Reveille was early - very early - on the morning of D-Day. For the maintenance crews indeed there was little, if any sleep as they worked the night through to ensure that every aircraft was “on top line" ready for operations.  At 0645 in the morning of 6 June the first formation of Typhoons (No. 440 Squadron) took off, followed by No. 438 at 0655 and No. 439 five minutes later.  Every man in W/C Hillock’s wing felt that he had a part, and a very important part, in the initial assault. The Typhoons had been assigned the task of neutralizing enemy coastal batteries just before the landing craft touched down on the beaches.

The targets for S/L Norsworthy's twelve pilots were two gun positions behind the beach-head at Courseulles where the Third Canadian Division was to land, When the twenty-four 1,000 lb. bombs exploded both batteries were believed to be "a long distance removed." Bellowing clouds of "smoke and corruption" hung over the beaches as the heavy guns of the navy added their intense fire to the bombardment. 

This aerial shot shows elements of the Canadian Third Division breaking out from the beaches, Troops, some still in the water, wade ashore while unloaded equipment crowd the beaches. Photo source Old House Books

Tanks were seen landing on some beaches and, so far as the pilots could judge, appeared to be meeting no resistance in the early stage of the assault.  "Aircraft of all descriptions" - except enemy - filled every corner of the sky. It was an unforgettable scene of concentrated sea, land and air power.

Once the landings had been made the Wing's role was to provide close support for the ground forces as they fought their way inland towards Caen.  At 1640 No. 439 went out again to attack "targets of opportunity" but none could be found although the pilots searched the Caen area from heights as low as 500 feet. Only two of our own armoured scout cars were seen, pushing south from Courseulles. The third sortie, three hours later, had better luck.  F/L Tommy Dadson was leading his group of eight (which included the Wing C.O. Frankie Hillock) on a search for enemy armored vehicles near Caen when he suddenly, and unexpectedly, came upon a large column heading northwards. 

The aftermath of a this particular attack by 439 Squadron Typhoons is powerfully portrayed in Paul Seguna's painting "Whirlwind In Normandy" © Paul Seguna, SegunArt.  You can get a descriptive interpretation of this magnificent rendition at Paul's  website SegunArt . Used with permission

The vehicles were probably part of the 21st Panzer Division moving up to the Caen area.  Attacking individually, the pilots peppered the column with 500 lb. bombs and then strafed with their cannons, "inflicting heavy damage on a score of vehicles."

In all, No. 439 Squadron made 28 sorties on D-Day and dropped 16 tons of bombs (24 x 1000 lbs., 16 x 500 lbs.) on enemy targets. The final word must go to the ground-crews "who worked like mad" today trying to keep up with the good serviceability and plenty of bundles on hand for the "square-heads".