JR511

LL603

MN665

MN909

MN3**

MN555

MN581

JR362

F/L Scharff

F/O Hewson,⁽¹⁾

F/O Barnhart

F/O Gray

F/O Hogg

F/O ******

F/O Laycock

F/O Henderson

F/O Stelter

Details of Sortie or Flight

This formation took-off with 1000 lb bombs to strike at a strong enemy defended post at Couteville, map reference U1357. This defended post was reported at a small cross-road which could be used as an aiming mark. The target was approached from the North and after a series of orbits at 5000 ft. the target was engaged in a relatively a shallow dive down to 2000 ft. All bombs fell within the confines of the target area, but no signs of extensive damage was reported. 

Throughout the mission, the Squadron was engaged by troublesome battery of heavy flak Ack-Ack guns located very near the target itself. Typhoons LL603  and MN665 suffered damage from flak, the former was category AC. All aircraft returned safely to base, the mission was successful but uninteresting.

Webmaster's Notes:

(1) Aloft in Typhoon M,  F/O GW Hewson noted in his logbook that the target was a defended post one mile east of Couteville.  He also noted that the weather was bad over the target, and despite the accurate flak, the bombing was good.

 

JR506

MN569

MN765

JR521

MN352

MN989

MN310

MN581

MN379

F/L Fiset

F/O Burgess

F/O Smith I.W.

F/O Swingler

F/O Brown R.A.

F/O Monson

F/O Allen

F/O Moen

F/O Burton

F/O Brown J.A.

Details of Sortie or Flight

A good distances south of Caen down where the woods grew thicker and things are much easier to camouflage, an enemy petrol dump was believed to be situated at the side of the road (3522) quite near the village Le Bourg St Leonard. Two squadrons carried 1000 lb bombs  into the air to wipe out this supply of petrol. 440 Squadron attacked first, and while their bombs fell in the target area, no indication of extensive damage was seen. 

439 Squadron dived from Southwest to Northeast along the road from 7000 to 2000 ft. and scattered their bombs over the entire target area. Once again, no indication of petrol fires were seen. Some light and ineffective flak was thrown up at the attackers as they roared over the target. The target was hit hard but the expected results did not materialize. All aircraft returned safely from this mission.

MN581

JR362

MN310

MN553

MN375

MN379

MN369

F/O Monson

F/O Henderson

F/O Stelter

F/O Rassenti

F/O Laycock

F/O Johns

F/O Hewson

F/O Stitt

Details of Sortie or Flight

This time only the elite of the Squadron took-off to drop 1000 lb bombs on the heads of Hun artillerymen. 439 Flying Officers only on this show with F/O Monson leading. The target was a heavy gun battery located at 9655 just south of Amaye sur Orne. The approach to the target was made from the West at 7000 ft and the target attacked in a strip dive from South to North down to 2000 ft. bombing was very accurate and great damage must have been done to the gun positions. One small ammunition dump was hit and went up in a shower of flame. Heavy flak, 100 % ineffective was thrown up over the target by guns located in the woods to the South, but all aircraft returned safely, and undamaged.

Webmaster's Notes:

(2) This time flying Typhoon E,  F/O GW Hewson noted in his logbook that the target was 6  artillery batteries. Although the flak was "fairly heavy" it was not accurate and so the bombing was excellent.