F/O B.P. Swingler

Cloud on the 25^th was followed by almost continuous rain on the 26^th. The last of the ground parties moved out for the "sausage machine" (the concentration area for embarkation) and late in the afternoon the long, and eagerly, awaited instructions for the airlift party were received. The next morning (27 June) seventeen pilots took off for the last time from Hurn and set course across the Channel to Normandy. The Squadron's eighteenth Typhoon was flown by G/C (Group Captain – equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army) P.Y. Davoud, the Sector C.O. Forty-five minutes later, at 10 a.m., they landed at Camilly (B.5), where 121 Airfield was based. F/O "Babe" Swingler had some  tough luck when his Typhoon caught fire as he landed, destroying all the clothing and personal equipment stowed on board. At midday the remaining eight pilots, with the adjutant, medical officer and ground crews flew across with the Dakota airlift to another airfield on the beach-head whence trucks conveyed them through the mud and rain to B.9 at Lantheuil which had been allotted to 143 Airfield.  For the ground crews in particular it was a memorable experience to see the incredible number of ships covering the surface of the Channel and crammed against the beaches

The runways at Lantheuil were not serviceable for the Typhoons because of the heavy rainfall on the 26^th, so they operated from other landing-strips on the 28^th. No. 439 got in three missions from Camilly before landing at their own base in the evening. All three were bridge attacks, two against the highway bridge across the Orne at Amaye and the third against another structure at Thury-Harcourt. The first attack was off the mark. (At the end of this sortie the four pilots led by F/L Fiset landed at B.9 at 1550 hrs, being the first of the Wing's aircraft to arrive there). The second attack was much better with two direct hits and four near misses; and the third scored a bull's-eye, ten direct hits that destroyed the bridge. (No. 439 states that the third operation was carried out (at 2030-2055) with No. 440, but the latter Squadron does not report any sorties for that period. It shows an attack on this bridge about six hours earlier.) On one sortie S/L Norsworthy’s engine cut out while he was over enemy territory.  He was able to glide about seven miles to the right side of the lines and then made a belly-landing in an open field near Tilly.  He was picked up, uninjured, by a British medical unit stationed close by, and after a cup of tea was sent "on his way rejoicing" in the unit's "blood-wagon".

Church service in the Field, Lantheuil, Aug 1944

 Photo source: 439 Sqn archives

While the pilots were working from other airfields, the ground-crews at Lantheuil were busy with shovels, axes and knives, clearing away the brush, laying out sleeping sites and erecting tents. "Now we know how the pioneers feel in virgin territory."  Hedges and trees provided natural camouflage for most of the tents, trucks, equipment and fuel. Slit trenches were also excavated - and quickly put to use. One night, shortly after arrival at B.9, some bombs landed not far away and, as the "Doc" dryly remarked, there was little need to administer any laxatives.