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This
Day In History
Summary
of Events for No.
439 (CAN) Squadron
as
compiled by C20089
F/L M. Harrison
in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form
540
for
22
January 1945
B-78
Holland
The
weather was bright and clear the whole day so that three large
scale operations were carried out in which every available pilot
participated. However, our very popular, steady and mature
Squadron Commander was lost to us. It is hard to realize that he
is gone and that no hope in hell for his safety. He has carried
out 63 operation sorties since joining 143 Wing totaling 71:30
hours as well as 21 sorties totaling 20 hours on his first tour
with 56 Squadron, and has 1604:20 flying hours to his credit.
Consequent on his organizing and flying efforts, he was recently
recommended for the award of Immediate DFC.
Apart
from our greatest loss the Squadron has yet sustained, the
Squadron had a very successful day and upon which was
congratulated by 12th Army Corps. F/L Johnny Carr is taking over
controls as Squadron Commander pro-interim, F/O's Bill
Davis and Lyal Shaver, Flight Commanders of "A" and
"B" Flights respectively. F/O Jack Sweeney's promotion
to acting Flight Lieutenant came through today from 83 Group
Headquarters, but was it is a little too late!
F/Sgt
Propas, B. was promoted to W.O. II effective 15th January, 1945
as announced by RCAF Overseas Headquarters. Incidentally, F/O
Shaver made an early return from his leave in Brussels and
appeared to have a good time. Three A&E tests were effected
and which constituted the rest of the flying for the day.
Two
aircraft were added to the Squadron making a total of 14 and all
are serviceable. Our pilot strength is reduced to eighteen.
Detail
of Work Carried Out by
No. 439
RCAF Squadron
as
recorded by
J20602 F/O R.H. Laurence, J29881 F/O W.G.
Davis,
and
C20089 F/L M. Harrison in
the
439 Squadron Operations Record Book
Form 541
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MP134
RB233
RB377
PD608
RB286
RB262
RB281
RN198
MP151
PD564
MN691
|
S/L
Crosby R.G.
F/O
Marlatt, S.D.
F/O
Cleghorn D.G.
F/O
Davis W.C.
F/O
Saunders A.W.
F/O
Anderson W.
F/O
Fraser A.H.
F/L
Carr J.
F/O
Johnson D.E.
F/O
Roberts J.
F/O
Derouin
|
Dive
Bombing |
09:50 |
10:40 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eleven
aircraft took off for a show to bomb Heinsberg, a town
in Germany, just two miles from our troops. It was a
Wing show of the three squadrons carrying 1000 lb. bombs
(.025 tail fused). Our Squadron led the show and went in
at 8000 feet with a clear sky. Each Squadron had a
special objective in the town and ours was a factory in
the north-west side of the town. All aircraft had a
vertical dive at it with the results of 2 direct hits on
the factory, two on the south-west corner, four near
misses, and the rest within 200 yards that fell on a
cluster of buildings south-east of the factory. On the
whole all the bombs fell in the area assigned to us. All
the aircraft returned to base safely.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB198
MN144
RB377
RB233
PD608
RB286
RB262
RB281
PD564
|
F/L
Carr J.
F/O
Elsley D.C.
F/O
McBride A.C.
F/O
Harrison J.L.
F/O
Davis W.G.
F/O
Saunders A.W.
F/O
Anderson W.
F/O
Kubicki W.
F/O
Cleghorn D.G.
|
Dive
Bombing |
13:15 |
14:00
14:00
14:00
14:00
14:10
14:10
14:10
14:10
14:10
|
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eight
aircraft led by F/L Johnny Carr, took off on a close
Army support target at the town of
Montfort. The spare,
F/O Cleghorn, took off with the Squadron making nine
aircraft in all. Each aircraft carried 2 x 1000 lb.
bombs with .025 fuses. Montfort was only one mile from
the British troops. It was a Wing show, with 438
Squadron going in first, followed by 439 and 440
Squadrons. Each squadron was to take a certain section
of the town, all being along the main road through the
town. The Squadron crossed the bombline at 8000 feet,
and on approaching the target the boys went into bombing
formation. From a very steep dive the lads all got bombs
into the target area. There was no flak noticeable. Blue
2 (F/O Alan Saunders) had a hang-up on the port wing, so
he and his No. 1, F/O Bill Davis, flew back over the town
at approximately 6000 feet where Saunders jettisoned his
one bomb with unobserved results. The Squadron returned
to base with all aircraft landing safely. The town was
pronounced destroyed, nothing left but rubble, fires and
smoke after all Squadrons dropped their bombs.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MP134
RB198
PD564
MP151
RB233
RB286
RB262
MN424
PD608
|
S/L
Crosby R.G.
F/O
Harrison J.L.
F/O
Roberts J.
F/O
Johnson D.E.
F/O
Marlatt S.D.
F/O
Saunders A.W.
F/O
Anderson W.
F/O
Kubicki W.
F/O
Davis W.G.
|
Dive
Bombing |
16:10 |
16:45
17:00
17:00
17:00
17:00
17:00
17:00
16:50
17:00
|
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Two
squadrons were put on the town of Uetterach, Germany,
about 4 miles from our advanced troops which was in
support of the British Second Army. The aircraft carried
1000 lb. bombs (.025 tail fused). The weather was good
over the target area. S/L Crosby who led 439 did one
orbit over the town before commencing the bombing runs.
The Squadron started its dive at 8000 feet diving
vertically and during which we were met with a heavy
barrage of concentrated light and heavy flak. S/L Crosby
blew up at 6000 feet. His aircraft was seen to disintegrate
in the air after the bombs were released. His No.2, F/O
Harrison, observed 40 M strikes on the aircraft before
it blew up. F/O Roberts was hit in the starboard wing
from the flying debris. Red Section drooped their bombs
first and were followed by Blue Section, and one receiving
heavy flak all the way down they released their bombs at
4000 feet. They observed at least three sets of bombs
exploding in the middle of town.
After the dive they
climbed to 8000 feet and re-formed, then set course for
base and when approaching base, F/O Kubicki had a bit of
engine trouble and forced landed near Valkenswaard
rendering his aircraft a Cat. AC. The rest of the
aircraft all landed safely.
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