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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
17
June 1944
R.A.F.
Hurn
Good clear weather with
little scattered cloud. Eleven pilots were summoned in the wee
hours of the morning to do a show on the main highway bridge
across the river La Dives, at Cabourge. They took off at 05:10
hrs, carried 500 pounders and were led by S/L Norsworthy. Cloud
and condition of light impeded good results. All aircraft
returned to base undamaged by light flak.
13:45
hrs saw the take off of another operation on the same target as
this morning except that 1000 lb bombs were carried. Some of the
bombs hit the eastern end of the bridge and the remainder
registered near misses, but no major damage caused as far as we
know. The light flak caused no damage to our machines. At
18:40 hrs twelve more aircraft took off carrying 500 lb bombs
for the same stubborn bridge. No direct hits were recorded but
the eastern approaches to the bridge were knocked out.
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 |
|
Column is illegible |
S/L
Norsworthy
F/O Allen
F/O Monson
F/O ?????
F/L Fiset
F/O Kalen
F/O Brown J.A.
F/L Stitt
F/O Burton
F/O Johns
F/O Swingler
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Dive Bombing
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05:10 |
0630 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
target for this morning's show of eleven aircraft,
each carrying 2 x 500 lb M.C. bombs, was the main
highway bridge across the river La Dives at Cabourge.
The flight was made in ??????
amid ten/tenths cloud at ????
ft . and ten/tenths cloud at ?????
ft. The target was attacked from 4000 ft from east to
west through a light curtain of flak. Because of the
hazardous flying conditions, the bombing was not up to
the usual standard. One pair of bombs burst on the
eastern approach of the bridge and one pair ????
the south side of the bridge near the southern end.
All the bombs overshoot slightly. The aircraft
returned safely, undamaged.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
Column is illegible |
S/L
Norsworthy
F/L Fiset
F/O Scharff
F/L Dadson
F/O Brown J.
F/O ?????
F/O Stetler
F/O Hogg
F/O Laycock
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Dive
Bombing
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13:45 |
15:00 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
With
the same target as in the previous show, the Squadron
took off ?????,
carrying 1000 lb. bombs this time. The attack was
carried out from east to west and four bombs exploded
on the western end of the bridge, consequently
inflicting major damage.
???? of
the bombs registered near misses. Some light flak was
thrown up at our aircraft but no strikes were made.
All aircraft returned safely.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
Column is illegible |
S/L
Norsworthy
F/O Rassenti
F/O Ross
F/O Laycock
F/O Scharff
F/O Burgess
F/O Thomas
F/O Brown J.
F/L Fiset
F/O ?????
F/O Smith
F/O Hogg
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Dive
Bombing
|
18:40 |
19:35 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
This
time the Squadron too off at full strength to knock out
that stubborn bridge at Cabourge. As before, the dive
was made east to west and 24 x 500 lb M.C. bombs were
released on the bridge. Once again no hits were recorded
on the bridge itself but this time the eastern
approaches were knocked out. Despite a light curtain of
flak over the target, all our aircraft returned to base,
unhit.
Webmaster's
Notes:
(1) According to the Logbook of F/O GW
Hewson, he flew F/O Porritt in the Squadron's Auster Z to pick up
an aircraft from Seneford. Later he flew as a spare in
Typhoon Z on a Ramrod . He had to jettison 2 x 1000 lb bombs due
to hydraulic problems with his aircraft.
(2) 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.
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