This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 540

for

11 September 1944

 R.C.A.F. Melsbroek, Belgium 

The weather was exceedingly good all day except for a little scattered cloud and ground haze in the early cool morning which thwarted our opportunities to operate. The afternoon, saw two operations, one in Holland, the other in Germany.

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
MP151

MN689

MN665

MN989

MP177

PD465

MN869

MP134

PD458

F/L Fiset

F/O Fraser

F/O Stelter

F/O Henderson

F/O Roberts

F/O Smith I.

F/O MacDonald

F/O Bernhart

W/O Gray

Dive Bombing & Straffing 11:25 12:20
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

Nine pilots, led by F/L Fiset, took-off with 500 lb bombs (tail fused .025) to attack a German wireless communication centre in direct support with the British 2nd Army. The target was in the area of the rail junction just north of the main city of Ghent, well inside our bombline. The sky only held a few scattered cumulus clouds which enabled a good dive from east to west at an angle close to 70 degrees. The bombing results were reported as "very good" with all the bombs, except one pair in the target area. No flak was encountered (a relief from most of the shows of late) and the boys went down to follow their bombs with well placed cannon shells, covering the entire area and expending all their ammunition. A large house within the area received a good deal of attention and was considered destroyed. A good show - all aircraft returned safely.

A/C Type & Number Crew Duty Up Down
MN352

PF465

MN765

MP136

MN581

MN869

MN691

MP177

F/O Monson

F/O Stitt

F/O Swingler

F/O Laurence

F/L Burton

P/O Carr

F/O Rassenti

F/O Brown

Dive Bombing 16:10 17:15
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

Eight pilots took-off in mid-afternoon with 500 lb. bombs (.025 tail fused) to do an Armed Recce over the Rhine in the area of Wesel. We climbed up through 4/10ths heavy cumulus and continued to climb to 14,000 feet. At this height no flak was experienced over an area that on a previous recce at 8,000 feet presented much heavy and light flak. Over the target, Blue Flight went down on some barges in the Rhine, while Red Flight concentrated on a village and barges about ten miles north of Wesel. The return flight was made at about 10,000 feet and proved uneventful. This was the second Squadron show over Germany and as "terrorist" raid was undoubtedly successful.

Copyright ©1998-2016 Michael T. Melnick. All rights reserved

the unofficial homepage of Tiger Squadron 

. .