439 Tiger Squadron Operations This Day In History 07 August 1944

This Day In History

Summary of Events for No. 439 (CAN) Squadron

as recorded in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book

for

07 August 1944

R.C.A.F. Lantheuil, France

Cloudy all morning with heavy ground haze clearing up in the afternoon and becoming hot and humid after lunch. Three shows were carried out in the afternoon which promoted a bit of excitement for a change. Heavy bombers were heard overhead late at night proceeding towards enemy territory. The pilots had great difficulty in making their landing on the last operation as a result of the advent of darkness and the extreme amount of dust which seemed suspended in the air and made landing extremely hazardous.

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*
*JR500* *MN379* *MN375* *MN765* *MN581* *MN310* *MN352* *MN989* *MN569*	*F/L Fiset* *F/O Laurence* *F/O Johns* *F/O* *Swingler* *F/L Burton* *F/O Rassenti* *F/O Monson* *F/O Henderson* *W/O Gray*	*Dive-Bombing*	*14:10*	*15:10*
*Details of Sortie or Flight* This Squadron was briefed to carry out an armoured recce over the small area from Vire-Mortain-Domfront-Flere -back to Vire. The 1000lb bombs used in this mission were to be dropped on a tank concentration reported at the major road junction just north of Mortain. F/L Fiset led the Squadron to the area but his compass failed and in the haze, he was unable to find a recognizable landmark. Despite a series of orbits, everyone became hopelessly lost. F/L Burton and F/O Rassenti went back alone to Bayeux and managed to find the target on the second trip. The identity of the vehicles sighted was still doubtfull though the two pilots later jettisoned their bombs into the Channel. The remaining pilots, under the command of F/L Fiset, jettisoned their bombs into the open field just east of Beny-Bocage. Three of the bombs detonated on impact, but apparently no damage was done to our own troops in that area. Because of the compass trouble experienced by F/L Fiset, F/O Johns led the Squadron back to base. During the display of turning circles over enemy territory, the Squadron was fired upon only once by a battery of heavy enemy ack-ack guns, however no damage was done. All aircraft returned safely to base - mission definitely unsuccessful.
*A/C Type & Number*	*Crew*	*Duty*	Up	*Down*
*JR500* *MN765* *MN870* *MP136* *MN352* *MN989* *MN310* *JR521* *MN379*	*F/L Fiset* *F/O Stitt* *F/L Scharff* *F/O Burgess* *F/O* *Hogg* *F/O Allen* *F/O Moen* *F/O Smith R.V.* *F/O Porritt*	*Dive-Bombing*	*21:10*	*21:45*
*Details of Sortie or Flight* The village of Chenedelle, just east of Vire had become the centre of strong enemy resistance to our advance in this sector and our Wing was called on to stamp it out. Our Squadron followed 438 and 440 down in a beautiful dive through a layer of flak puffs. The dive began at 9000 feet and ended at 2000 feet with the aircraft heading north at 500 per! All bombing was beautifully concentrated in the village and all 16 x 500 lb bombs dropped by our Squadron burst in the southern half of the village. A dense cloud of dust and smoke was thrown up by the bombs so that no results were actually observed. No movement was seen in enemy territory. mission successful, all aircraft returned safely.
*A/C Type & Number*	*Crew*	*Duty*	Up	*Down*
*MN581* *MN352* *MP136* *MN989* *JR521* *MN870* *JR500* *MN379* *MN765*	*F/L Burton* *F/O Laycock* *F/O* *Stelter* *F/O Allen* *F/O* *Rassenti* *F/l Scharff* *F/O* *Laurence* *F/O Brown R.A.* *W/O Gray*	*Dive-Bombing*	*21:10*	*21:45*
*Details of Sortie or Flight* The aircraft were loaded up with 500 lb bombs and took-off to attack some motar positions in the small wood and fields immediately south of Fresnay-le-Puceux (U0254) The target was reached without incident, and attacked in the usual manner from the southeast to northeast. The 60 degree angle dive from 13000 feet down to 3000 resulted in bomb bursts well distributed throughout the rather wide target area. The mission was believed to be a decided success. Each aircraft on this show carried 1 x 500 lb bomb instantaneously nose fused and 1 x 500 lb with an .025 second tail fuse. At the subsequent interrogation the pilots reported a number of fires at the Northwest and Southwest edges of the Foret de Crimbosque. Visibility was very bad due to a thick summer haze. All aircraft returned safely to base.

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