This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book

for

03 June 1944

 R.A.F. Hurn

Cloudy all day, cool in the morning becoming quite warm in the afternoon. Doc Moffat made his tour in his truck around 439 Dispersal administrating inoculations. Wing Commander Hillock CO of 143 Wing, S/L Norsworthy 439 Squadron, S/L Pentland 440 Squadron, attended a conference at Portsmouth with Brigadier General Todd, Major General Ronnie, G/C Taylor and G/C Simmons as regards future operations. Late in the afternoon, an operation was carried out by eight of our aircraft loaded with 500 lb. bombs on Radar Installations in Guernsey Island. Large number of hits were scored in the target area. The fellows experienced quite a bit of flak which nicked two of our machines.

Webmaster's Note: The 541 Form for the month of June 1944 is extremely illegible, and difficult to read, and may entail a trip to Ottawa to get a better copy out of the Directorate of History. Hopefully theirs will more legible.

In the meantime, illegible text is indicated by a series of  question " ? " marks.

 

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

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 F/L Dadson

F/O Brown J.

F/O Stetler

F/O Porritt

F/L Saville

F/O Swingler

F/O Johns

F/O Burgess

Dive Bombing

19:50

20:50
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

Eight aircraft carrying 500 lb. ?? bombs with instantaneous type fusing attack the Radar installation at St. Peter's Fort on the eastern coast of the heavily defended Channel Islands., Guernsey. The attack was made without a hitch from a south easterly direction at an altitude of 10,500 ft. Led by F/L Dadson the Squadron half rolled into a dive on the target and succeeded in scoring a large number of hits in the target area. No bombs were seen to burst outside of the target area. As the aircraft individually half rolled into position , the heavy flak opened up ?????? ??????? only were all that kept a number of our aircraft from severe damage. The dive was carried from 10,000 ft to 3,000 ft. with the aircraft being followed all the way down by both light and heavy flak and finally crossing out at over 500 mph  amid a barrage of incendiary bullets. Miraculously only two of our aircraft suffered minor damage - one flown by F/O Burgess was struck in the radiator and the other flown by F/O Porritt was hit in the tailplane. All aircraft returned safely. Operation successful.

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