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This
Day In History
Summary
of Events for No.
439 (CAN) Squadron
as
recorded in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book
for
23
May 1944
R.A.F.
Hurn
Cloudy most of the day
with very little sunshine. Four new pilots arrived in the
evening increasing our strength of pilots to a total of 27. The
names of the additions are J17529 F/O J.H. Stitt, J28760 J.A.
Brown, J22462 F/O N.H. Rassenti, J21856 F/O J. Kalen. An
operation was carried out late in the afternoon with 440
Squadron in Fermanville. Escort was provided by 181 and 182
Squadrons, 1000 lb. bombs were dropped.
Detail
of Work Carried Out by No. 439
RCAF Squadron
as
compiled by in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form
541
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
MN516
MN464
JR506
MN356
MN401
MN379
MN435
MN580 |
S/L
Norsworthy
F/O Swingler
F/O Scharff
F/O Bernhart
F/L Dadson
F/O Laycock
F/O Monson
F/O Moen
|
Dive
Bombing
|
16:40 |
17:25 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
This
Squadron, together with 440 Squadron carrying 1000 lb.
bombs attacked the Radar Installation at Fermanville.
Escort was provided by 8 aircraft from 181 Squadron
and 8 from 182 Squadron. The escort dived to ground
level and straffed the flak positions adjacent to the
target, while the Bomphoons dive-bombed from 7000' to
2005'. Some bursts were seen in the immediate target
area while some were slightly overshooting. A large
number, too many, fell safe and did not explode. Bad
timing by the Anti-Flak cover caused the bombing
squadrons to orbit the target once in the face of
severe flak. Results of the bombing were only fair and
two aircraft were knocked down by flak. S/L Keep of
181 ditched his aircraft and F/O Crawley of 440
Squadron bailed out a few miles off the French coast.
Both men were picked up by Walruses of the A.S.R.. All
our Squadron aircraft returned safely, untouched.
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