This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 540

for

13 September 1944

 R.C.A.F. Melsbroek, Belgium 

Heavy ground haze in the morning with thin cloud around the horizon. he haze continued almost all day, then the sky clouded up late in the afternoon with a heavy deluge of rain at night. A surprise party was given in honour of S/L H.H. Norsworthy, DFC, our Commanding Officer when we were advised he was being posted tomorrow on completing his second Tour of operations. On this Tour he did 102 trips, making a total of 101:50 operational hours. The party was quite a success! There was only one operation on the program for the afternoon and it was a dive bombing effort on two ships trying to get into Rotterdam Harbour.

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
MN352

MP136

PD465

MP145

MN869

MN969

MN665

MP177

PD458

F/O Monson A.E.

F/O Laurence R.H.

F/O Smith I.W.

F/O MacDonald R.N.

F/O Hogg J.F.

F/O Carr J.

F/O Rassenti N.H.

F/O Smith R.V.

W/O Gray W.A.

Dive Bombing 17:00 17:55
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

Nine pilots took-off with 500 lb. bombs (.025 tail fused) to attack two freighters last seen steaming up the river into Rotterdam Harbour. The flight was led by F/O Monson and made at 8,500 feet. Over the area the ships were sighted at D.6074 moving up the river with one or two small boats towing them. Red Flight was detailed to take the one further up the river mouth and Blue Flight the other. As Red Flight went into their dive, intense light flak was put up from the north side of the river, and some heavy flak, though it proved to be inaccurate. Though one or two sets of bombs were amiss, there were several very close to the ships attacked. One freighter received a direct hit and the other was seen smoking as we left the area.

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