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This
Day In History
Summary
of Events for No.
439 (CAN) Squadron
as
recorded in the 439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form
540
for
08
September 1944
R.C.A.F.
Melsbroek, Belgium
The
weather was an improvement over what was endured yesterday, but the
high scattered cloud was accompanied by a heavy wind. We were the
first squadron of 143 Wing to carry out an operation over German
territory and we were tickled pink over the fact that we are now in a
position to carry out more blows for victory in Jerry territory. Today
was also the first time that we carried out an operation in Holland!
Incidentally, this was the first day this month that we did any
operations.
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
MN989
MN969
MP134
MN765
MN379
MP152
MP136 |
F/O
Johns
F/O
Fraser
F/O
Laycock
F/O
Roberts
F/O
Swingler
F/O
MacDonald
F/O
Hewson
(1)
F/O
Laurence |
Straffing |
10:10 |
11:20 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
This
morning the weather cleared sufficiently to allow an operation
to be carried out for the first time in eight days. This
operation, led by F/O Johns and made up by pilots all of the
rank of Flying Officer, was the first squadron of the Wing to
cross into Germany proper. The Squadron received a great deal of
attention from all the flak gunners in the area too. The show
was an armed recce of the area Venlo, Wesel, Bocholt:-Wesel is
on the formidable Rhine. A sweep was carried out over the area
and very little movement was seen on the ground. Two small tugs,
each towing two barges, were seen on the Thine at Wesel. The
tugs were attacked in a long and fast dive from the northeast
and the speed attained (400mph) seemed pitifully slow as the
boys weaved their way out of a thick curtain of light and heavy
flak that came up from all sides.
Lady
Luck was with us this time and not a single aircraft was
damaged. The two tugs were heavily damaged by accurate cannon
fire and one or more of the barges were hit. We did not tarry to
observe the complete results. On the return, a train was seen at
map reference E.9515 but was not attacked, flak was the
discouraging factor. About twenty horsedrawn carts were seen on
the road from Map reference A.1229 to A.1330. Some were attacked
before it was too late and three cartloads of of mixed civilians
and soldiers were knocked out. Once again we were forced to run
the gauntlet of heavy flak as we crossed out of Germany and
passed too near the airport at Venlo. All aircraft and pilots
returned safely to base at 11:20 hours.
Webmaster's Notes:
(1)
F/O GW Hewson's logbook shows that on this historic flight
he flew in Typhoon M. In it he notes :
"Our first flight into Germany
proper. saw Dortmand and Düsseldorf. Straffed two
tugs, some cars. Got a great deal of flak again."
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN581
MN969
MN665
MN691
JR500
MN379
PD465
MP136 |
F/L
Burton
P/O
Carr
F/O
Stelter
F/O
Rassenti
F/O
Smith
W/O
Gray
F/O
Stitt
F/O
Henderson |
Straffing |
15:50
'
16:00
'
16:10
'
16:20
' |
17:00
17:00
17:10
'
17:05
'
17:25
' |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
For
this show, the second of the day, the Squadron was led into
Holland by F/L Burton. The operation was an armed recce over the
area Eindhoven-Tilburg-Breda and the eight aircraft
took-off in pairs at ten minute intervals to scour the area.
Lowering clouds and rain showers made spotting rather difficult
and only two of the pairs found any targets.
F/O
Stelter and F/O Rassenti attacked two MET on the road just north
of Eindhoven and scored two flamers. They spotted and attacked a
stationary train in the same area and were forced to fly through
a vicious barrage of light flak while doing so. The engine was
damaged in this attack and was given a wide berth
subsequently. Shortly afterwards, the same pair attacked
and damaged two MET on a road just northeast of Eindhoven.
F/O
Stitt and F/O Henderson were the other pair to score successes
on the show. The pair straffed five MET on a highway south of
Eindhoven, all of which burst into flame. These lorries were
believed to be coming from a small wood nearby and the wood was
straffed with amazing results. A large fire appeared and it was
quite apparent that the boys had set a petrol dump on fire. No
flak was encountered.
Total
Sore: 7 MET
FLAMERS
1 TRAIN DAMAGED
2 MET
DAMAGED
1 PETROL DUMP DESTROYED.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| JR500
MP136
MN765
MP134
MN969
MN665
MN691
MN989 |
F/O
Johns
F/O
MacDonald
F/O
Swingler
F/O
Bernhart
F/O
Laycock
F/O
Fraser
F/O
Rassenti
F/O
Roberts |
Straffing |
19:00 |
20:10 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
This
was the third operation for the Squadron today and F/O Johns led
the first pair into the air at 19:00 hours to carry out an armed
recce identical to the previous show. Each pair met with success
some form of enemy transport and the Squadron managed a fair
total. Rain clouds were still hovering around at 2500 feet and
provided excellent cover for most attacks. F/O Johns and F/O
MacDonald scored two MET damaged and one MET flamer on the road
north of Eindhoven as well as knocking off most of the boiler on
the engine of a passenger train heading south towards Eindhoven.
F/O's
Swingler and Bernhart met with rather spectacular success in the
same area where they attacked with exceptional results, no less
than four trains one of which was an Electric. The remaining
members of the Squadron had a little less luck, but managed to
damage one more train and claim one MET smoker at map reference
E.2841. Some light flak was encountered at Eindhoven but all
aircraft returned unhit to base.
Total
Score: 1 MET FLAMER - 1 SMOKER - 2 DAMAGED - 6 TRAINS -
ENGINE DAMAGED.
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