|
This
Day In History
Summary
of Events for No.
439 (CAN) Squadron
as
recorded in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book
for
16
August 1944
R.C.A.F.
Lantheuil, France
We were
greeted by heavy low cloud all day, hence only one operation
today, so that sports were in progress in the morning, afternoon
and evening. The airmen played the officers several times,
trimmed thier pants off as usual, then they went down to 406
A.S.P. in the evening and subdued them in five straight games.
Several
pilots were excited at the prospects of an
"OP"
in the evening, but it was just a false alarm, so they promptly
pushed off to the Mess, had their weekly bottle of beer and took
in a movie to pass the time away.
Ah! the
Squadron was called out finally to do one operation.
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 |
| MN581
MN869
MN989
MN691
JR500
MP152
MN379
MP134
|
F/L
Burton
F/O
Hogg
F/O
Stelter
F/O
Rassenti
F/L
Scharff
W/O
Gray
F/O
Brown R.
F/O
Smith I.
|
Dive
Bombing
|
19:20 |
20:20 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
Late
today the low cloud cleared away and the weather finally
became serviceable for our type of operation. The three
squadrons of the Wing were finally sent out with 1000 lb
.025 tail fused bombs, to attack the woods at U.337390
near Garnetet.
A large number of MET were believed to be concentrated
there. After bombing, the squadrons were to separate and
carry out a search for MET on the roads. Our Squadron was
to be second in on the target but 440 Squadron had trouble
finding the target, so we attacked first. the target was
attacked from the southeast in a 50 degree angle dive from
8000 feet and the dive, carried in to 2000 feet, resulted
in all bombs being closely concentrated in the target
area. No results were observed, but everything in the
woods must have been hit or severely shocked. Quite a
large amount of light flak was fired at our aircraft, and
although no one was hit, it did discourage the Squadron
from carrying out any straffing attacks on the target.
F/O
Stelter had trouble releasing his bombs and later managed
to jettison them into the Channel. 16 x 1000 lb of M.E.
were dropped on the target by our Squadron. The aircraft
flown by F/O Smith I. developed a major coolant leak and
he returned to base first. All aircraft returned safely
from the only operation of the day.
|
Copyright
©1998-2016 Michael T. Melnick. All rights reserved
the
unofficial homepage of  Tiger
Squadron
.
.
|