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Interspersed with these attacks on "Noballs", bridges and yards in the last days of May, were four operations of particular significance in the pre-D-Day aerial offensive. To achieve tactical surprise for the invasion fleet it was necessary to knock out the enemy's radar posts sited along the French coast, and as the immediate prelude to D-Day the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. (United States Army Air Force) methodically attacked these installations one after the other. No. 439's first participation in this campaign was on 22 May when it went out twice to escort RP (rocket-projectiles) squadrons (Nos. 182 and 175) while they attacked radar sites at Cap de la Hague (west of Cherbourg) and Cap d'Antifer (north of Le Havre).  At the first target there was very little flak and after the rocket boys had done their work Norsworthy’s formation of eight raked the site with cannon fire,  At Antifer there was a lot of light flak, which caused some slight damage to Stelter's aircraft. The Typhoons went in first to strafe the guns; then the rocket aircraft attacked and apparently destroyed the target. 

The next day (23 May) Nos.439 and 440 provided the attacking force of 16 "Bombphoons" with an escort from Nos. 181 and 182 Squadrons,  The escort want in first at ground level to silence the flak batteries, but there was a hitch in the timing and the Tiffie squadrons had to orbit the target at Fermanville, near Cherbourg, through a barrage of intense flak. Then the pilots dived from 7,000 feet dorm to 2,000 and released their 1,000 lb. bombs.  The results were only fair; many of the missiles did not explode for some reason, others overshot, but a few were seen to burst on the target. Although S/L Norsworthy's formation returned untouched, one of the escort and one of No. 440's aircraft wore brought down by flak. Walruses of the Air/Sea Rescue Service picked up both pilots.

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On the 27th, No. 439 provided three sections of four aircraft each as anti-flak escort for No. 247 Squadron in a rocket attack on another radar installation close to Omonville, also in the Cherbourg area.  S/L Norsworthy's section went in first to strafe the target and its flak defenses. The second section, led by F/L Dadson, accompanied the first group of rocket aircraft, and F/L Saville's quartet escorted the second group, spraying the area with cannon fire.  Flak was fairly heavy at first, but tapered off quickly.  Numerous R.P strikes were seen on the target which was believed to have been destroyed.

 

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