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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 Form
540
for
13
September 1944
R.C.A.F.
Melsbroek, Belgium
Heavy
ground haze in the morning with thin cloud around the horizon. he haze
continued almost all day, then the sky clouded up late in the
afternoon with a heavy deluge of rain at night. A surprise party was
given in honour of S/L H.H. Norsworthy, DFC, our Commanding Officer
when we were advised he was being posted tomorrow on completing his
second Tour of operations. On this Tour he did 102 trips, making a
total of 101:50 operational hours. The party was quite a success!
There was only one operation
on the
program for the afternoon and it was a dive bombing effort on two
ships trying to get into Rotterdam Harbour.
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 |
| MN352
MP136
PD465
MP145
MN869
MN969
MN665
MP177
PD458 |
F/O
Monson A.E.
F/O
Laurence R.H.
F/O
Smith I.W.
F/O
MacDonald R.N.
F/O
Hogg J.F.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Rassenti N.H.
F/O
Smith R.V.
W/O
Gray W.A. |
Dive
Bombing |
17:00 |
17:55 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Nine
pilots took-off with 500 lb. bombs (.025 tail fused) to attack
two freighters last seen steaming up the river into Rotterdam
Harbour. The flight was led by F/O Monson and made at 8,500
feet. Over the area the ships were sighted at D.6074 moving up
the river with one or two small boats towing them. Red Flight
was detailed to take the one further up the river mouth and Blue
Flight the other. As Red Flight went into their dive, intense
light flak was put up from the north side of the river, and some
heavy flak, though it proved to be inaccurate. Though one or two
sets of bombs were amiss, there were several very close to the
ships attacked. One freighter received a direct hit and the
other was seen smoking as we left the area.
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