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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
01
October 1944
B.78
Eindhoven, Holland
Low
overcast most of the day with heavy showers around 15:45 hours while
the pilots are on operations. J.37648 J.G. Martin was posted in ti the
Squadron today from 83 GSU. F/O J.A. Cote who was missing since the
28th September, 1944, surprised the whole outfit by turning up.
Apparently,
he had lost the other aircraft of the Squadron in the darkness, and
his difficulties were augmented due to his unserviceable R/T. After
flying from one fire to another, as well as one light to get a
pinpoint, he eventually ran out of petrol and was forced to bale out.
Fortunately, he set foot near Niaderwampack, Luxemburg at map
reference P.639585 at approximately 19:50 hours. He was quite
sceptical about his location at the time especially on hearing two
cyclists talking in German and having scanned a German newspaper
by the light of a match in a bush. He found his fears to be groundless
when he saw Allied colours flying in Bastogne, Belgium, where the
Civilians gave him a good welcome. Hitch hiking was necessitated to
get him back to Eindhoven and it was a treat to see him arrive safe
and sound.
The
day's operations did not exceed two, largely due to the adverse
weather conditions.
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
MN765
PD492
MN574 |
F/O
Johns R.A.
F/O
Swingler B.P.
F/O
MacDonald R.N.
F/O
Stitt J.H.
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Dive
Bombing |
09:25 |
10:05 |
Details
of Sortie or Flight
These
four aircraft carried 500 lb. bombs (11 second delay) into the
air with the intention of dive-bombing the railway line running
southeast of Geldern (A.0518). The weather was very poor and the
10/10th cloud layer became lower and lower as the target area
was approached. The four aircraft returned to base and three of
them pancaked with their bombs aboard. F/O Swingler, B.P.
dropped his bombs safe about 2 miles south of the base and after
a couple of attempts managed to effect a safe landing. His
hydraulic system had failed. the mission was abortive.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN352
MN547
MN870
PD492
MN869
MN989
MN345
MP145 |
F/L
Monson A.E.
F/O
Hiltz R.A.
F/O
Burgess C.L.
F/O
Bernhart P.N.
F/O
Hogg J.E.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Brown J.A.
F/O
Fraser J.G. |
Dive-Bombing |
15:35 |
16:40 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
F/L
Monson was in command when the weather cleared sufficiently to
allow eight of our aircraft to carry out a Ramrod against the
rail and road crossing at map reference E.9832, northwest of
Geldern, and the railway line at Marienbaum (A.0446). Red
Section released 8 x 500 lb. bombs (11 second delay) at the
latter target and cut the line by scoring two direct hits.
Blue
Section, led by F/O J.E. Hogg, scored successes also when they
cut the line northwest of Geldern by at least two direct hits. After carrying
out the this attack, Blue Section attacked with cannon fire, a
single engine shunting at A.1633, southwest of Wesel. Quite a
bit of accurate light flak was fired at our aircraft in this
attack, but the engine was left damaged. An engine and fifteen
goods trucks stationary in the same area were not attacked.
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