This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book

for

30 April 1944

 R.A.F. Hurn

Good weather all day. P/O's Burton & Bernhart, two of our pilots were promoted to F/O, which means that they will be hosts to the rest of 439 this evening. Four of our aircraft did a tail chase this morning, and also one aircraft did a test flight. In the afternoon - two of our aircraft conducted a shipping patrol over the English Channel, and three aircraft practiced enemy interception. A Nomad balloon broke loose from its moorings this afternoon, south-east of Bath and F/L Dadson was elected to shoot it down, but as far as it is known, it was not brought down. 

The officers of 439 tangled again with the officers of 440 Squadron, but this time in a hardball game and took a shellacking to a tune of 7- 10. The new horse-shoe pit at the Pilot's Dispersal is receiving close attention by the pilots and the prospective volley-ball court is causing a little interest. Caution was tossed to the winds this afternoon when our aircrew basked in the sunbeams and added a new shade of pink to their tender skin.

OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

Operational Sorties :                           62

 

Postings

F/O A.C. Clarke posted to 143 Airfield Headquarters w.e.f. 04 Apr 1944 (u/e sick)

F/O P.J .Elfner posted to RCAF U/K N/E unit w.e.f. 11 Apr 1944 (Missing)

F/L D.J. Moffatt posted to Sqn from 3 PRC w.e.f. 12 Apr 1944 (Sqn M.O.)

F/O C.M. Harrison posted from RCAF Skipton w.e.f. 24 Apr 1944 (Sqn Adj)

F/O's Kalen, Leigh, Mahagan & Rassenti posted to 83 Gr. Support Unit w.e.f. 09 Apr 1944

 

Aircraft on Charge

Typhoon 1 B                  18

Hurricane IV                   1

Auster III                         1

 

Aircrew 

Officers -   22

Groundcrew 

Officers  -   2

Airmen   -  27

Flying Time

Operational - Typhoon 1B            -      76:00 hrs

Non-Operational - Typhoon 1B    -    163:00 hrs

                                Hurricane IV  -     47:15 hrs

                               Auster III         -     30:40 hrs

 

Referring to the operation carried out on 25-4-44, it was the first time that single-seater fighter-bombers of the R.A.F. (including RCAF) have dropped 1,000 lb. bombs over enemy territory while operating from England. W/C Davidson (DFC) (W/C Flying, 143 Airfield) led No. 439 Squadron, RCAF on this sortie, but he himself flew one of our aircraft MN464, so that the honour of having made this initial feat, goes to 439 RCAF Squadron aircraft.

Original signed by

(H.H. Norsworthy) Squadron Leader,

Officer Commanding,

No. 439 Squadron, RCAF

Detail of Work Carried Out by  No. 439 RCAF Squadron 

as compiled by in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 541

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