This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 540

for

31 August 1944

 R.C.A.F. Lantheuil, France 

The weather was very inconsistent the whole day, more so in the morning. The pilots took-off at 1330 hours for our new site from which one operation was carried out. One truck and the Squadron jeep pushed off to our new location via road in the afternoon, and the jeep arrived by nightfall but the truck arrived late at night so that we had to sleep in the Mess, some of the pilots slept in the one tent brought by the jeep.

Operational Sorties:   456

Postings: 

F/O J.G. Fraser                 posted from 83 GSU

F/O J. Roberts                       '         '        '     '

F/O R.N. MacDonald            '         '        '     '

F/O R.A. Brown   posted to RCAF 'R' Depot n/e sick.

Aircraft on charge:    Typhoon 1B  -  18

AIRCREW                                      GROUNDCREW

Officers   -  22                                  Officers  -   3

Airmen   -    1                                  Airmen  -  28

Flying Times

Operational      -   Typhoon             Non-Operational   -  Typhoon

409:55 Hours                                         26:25

 

(Signed)

(H.H. Norsworthy) Squadron Leader

Commanding, 439 R.C.A.F. Squadron.

Webmasters Note. There is a handwritten note that states "Copied from original which was typed on foolscap." The entry is initialled by an unknown Wing Commander 13 Jun 51

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
MP177

MP136

MN379

MN691

MP152

JR500

MN869

MN989

MN665

MN581

MN345

MN765

F/L Fiset

F/O Burgess

W/O Gray

F/O Rassenti

F/O Hewson (1)

F/O Smith I.

F/O Stitt

F/O Henderson

F/O Stelter

F/O Fraser

F/O Brown J.

F/O Swingler

Dive Bombing 19:35 20:55
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

This show, sprung on us after the Squadron had been officially released for the day, promised to be a "humdinger". One thousand MET had been reported on the roads leading just north and northwest of Hornoy. Twelve pilots were hurriedly rounded up and the Squadron set course at 19:40 hours. The target area was reached and the Squadron was split into three sections to carry out an armed recce. A number of straffing attacks were carried out, most of them on vehicles which had already been knocked out.

However, despite the poor visibility up sun, the Squadron claimed 2 flamers and 1 smoker. In the course of their recce, one section encountered a fair amount of flak, both light and heavy, from the area at map reference N.0568 just 8 miles northwest of Amiens. None of our aircraft were damaged and all returned safely to base at B.24: St Andre de l'Eure.

Total of ammunition expended during the month:  55,878 rounds.

Total of bombs expended during the month by weight:   202 tons.

 

Original signed by

(H.H. Norsworthy), Squadron Leader,

Commanding, 439 R.C.A.F. Squadron.

Webmaster's Notes:

(1) F/O GWH Hewson carried out two flight on this date. The first was an aircraft transfer (Typhoon M) from B9 to St Andre, a forty minute flight. His Logbook reads "Carried 2 x 500 lbs. Started to chase the Jerry & now we are out of range again."

The second was a straffing mission where no bombs were carried. Geale, in Typhoon M as usual filed this log entry: "a big concentration of MET. I got two horses and a gun. Very accurate flak."

For the record, Geale war effort contribution totaled 13.35 flying hours, 12.25 of which were on operations; 1:30 hours in the Auster, and 20 minutes in a Piper Cub.

Not bad for someone being away on leave for more than half of the month.

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