Intentionally left blank

On the 19th the aircraft flew back to Hurn, leaving the ground crews at the Camp to service No. 438 during its course. The road convoy finally rejoined the Squadron on the 29^th. Shortly after No. 439 returned to its base F/Os Allen, Kalen and Rassenti, who had been posted to 83 Group Support Unit early in April, came back to the Squadron; with them were two newcomers, F/Os J.A. Brown and J.H. Stitt. These additions raised the number of pilots to 27, with two officers and 26 airmen on the ground staff.

Resuming operations an 20 May, S/L Norsworthy led two formations against "Noball" targets in the Abbeville area.   The first attack was on a small scale as four of the eight aircraft were unable to get away; the others made four hits in the target area with four more bombs overshooting slightly. On the second effort, carried out from Tangmere in co-operation with No. 440, most of the bombs burst within the V-1 sites.  Attacking another “Noball" near Totes (north of Rouen) on the morning of the 28^th Norsworthy's pilots counted twelve hits on the target with four near misses. Very little flak was encountered on this occasion and on another "Noball" operation the next evening. F/L Johnny Saville led the second formation which used Gravesend as advanced base for refuelling and bombing. Crossing the French coast just north of the Somme estuary, the Tiffies approached their target near Hesdin at 8000 feet and dived across it from south to north, releasing the bombs at 4,000 feet.  Fourteen exploded in the centre of the target, while the remaining six missed by about 100 yards. Large numbers of Thunderbolts and Spitfires were milling about a few miles away; they may have distracted the enemy flak gunners from paying much attention to No. 439's aircraft which returned untouched.

Intentionally left blank

Tactical targets attacked during the last days of May included the railway yards at Douai on the 24th, and a bridge at Orival, near Rouen, on the 28^th  (in conjunction with No. 440 Squadron).  The bridge was destroyed by two direct hits from 1000 lb. bombs; others burst an the embankment and a freight yard nearby, The Victoria Day operation ended in two rather "shaky does". As he dived on the freight yards F/O Stelter felt his aircraft swerve violently, throwing the bombs wide of the target. The port wheel of the Typhoon had became unlocked and fell down. Unable to retract it again, the pilot had to drop behind the main formation, but two of his comrades escorted him safely back to Manston where he was able to land without further trouble. Hugh Norsworthy's landing was quite different. The Squadron Leader was flying back to base after de-briefing at Manston when his aircraft caught fire in the air over Ford. With great skill and coolness he made a successful crash-landing in the only available open space in the area.

 

Copyright ©1998-2016 Michael T. Melnick. All rights reserved

the unofficial homepage of Tiger Squadron 

. .

..