
13:50
14:00
13:50
*
14:10
13:45
13:40
14:10 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
This
show was intended to be a Ramrod against a noball target
in enemy occupied France, but (weather)
was against us. S/L
Norsworthy led the eight aircraft of the Squadron into
the air with 500 lb. bombs on the racks. The trip down
to Beachy Head was made under very low cloud, which was
reported broken over the Channel. Suddenly, still
overland near Beachy Head, the cloud came down to meet
the land.
The
C.O. (S/L Norsworthy) gave the order
"climbing" and the closely packed formation
nosed upwards into the heavy cloud blanket. F/O
MacDonald, flying as spare, had previously returned to
base. Of the seven aircraft which started into cloud
together, only six broke cloud at 6,000 feet. F/O P.J.
Elfner J22201 was never seen or heard from after the
formation began the climb in cloud. He was in position
when the climb first began. Flying at 8,000 feet, S/L
Norsworthy requested a vector out into the Channel
and received it from Control. All aircraft in the
formation jettisoned their bombs into the cloud
blanket over the Channel and set course for home on a
homing. S/L Norsworthy spotted a hole in the cloud and
he and two other aircraft managed to get down through
it, and came home on the deck. The remaining three
aircraft reached base on separate homings.
Mission
abortive. One aircraft and pilot missing. As this
Squadron was not fully equipped with Typhoon aircraft,
Typhoon aircraft were loaned from other squadrons,
therefore you will note that aircraft letters are
duplicated in column two.
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