This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as compiled by  C20089 F/L M. Harrison  in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 540

for

04 May  1945

B-150 Celle, Germany

The weather was foul in the morning becoming worse in the afternoon. The wind was quite strong and eventually brought on light drizzle that subsequently densified into a good rain. The cold did not help matters very much. Three shows totalling 24 sorties were done on anti-shipping, two early in the morning and one in the afternoon, and we managed to destroy two boats, damage two fishing boats, one large barge, one large yacht and strikes were seen on a coastal freighter.

Well, what do you know? The news over the  BBC states that parts of Germany, Denmark and Holland will surrender tomorrow morning at 0800 hours. This is what we have been looking forward to for a long, long time. Its difficult to express just how everyone feels, you can see it in their faces, you can tell by the way they talk, but we shall see what tomorrow will bring. 17 aircraft are in ship-shape for flying whilst the 18th suffers from an oil leak.

Detail of Work Carried Out by  No. 439 RCAF Squadron 

as compiled by J23040 F/L V.H. LeGear, J37015 F/O A.W. Saunders, and C200589 F/L M. Harrison in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 541

A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
SW498 RB456 EK219 RB369 RB262 MP117 PD608 RB198	F/L LeGear V.H. W/O Johnson K.R. F/O Kubicki W. W/O Horrocks L.J. F/O Saunders A.W. W/O Hornberger F.J. F/O Harrison J.L. F/L McCully A.B.	Dive Bombing & Strafing	06:45	07:55
Details of Sortie or Flight F/L Vic LeGear and F/O Adam Saunders led 8 aircraft bombed with 500 lb. 11 second tail fused bombs, on an anti-shipping sortie. They took off at 06:45 hours and set course at 9000 feet for Wismar. The weather was generally good, with the occasional cloud and a slight haze. Wismar Bay and the south shore of Lubeck Bay were clear of traffic, so the Squadron headed for the western side of the Bay. Just off Dahme, 5 fishing boats were found at anchor. A 9000 to 2005 foot dive of 60 degrees was used breaking east into the sun, 7 sets of bombs landed among three of the boats moored in the triangle. No damage above the water-line was apparent. The Sections did one more straffing obtaining many strikes on the largest of the boats. Further down the coast, off Gromitz a small coastal freighter was spotted and strafed. Two large ships were seen capsized in Neustadt Bay. No other movement was seen so the Squadron returned to base landing safely at 07:55 hours. Claims: - 1 fishing boat damaged.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
SW452 MN364 EK219 RB326 SW524 RB198 SW498 MP117	W/C Grant F.G. F/O Brock J.S. F/O Hallfors F.M. F/O Bullock J.W. F/L Gray J.O. W/O Kidd E.F. F/L Whelan M.J. W/O Roach R.J.	Dive Bombing & Strafing	09:40	11:00
Details of Sortie or Flight This show led by W/C Grant took off at 09:40 hours carrying 500 lb. 11 second tail fused bombs and climbed to 9500 feet by the time of reaching the Elbe mouth. Several ships were seen making their way into Hamburg, on Blue Section's starboard. Blue Section led by F/L Gray, reported aircraft at five o'clock, Blue Four watched them until they disappeared. The show went up as far as Vollerwick, seeing no activity at all they did a cross over turn of 180 degrees and came back to Busum.  W/C Grant saw several barges, a launch and other vessels in the slip at Busum. Red Section followed by Blue flew 180 degrees and at 8000 feet commenced a 50 degree dive in the approximate direction of 300 degrees. F/L Gray orbited and saw several near misses and two direct hits, one of which was an oil barge. This barge flamed and smoked. On the way home Red Four got one burst of 88 MM flak but it was not accurate and he was not hit. This flak came from one vessel going down the Elbe River. Blue Three and Four were told by W/C Grant to investigate a low flying aircraft east of Selsingen; it was a Spitfire. The show landed very quickly despite the strong cross wind. Claims: 1 barge destroyed.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
RB441 RB326 RB456 EK219 RB402 RB198 PD608 RB369	S/L Beatty J.H. F/L Cook J.H. F/L Jackson S.G. F/O Fraser A.H. F/L Marlatt S.D. F/O McGibbon D.S. F/O Harrison J.L. F/O Johnson D.E.	Dive Bombing & Strafing	13:30	13:15 14:20 ' ' ' ' ' '
Details of Sortie or Flight Eight aircraft led by S/L Beatty took off with 500 lb. 11 second tail fused bombs to attack shipping in Kiel Bay. S/L Beatty's aircraft went U/S shortly after take-off and he returned safely to base landing at 13:15 hours. F/L Marlatt leading Blue Section took over the lead with F/L Jackson leading Red Section. When the aircraft reached Kiel Bay, they split into two sections. Blue Section dive-bombed a small boat from 6000 feet to 2000 feet but all bombs overshot. There was no flak so the Section damaged this boat and another by making two strafing attacks. Blue Section then returned to base all landing safely at 14:20 hours. Red Section consisting of 3 aircraft attacked three ships in the mouth of Kiel Harbour. No flak was observed. A direct hit on one ship, a small vessel in the 200-300 ton class caused an explosion and the ship was left burning. Red Three, F/L Cook, strafed one of the other two ships successfully, leaving it burning. Two ships are claimed as probably destroyed. Red Section returned to base and all aircraft landed safely at 14:20 hours. Claims: - Oil tender - 1 destroyed, barges - 1 damaged, Fishing Vessels - 1 damaged, yachts - 1 large one damaged. original signed by  J.H. Beatty, Squadron Leader. Officer Commanding 439 RCAF Squadron Webmasters note: Although it was unknown at the time, this turned out to be the last operational sortie for 439 Squadron with the capitulation of Germany on the 5th May 1945. Although the shooting war ended, the Squadron remained on the Continent, as part of the Occupation Force until  the 26 August 1945, the last  day an entry was made in its Operations Record Book.

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