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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
28
September 1944
B.78
Eindhoven, Holland
Clear
weather prevailed with scattered cumulus cloud. Three operations were
carried out during the day and evening. On the last show, J.14529 F/O
J.A. Cote, a very recent addition to our Squadron, lost his section
leader in the darkness and has not been heard of since. As he has had
considerable flying experience, we are very hopeful in seeing him
rejoin the Squadron soon. Although too late, W/O 2 Gray's commission
came through today which he had before going on leave. His new number
and rank J.88900 P/O in the Reserve, Special Section, effective
14-7-44.
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 |
| MP145
MN989
MN969
MN970
MN665
MP136
JR500
PD492
MN869
MN379
MN352
MN345 |
F/L
Burton W.D.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Laycock M.P.
F/O
Rassenti N.H.
F/O
Stetler J.
F/O
Smith R.V.
F/O
Johns R.A.
F/O
Laurence R.H.
F/O
Swingler B.P.
F/O
MacDonald R.N.
F/L
Monson A.E.
F/o
Burgess C.L. |
Fighter
Sweep |
06:10 |
07:40 |
Details
of Sortie or Flight
This
was a twelve plane fighter sweep to be carried out over the
Nijmegen-Arnhiem area under command of F/L Burton. Shortly after
take-off R/T trouble made it necessary for F/O Johns to return
to base. Mechanical trouble in the aircraft made landing
difficult and F/O Johns made four passes at the field before
setting down at 135 mph with switches off. F/O Laurence, as
number 2, returned to base at the same time. The remaining 10
aircraft carried out the sweep and received two vectors towards
enemy formations but spotted only large numbers of friendly
aircraft. All aircraft returned to base after an uneventful
patrol.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN581
MN691
MN969
MP136
MP145
MN989 |
F/O
Stelter J.
F/O
Rassenti N.H.
F/O
Laycock M.P.
F/O
Smith R.V.
F/O
Stitt J.H.
F/O
MacDonald R.N. |
Fighter
Sweep |
16:00 |
17:00 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
Our
six aircraft on standby at the runway were scrambled under
command of F/O Stelter. These aircraft carried out an uneventful
fighter sweep in the Wesel area. Some intense light accurate
flak was fired from position at E.8527. All aircraft returned to
base undamaged.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN352
MN375
MN379
MN547
MN581
MN989
MN665
MP145
MN870
PD492
MP136
MN691
|
F/L
Monson A.E.
F/O
Cote J.A.
F/O
Stitt J.H.
F/O
Laurence R.H.
F/L
Burton
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Stelter J.
F/O
Fraser J.G.
F/O
Johns R.A.
F/O
Bernhart P.N.
F/O
Hogg J.E.
P/O
McBride A.C. |
Fighter
Patrol |
18:25
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
' |
20:00
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
19:50
'
'
' |
Details
of Sortie or Flight
Tonight
as the sun was going down behind the horizon, twelve of our
aircraft took-off to carry out a fighter patrol in the Nijmegen
area. The area was reached and the patrol began in
semi-darkness. Before half an hour elapsed, no pilot was able to
see more than one other aircraft in the dark, and that was his
section mate. At about 19:20 hours, Controller informed us of
numerous "bandits" approaching our area. Shortly
afterwards, a very large number of incendiary bombs and flares
were dropped in the area and the searchlights and flak opened
up. Our Typhoons covered the area from 11,000 feet and down to
1,000 feet, in the heavy darkness not one enemy aircraft was
spotted. Fuel time running low, the Squadron set course for
base. One of our newer pilots, F/O J.A. Cote J.14529, became
separated from his section mate in the dark and became lost. He
asked for a homing to base but apparently his R/T receiver was
U/S and he could not get it. Eleven aircraft returned safely to
base but F/O Cote did not. Control maintained watch for him by
R/T, flares and beacons, but to no avail.
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