This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book

for

18 June 1944

 R.A.F. Hurn

The weather was fairly good in the morning with thin scattered cloud throughout the day. The early hours of the morning saw an operation on a small bridge across a canal near Caen, France. 6 aircraft took off with 1000 lb. bombs but these were jettisoned due to low ceiling over the target area. F/L Tommy Dadson and F/O Nick Rassenti could not make it this morning due to engine trouble.

 

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

Column is illegible

 S/L Norsworthy

F/O Burgess

F/L Fiset

F/O Swingler

F/O Porritt

F/O Hewson

Dive Bombing

????

????
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

Because of engine troubles only six aircraft set out with 1000 lb bombs to attack a small bridge over a canal near Caen. Because of a low ceiling over the target, the Squadron was forced to jettison the bombs and return to base.
A/C Type & Number Crew Duty Up Down

Column is illegible

 F/L Dadson

F/O Rassenti

F/O Moen

F/O Laycock

F/O Scharff

F/O ?????

F/O Smith

F/O Kalen

Dive Bombing

????

????
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

 

F/L Dadson leading the Squadron, carried 1000 lb bombs across the Channel in an eight plane attack on a bridge across the canal just a mile northeast of Caen. The target was attacked in a dive from ???? feet to ???? ft. from south to north. The bombing, due to a terrifically steep dive was very accurate, all bombs exploding within 100 ft of the bridge. No direct hits were observed however. No flak was seen over the target. All aircraft returned safely.

Webmaster's Notes:

(1) According to the Logbook of F/O GW Hewson, he flew an A&E on Typhoon C . The flight lasted only 10 minutes due to an unserviceable airscrew (propeller).

(2) The 541 Form for the month of June 1944 is extremely illegible, and difficult to read, and may entail a trip to Ottawa to get a better copy out of the Directorate of History. Hopefully theirs will more legible.

In the meantime, illegible text is indicated by a series of  question " ? " marks.

 

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