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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
15
October 1944
B.78
Eindhoven, Holland
Fairly
clear this morning, but clouded up heavily in the afternoon with rain
around 15:45 hours and at night. Today Padre Ashford is giving his
final Service here as he will be posted shortly after to Canada. His exuberant
and demonstrative Services will be missed by the personnel of 143
Wing. He set up a good Record here, dutifully visiting all sections
almost every day if possible, never too busy to listen to our grief's.
A very fine Padre indeed will soon be posted from our midst. Our
records shows three operations as having been carried out today.
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 |
| MN870
MP145
MN989
MN691
PD492
JR500
PD557
MN894 |
F/O
Burgess C.L.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Laycock M.P.
F/O
Rassenti N.H.
F/O
Bernhart P.N.
F/O
Hiltz R.A.
F/O
Laurence R.H.
F/O
Marcoux M.A. |
Dive-Bombing |
07:40 |
08:35 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
Squadron took-off led by F/O Burgess, armed with 500 lb bombs
(.025 tail fused) to carry on the attacks against the railways.
The target this time was the railway between ???holt and Porken,
in Germany. The Squadron took off and formed up then set course
for target, climbing on track. The weather was beautiful with
visibility unlimited; once across the Rhine, they found a thin
layer of cloud over the railway to be attacked. This
necessitated an orbit out and around the cloud base and
the Squadron came in underneath it then attacked, diving from
west to east and releasing the bombs from about 1500 feet. 11 of
the bombs were very close, although no craters were made in the
track grade, one pair of bombs actually straddled the
line.
The
Squadron then reformed and set course for base. No flak was
encountered and the only unusual event of the show was during
take-off as F/O Bernhart became nicely rolling down the runway,
his port bomb fell off and bounced along the tarmac. He managed
to take-off with no adverse effect and completed operations.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN869
JR500
PD554
MN894
MN665
MP145
MN345
MN691 |
F/O
Hogg J.E.
F/O
Martin J.G.
F/O
Smith I.W.
F/O
Laurence R.H.
F/O
Stelter J.
P/O
McBride A.C.
F/O
Brown J.A.
F/O
Saunders W.L. |
Dive-Bombing |
10:05 |
11:00 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
Squadron took to the air to attack one of their familiar old
targets, namely the railway running from Utrecht, Holland.
F/O Hogg led the pilots with the usual armament of 500 pounders
(.025 tail fused). After forming up, they climbed on track and
levelled out at 7000 feet above a thin layer of 10/10ths
stratus. On nearing the target, it was necessary to let down
under cloud as it became thicker. They were given an alternate target
in case that the line had been repaired from a previous attack.
It showed signs of repair so was once more effectively
clobbered, at least one pair of bombs falling on the railway
grade and all others very close to it. There was a little flak
over the target, but not enough to give concern and the Squadron
did a leisurely form-up, then returned to base having suffered
no damage.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN870
MN989
MN345
MN691
MN482
MN124
PD554
MN894 |
F/O
Burgess C.L.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Laycock M.P.
F/O
Rassenti N.H.
F/O
Swingler B.P.
F/O
Hiltz R.A.
F/O
Bernhart P.N.
F/O
Marcoux M.A. |
Dive-Bombing |
12:45 |
13:30 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
Squadron of eight led by F/O Burgess, took-off again with 500 lb
bombs to prang the railroad at Xanten inside the German border.
It was a typical show, form up, climb on track, line astern on approaching
target and then roll over to the left and into the dive. The
cloud was 8/10ths at 8000 feet though somewhat scattered over
the target area. The dive was good (60 degrees) and the bombing
exceptional. Four hits were directly on the track and the other
four very close. No flak was sent up and the Squadron formed up
in an orbit and returned to base with no further ado.
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