The Aircraft Registry

Typhoon Mark I-B Tail Numbers

A beautiful rendition of MN-375 by the famous aviation artist Walter Drohan. Copyright © Walter Drohan. Used with permission. You can see more of Mr. Drohan's work an his website CANADIAN AIR FORCES 'MUSEUM'

 

This listing is crsoss linked with the This Day In History segment and the 439 Squadron Book of Remembrance - I (WWII) , to provide additional detailed background information on circumstances, as recorded in the Squadron's war diaries and other pages found on this website. The list of 439 Typhoon  tail numbers was compiled by and is provided by Canadian author John Bradley.  Used with permission and appreciation. For additional information on the Typhoon visit  thisisme.ca. 

Colour Legend

Yellow entries - aircraft losses as a result of operational flying  or training accidents NOT attributable to enemy action, either directly or indirectly, 

Cyan text -  aircraft losses directly or indirectly attributable to enemy action and considered as damaged beyond repair.  

White entries are Webmaster's notes and or comments.

Typhoon "M"

Webmaster's Note: There is no record of this aircraft in 439 diaries and may be a typo  Refer instead to MP152 further down this page.

Webmaster's Note: 439 Squadron Operations record Book indicates that F/O Moen was flying tail number MN691 on this mission. However, this must be incorrect as 439's own 541 form shows MN691 flying several missions long after this date (Mar 1945).  It just shows that even "official" documentation can be error prone. 

12 Aug 1944 - The aircraft flown by F/O R.O. Moen was struck in the radiator by light flak. Moe pulled away from his flight and headed about due northeast losing height rapidly as he went. F/O Brown J. who was flying as his number two, followed him down. Moen jettisoned his hood at 1000 feet and crashed landed near St. Pierre de Vicille (T816396). The aircraft exploded and burned on contact with the ground. No hope is held for "Dickie" Moen. 

Webmaster's Note: Although there is no record of this incident in 439 diaries for this aircraft on this date, the aircraft may have been borrowed by another squadron which was quite the norm at the time. 

A/C abandoned over Luxembourg because of fuel starvation near Nijmegen on the 28 Sep 1944. A/C crashed. On the last show, F/O J.A. Cote J.14529, became separated from his section mate in the dark and became lost. He asked for a homing to base but apparently his R/T receiver was U/S and he could not get it. The pilot successfully evaded capture and returned to his unit sometime later.

Webmaster's Note: Information provided by John Bradley indicates that the aircraft in question force landed near Eersal on the 22 Jan 1945. Aircraft repaired.

10 June 1944 - As the Squadron was landing at the base, one 500 lb bomb became dislodged from the port bomb rack of W/C Judd's aircraft. The bomb bounced end over end down the runway and F/O Smith in aircraft MN464 following close behind struck the bomb with his starboard wheel. The aircraft ground looped throwing off the wheel. One ???? was damaged.

8 July 1944 - While crossing over the enemy lines just west of Caen, a barrage of heavy flak caused damage to the aircraft flown by J20648 F/O F.M. Thomas. Frank reported damage to his aircraft, adding that he was turning back. In attempting an emergency landing at B-4 Beny-sur-Mer, the aircraft suddenly fell out of control at 100 ft. on the final approach. The machine dove, burst into flames, and one bomb exploded. F/O Thomas was thrown clear of the burning wreckage and died instantly. 

Webmaster's Notes: Like the entry for MN310, the aircraft in question is not mentioned in the 541 for this date, although 439 suffered two aircraft and pilot losses on this date. The first was F/O Moen (see entry for  MN310), and the second was F/O Allen, who according to the 541 was flying MN969. Yet MN969 is recorded as flying operations as late as 22 Oct 1944, so it was not MN969 that was brought down on this date. It must have been MN553.....Yet....What is even more confusing is that according to the 541, MN553 flew a mission on the 28th August 1944, two weeks after it was supposedly shot down. Adding to the confusion is No wonder historians loose their hair at an early age. Anyway, we will assume that  John Bradley's data is is factual and assign the following entry to MN553, because the date and location match, if not the tail number.

12 Aug 1944 -  As soon as our Squadron arrived over the target area, all the flak boys gave us a very generous reception. The aircraft flown by F/O Ernie Allen in No. 2 position was struck in the starboard wing and main tanks at about 5000 feet and fell out of control . F/O Stelter, No. 3, saw Ernie's wing being chipped by flak, then enveloped in smoke and the aircraft turn to starboard. Ernie managed to clear the ship and was last seen swinging safely down to earth under a gleaming white parachute. It was presumed that Ernie reached ground near the second target at  Le Pont des Vers, and near Segrie Fontaine, map reference 985288, and is now in enemy territory

Typhoon "T"

Webmaster's Note: According to the 541 for this date MN569 was not flying with 439 Squadron. It may have been on loan but most probably transferred to 438 or 440 Squadron, as the last time it was flown with 439 was on the 3 August 1944.

On the 15th of May 1944, F/L Dadson made a forced landing in  MN572 a few miles north of Catfose Aerodrome. (Reason unknown.)

John Bradley's research indicates that this aircraft blew up over the target at Mesmil-Frementel on the 18 Jul 1944

Webmaster's Note: There is no record of this incident in 439 diaries for this aircraft on this date.  John's notes may be a typo as this aircraft flew on many occasions after this date and as late as 5 Oct 1944, and may have been meant for MN575 ( see next entry).

Squadron records show that while landing at his home base, W/O Gray was unfortunate enough to catch a wing tip but fortunately did not ground loop, but rendered the aircraft Cat A.C.

Webmaster's Note: Although there is no record of this incident in 439 diaries for this aircraft on this date, the aircraft may have been borrowed by another squadron which was quite the norm at the time. 

Squadron records for the 27 June 1944 report that F/O Babe Swingler had some tough luck when he force landed at 121 due to engine failure, his machine caught fire and burned all personal & service clothing and equipment which he carried.

Shot down by flak on the 28 Oct 1944 near Deventer. The leader had barely commenced his dive when the flak came up, first a trickle of 20mm then a dense curtain of 40mm and soon the 88's added to the barrage to create one of the fiercest flak situations the pilots have yet encountered. It was inevitable that someone would get hit, unfortunately it was J.22035 F/O M.P. Laycock of Fairey Glen, Saskatchewan, whom fate had decreed: he burst into flames and spun into the ground, presumed killed.

Webmaster's Note: There is no record of this incident in 439 diaries for this aircraft on this date. The earliest mention of this airframe is in the entry for the 25 Feb 1945, and the latest shows this aircraft flying on the 23 Mar 1945.

Webmaster's Note: This is the most confusing date in the annals of 439's wartime history. (See entries for MN310 and MN553). As mentioned previously MN969 is known to have been flying operationally right up to 22 Oct 1944 when it experienced a landing accident. 

22 Oct 1944 - Red four (F/L Saunders) came in to land oblivious of the fact that his port tire was flat, on landing he went off the runway to the port and then up on his nose and over on to his back; much to everyone's relief, he got out of the mess with only a bump on his head. Fate of aircraft unknown.

Webmaster's Note: There is no record of this incident in the 540 or 541 for this aircraft on this date. However, the entry for 3 May 1945 reports it as being flown by F/O George Burden on his fateful flight. This is must be in error as MP117's last known flight was carried out without incident on the very next day (4 May 1945) when it flew on  two additional operations. It may have been on loan to another squadron, (which was the norm at the time) when it was damaged and subsequently written off.  

Webmasters Note: 439 records state that no flak was seen in the area. The entry states : 22 Oct 1944 - The dive was from north to south and about 60 degrees. A small cloud obscured the target somewhat, and the confusion was increased when Red three (F/O RV Smith) blew up in the dive, scattering smoke and debris in the path of the five aircraft following;  due to all those  distractions, the bombing was scattered, though several bombs fell on the Headquarters. Blue Four, reported seeing a parachute falling northwest of the target and it is hoped F/O Smith landed safely, although in enemy territory. It is as yet a small mystery as to what caused Red three to explode, no flak being seen in the area.  F/O Smith was subsequently captured as POW

Webmaster's Notes: According to 439 Sqn records  the only aircraft loss on this date was  MN574. However, MN574 is shown flying operationally well after this date. So once again we have to rely on Mr Bradley's keen detective work. 

27 Sept 1944 - A train with six goods trucks was then attacked and damaged at map reference A.0323 south of Geldern. In the first attack, J.88900 P/O W.A. Gray (ex R.129277 W/O 2 Gray W.A.) pulled his aircraft away streaming glycol from the radiator. F/O Lawrence informed W/O Gray of that, but Nick carried out a second attack on the train. The section set course for home almost at once and Nick kept losing height as he came. The white glycol trail turned to black as the aircraft caught fire and spun into the ground from about 1,000 feet. W/O Gray did not bale out despite repeated instruction to do so. He is believed killed.

John Bradley's research indicates that this aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters from JG-26 while attacking Breda on the 24 Sep 1944.

439's form 540 recounts the following: F/O R.W. Vokey (J25397), the last addition to our Squadron is missing from operations. He took-off with the Squadron at 06:35 hours for an Armed Recce of the Breda-Gorinchem-Dordrecht area. F/O B.P. Swingler led the section in which F/O Vokey flew when they dove onto horse-drawn vehicles. On being attacked by flak, F/O Swingler broke sharply and watched his No. 3 attack, when F/O Vokey was not seen, he looked around and saw burning wreckage across the river at map reference 0450.

While the form 541 states that:  While carrying out an attack against a ground target, F/O R.W. Vokey (J25397) apparently pressed it home too long and failed to recover from his dive in time. Burning wreckage (aircraft) was seen in the area, presumably that of F/O Vokey. No flak was seen throughout the show and all other aircraft returned unharmed to base.

So what brought down F/O Vokey ... enemy fighters, enemy flak, or pilot error ? Help me John !

Webmaster's Note: Although Squadron records indicate that aircraft RB377 was lost on this date, RB377 flew well beyond the date in question. So once again, we will side with John Bradley's findings.

20 Jan 1945 - The Squadron then strafed the town (Laffeld), and in his second attack, F/O Jack Sweeney, was hit by light flak, apparently in the radiator. He called up the Squadron informing them that his motor had cut. He was at 1000 feet and he glided due west getting about 2 miles from the target at map reference E.8272 before he touched down. He then called up on the R/T saying he was O.K. and starting to run. No word has been received from him since but we are all holding out good hopes. He was subsequently taken as a POW.

While on a mission on the 28 April, 1944 F/O Hallford was  unknowingly hit in the engine and tail-wheel pivot by flak. Landing at 20:00 hours. Hallford's tail-wheel assembly collapsed on landing and his rudder was damaged.

Webmaster's Note: As of 30 Apr 1945, F/L McCullough was still listed as missing. although there is no further mention of him in 439's journals, it is presumed that he was taken as a POW .

Webmaster's Note: There is no record of this particular airframe in the 540 or 541 on this date. However, the entry for 3 May 1945 does report an aircraft (MP117) loss on this date along with its pilot F/O George Burden.

3 May 1945 - Blue Section found another train just west of Pinneberg. A dive on this was met by a hail of light flak from the train. F/O George Burden flying as Blue Two received a direct hit and his aircraft burst into flames. He crashed on the northern outskirts of the village of Esingen.(Eringen??)

Webmaster's Notes: There is no record of this aircraft flying on this date with 439 Squadron in the 541 for 23 Apr 1945. The only casualty mentioned on this date is aircraft  SW423 (see entry above). Unless, again, the aircraft in question was on loan to a sister squadron.

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