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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
12
October 1944
B.78
Eindhoven, Holland
The
weather was greatly improved with only small bits of scattered
cumulus, hence three operations today. The sky was lit up at night in
the northeast by Jerry planes dropping flares which did not appear too
distant.
Well
F/L Don Burton is the second pilot of 439 to finish his tour of
operations. He is a very fine pilot with a good character who joined
439 on posting from 174 Squadron, and has been on operations with the
latter Unit since 16-11-42. All told, he carried out 123 Operational
Sorties. We have now been given to understand verbally that a tour for
Fighter bombers is approximately 100 sorties, but pilots can be
screened any time after the 90th trip and Squadron and flight
Commanders may do an extra five or ten sorties, if not operationally
tired.
F/O
A.L. Henderson received news of his father's critical illness who is
not expected to live and F/O M.A. Marcoux received information of his
father's death. On top of this LAC Bews J.T. also was notified of his
mother's death. Therefore, we are not in the best spirits today.
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 |
| MN581
MP136
MN345
MN665
MN482
MN691
PD557
JR500 |
F/L
Burton W.D.
F/O
Fraser J.G.
F/O
Roberts J.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Swingler B.P.
F/O
Martin W.G.
F/O
Bernhart P.N.
F/O
MacDonald R.N. |
Straffing |
08:30 |
09:30 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eight
aircraft took-off to bomb the railway at a point southeast of
Dieren at E.8884. They were led by F/L Burton and armed with 500
lb. bombs (.025 tail fused). After taking off, they climbed
above cloud and set course. The cloud was from 2005 to 3000 feet
and extended to Nijmegen. On approaching the target they went
into line astern, swung north of the town, then turned left and
went into the dive going through a fairly heavy
concentration of light and 40 mm flak coming from the
forest on the left side of them. The dive was about sixty
degrees resulting in exceptionally good bombing by Red Flight.
All four pairs of bombs being on the tracks.
Blue
Flight followed them diving on the fork in the railway just
north of the first hits, on this, they placed two pairs of
bombs. The boys returned from a "routine show" very
satisfied with results and somewhat relieved having not been
troubled by enemy aircraft reported in the area.
Incidentally
this trip completed F/L Burtons's first tour of "Ops"
being officially "screened" after 123 Operational
Sorties totalling 127:30 operational hours.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MP151
MP136
PD554
PD557
MN869
MN345
MN665
MN691
PD492 |
S/L
Fiset K.J.
F/O
Hiltz R.A.
F/O
Smith I.W.
F/O
Laurence R.H.
F/O
Hogg J.E.
F/L
Saunders W.L.
F/O
Laycock M.P.
F/O
Rassenti N.H.
F/O
Bernhart P.N. |
Straffing |
13:35 |
14:20 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
Squadron took-off led by the S/L Fiset, DFC, to take part in a
Wing Show designed to "obliterate" the Dutch village
of Amerika, in support of drive by the British Second Army. They
were armed with 1000 pounders (.025 tail fused) for the job and
with eighteen aircraft of the other two squadrons (440 and 438)
of the Wing, made a very formidable force. The Wing set course
over base at 5000 with W/C Judd, DFC, AFC, in 440 Squadron
leading, followed by 439 and then 438. The squadrons were
stepped up slightly and in echelon starboard and the flights
were flying similar formation. The air was clear and bright and
excellent visibility enabling the Wing to go straight in and
roll over to the left into their dive. The bombing ....
(this part of text is illegible)......
the case with such targets, however, the town was effectively
clobbered and it was observed that the railway through the town
was out. It was evident from the smoke that a big battle was
taking place below but little enemy movement was visible.
On
the way home Red 4 spotted a ME-262 "jet job" which
came across the formation about 3000 feet above and then turned
east and quickly disappeared making no hostile movements
whatsoever.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MP151
MN989
MN581
MP145
MN870
JR500
MN969
PD492
MN482 |
S/L
Fiset K.J.
F/O
Carr J.
F/O
Fraser J.G.
P/O
McBride
F/O
Burgess C.L.
F/O
MacDonald R.N.
F/O
Smith I.W.
F/O
Bernhart P.N.
F/O
Swingler B.P. |
Dive-Bombing |
15:20 |
16:10 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
Squadron took-off led by S/L Fiset, DFC, to take part in the
second Wing Show of the day. They were armed with 1000 pounders
(.025 tail fused) and the target was the town of Herst, Holland,
just on the "bomb line". This target was picked in
support of the British Second Army push and thought to be full
of enemy material as well as being an important road junction.
The Squadrons climbed to eight thousand feet above the drome and
then set course, being led by W/C Judd, DFC, AFC, in 440
Squadron with 439 and 438, following respectively in stepped up
to starboard echelon.
With
excellent visibility, the Wing was able to go straight to the
target and roll to the left into their dive. The bombing was
good and well concentrated, but it was impossible to
assess the damage accurately other than the fact that many house
were blown up and several roads possibly blocked. As is often
the case when bombing close to the front, no flak was observed,
probably taking too long to turn their guns up into the air from
concentrating on nearby and vital ground targets.
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