|
This
Day In History
Summary
of Events for No.
439 (CAN) Squadron
as
recorded in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book
for
29
June 1944
R.C.A.F.
Lantheuil
Cloudy
in the early morning. In the late afternoon it rained heavily
accompanied by thunder. Before and after lunch, the pilots who
were not flying and airmen who were not servicing aircraft,
concentrated on moving all aircraft to a new site, the former
being dispersed excessively rendering difficulty in reaching
distant aircraft, especially with the present inadequate
transport facilities. In addition all tents, petrol and
equipment and static trucks were moved to a new site adjacent to
a hedge and large trees which provides a natural
camouflage.
After
this session of physical exertion worked up a keen appetite, S/L
Norsworthy, the Wing P.M.C. spent most of his time organizing
the movement to the new site and in setting up the officer's
mess.
F/O M. Harrison, the Squadron Adjutant, was awarded a
Mention in Dispatches. This award was not consequent on his
efforts with this Squadron but by virtue of his efforts within
No. 6 R.C.A.F. Group, Bomber Command. This is the first award
made to a member of 439 Squadron.
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 |
F/L
Dadson
F/O
Brown
F/O
Stetler
F/O
Allen
F/L
Scharff
F/O
Burgess
F/O
?????
F/O
Kalen
|
Dive Bombing
|
07:55 |
08:?0 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
The morning show of eight aircraft from this Squadron
carried 16 x 1000 lb bombs over the enemy
????.
One aircraft was forced to return. The target (a
bridge at ??????
(T.9????)
was attacked and one direct hit was scored on the
eastern end. There were four near misses and two
undershoots. ????
in target area, ?????
flak was encountered but all aircraft returned safely
and undamaged.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
Column is illegible
M |
F/L
Dadson
F/O
Allen
F/O
Monson
F/O
??????
F/O
Brown J.
F/L
Scharff
F/O
Kalen
F/O Hewson
F/O
Bernhart
|
Dive Bombing
|
11:25 |
11:55 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
F/L
Dadson led the Squadron of eight aircraft into the air
carrying 8 x 1000 lb. bombs and 8 x 500 lb. bombs to
present to the Jerries. The bombs were released on the
bridge across the river at Ompillier
?
(T.9758)
in a dive from 7000 ft to 1000 ft. from the northeast.
Four direct hits were scored on the bridge with all
bombs within 50 yards of the target. Heavy flak was
encountered but none of our aircraft were hit.
Webmaster's
Notes:
(1) The only note in the Logbook of F/O GW
Hewson reads 2 x 500 (bombs)
Bridge (bombed)
successfully.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
Column is illegible |
F/L
Scharff
F/O Burgess
F/O Swingler
F/O Thomas
F/O Burton
F/O Porritt
F/O Allen
|
Dive
Bombing
|
12:00 |
13:05 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
Ramrod
carried out against a bridge at ???/ville-Sur-????
(T????)
The attack was made through a thick curtain of flak
from 7000 ft to 3000 ft and resulted in all bombs
striking the target area. Results were unobserved due
to the vast amount of debris thrown up.
??
x 1000 lb. bombs were carried on this operation. All
aircraft returned safely.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
Column is illegible |
F/L
Fiset
F/O Brown
F/O Johns
F/O ????
F/O Hogg
F/O Rassenti
|
Dive
Bombing
|
18:50 |
20:10 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
Briefed
again for a third crack at the Noball installation
near St. Omer
. Our six serviceable aircraft at Manston carried 500
lb bombs ?????
across the Channel for the third time this day. Some
difficulty was experienced in finding the target
because of a sheet of low cloud which was just moving
in over the target area. The attack resulted in all
bombs exploding in the target area with some believed
to be direct hits or very near misses on the
installation ?????.
No flak or enemy aircraft were seen, all aircraft
returned safely to their home base.
Webmaster's
Notes:
(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.
|
Copyright
©1998-2016 Michael T. Melnick. All rights reserved
the
unofficial homepage of  Tiger
Squadron
.
.
.
|