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On 7 May there were two wing operations. In the morning the three squadrons made another good attack on a V-1 site south of Dieppe.  There was some flak over the second target, but none over the bridge. The next morning W/C Davidson took a formation of 24 pilots to an advanced base at Manston where, after briefing and bombing-up, they set out to attack the marshalling yards at Douai - another long trip. The operation was successful, but on the way home the wing leader was forced down in France with engine trouble. Davidson evaded capture and, after some exciting adventures with the French Forces of the Interior, returned safely in September.

No. 439 used 1,000 lb. bombs again for an attack on a bridge across the Somme south-east of Abbeville on 9 May, but once more, as on the previous occasion in April, there were no direct-hits,  It is not a simple matter to make a bull's eye from 4,000 feet on a target that is only 75 feet long and 12 wide.  A freight yard is a different matter and the Squadron had no trouble getting fourteen 500 lb. bombs squarely on one of these targets at Amiens. There was a bit of ineffective flak at 7,000 feet.

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This attack, carried out on 10 May in conjunction with No. 440 was the Squadron's last operation before traveling north to Hutton Cranswick in Yorkshire for a week's course at the Armament Practice Camp.  Air-to-ground firing and high-and low-level dive-bombing were the program.  F/L Tommy Dadson, "A" Flight's commander, "hit the headlines” when word was received that he had become the father of twin boys!

 

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