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These two dive-bombing missions ended the Squadron's brief stay at Funtington.  On the 19th tents were struck, vehicles loaded and by road and air the Airfield moved back to Hurn.  No sooner had the tents been pitched again than it started to rain.  Naturally!  The next week was taken up with schemes with Army units engaged on a pre-invasion rehearsal.  It also added another first to the Squadron's history, an air raid one night an the Bournemouth area during which a few bombs were dropped nearby. The next day there was a noticeable increase in slit trench digging.

No. 439 resumed its own bombing activities on 25 April with an attack on a bridge near Agon, on the Cotentin coast west of Coutances. The operation was significant for two reasons.  It was the Squadron's first participation in the campaign then under way to seal off the future battle area by destroying the approaches to it and interrupting the enemy's lines of communication within it.  Secondly, it was the first time the Squadron’s Tiffies had carried a bomb-load of 2000 lbs. (two 1,000 lb bombs). The Squadron's statement that “this was the first time that single-seater fighter-bombers of the R.C.A.F. have dropped 1,000 lb. bombs over enemy territory while operating from England" is not correct.  On the previous afternoon No. 438 had carried 1,000 lb, bombs, but No. 439 could claim a share in this "first”, as W/C Davidson who led the formation flew one of No. 439's aircraft.

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By the same taken, however, it should be added that six of the eight Typhoons which No. 439 used on 25 April ware borrowed from the other squadrons in the wing. Unfortunately it cannot be recorded that the attack was a success; 9/l0ths cloud covered the target at 3500 feat and no direct hits were made.  Later in the day No. 440 also had a crack at the bridge, and finally in the early evening W/C Davidson led a three-squadron formation of 25 Typhoons against it. This time there were six direct hits on the structure with 500 lb. bombs and "quite a few" near misses.

 

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