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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
for
07
November 1944
B-78
Holland
Heavy
gale all day with scattered showers. The tents were flapping like mad
and we expected them to give way at any time, as other sections have
had some blown down. There is quite a sea of mud around the dispersal
so that the fellows keep inside their huts and tents, nursing the
stoves continuously with wood. We have some good news today, J.21925
F/O Stelter, the first of the original pilots of this squadron has
finished his tour of operations. He was with 123 Squadron in Canada
before it moved overseas to be called 439, and is now the fourth pilot
of our squadron to finish a tour. He has done 97 sorties, 94:00
operational hours, making a total of 691:35 hours.
Only
one operation and one weather recce comprised the day's war effort.
J.27023 F/O A.L. Henderson was posted to B.P.C. but is to report to 3
P.R.C. Bournemouth first. This is a compassionate posting and it is
expected that repatriation to Canada will ensue.
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 |
| MN894
MN537 |
F/O
J.A. Cote
F/O
R.A. Hitz |
Weather
Recce |
08:15 |
09:25 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
F/O
Cote with F/O Hiltz as his number two, took-off to do an early
weather recce. They went north encountering a bank of heavy
cumulus cloud over the Rhine extending from 6000 to 12000 feet.
Continuing, they found scattered cloud with good visibility and
thinning out to 1/10ths to the east of Almelo. They then
returned to base via Zello, reporting the weather suitable for
operations.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN869
MN989
MN547
MN144
MN482
JR506
PD492
MN184 |
F/L
C.L. Burgess
F/O
J. Sweeney
F/O
J. Roberts
F/L
W.L. Saunders
F/O
B.P. Swingler
W/O
S.A. Church
F/O
P.N. Bernhart
F/O
J.G. Martin |
Dive
Bombing |
09:35 |
10:30
"
"
10:40
10:35
"
"
" |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
target to be bombed this trip was the rail at Boeteloo,
Holland. (V.0312). Eight pilots led by F/L Burgess, armed
with 500 lb bombs took-off to do the job. They formed up and set
course, however, they faced a bank of clouds from 2005 to 13500
feet and after climbing over these, found it impossible to
locate their target. They turned back and found a hole in the
clouds near Goch, Germany so went down and dropped their bombs
on the rails between Goch and Wooze
and cut it once successfully at E.9341. They experienced a lot
of light flak coming up from Uden, but all returned safely
without a mishap and landed with a 30 degree cross-wind - all in
all it is not a good day for flying.
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