PD557

MN482

PD554

MN665

MP145

MP136

MN691

F/O Hogg J.E.

F/O Laurence R.H.

F/O Swingler B.P.

F/O Hiltz R.A.

F/O Stelter J.

F/O Roberts J.

F/O Laycock M.P.

F/O Rassenti N.H.

Details of Sortie or Flight

The Squadron took-off to start the day of with one of the routine flights of late, namely the vital but uninteresting job of cutting the network of railway lines leading to the German front. The target this particular time, was the line north of Geldern. The Squadron was led by F/O Hogg and armed with 500 lb bombs (.025 tail fused). After taking off, the Squadron climbed on track and levelled out at 7000 feet. On approaching the target, the Squadron swung slightly south, crossed the railway and then turned left and flew parallel to the line and about a mile and a half from it.

After going into echelon starboard, Red One  pulled up and over into the dive, the boys following closely behind. Due to the fact that the Squadron was wide of the line when committed to the dive, it could not bomb along the railway but across it at an intersecting angle of 30 degrees. Because of this, the accuracy was somewhat impaired. However, at least one set of bombs hit the line and cut the rails. The Squadron did one orbit over the target while reforming and by this time, the Jerry flak gunners were wide awake and sent up a hail of 40mm shells bursting around 6000 feet, and also a good deal of 20mm stuff. no one was hit and all returned safely to base.

MP145

MN345

MN691

PD554

PD557

PD492

MN482

F/O Burgess C.L.

F/O Carr J.

F/O Brown J.A.

F/L Saunders W.L.

F/O Smith I.W.

F/O Martin J.G.

F/O Bernhart P.N.

F/O Marcoux M.A.

Details of Sortie or Flight

The Squadron took-off led by F/O Burgess to give cover to Allied medium bombers scheduled to bomb Venlo on the Meuse River. They took off, formed up over base and climbed through a thin layer of cloud and proceeded to climb on track, levelling off at 15,000 feet. On reaching Venlo, they patrolled up and down the river in the immediate vicinity and over a distance of some ten miles or so, just keeping clear of the tremendous flak barrage that met the bombers as they arrived over the target and released their bombs. The entire show proved quite uneventful though an enemy jet aircraft was reported in the area but not seen; feeling sorry for the poor Spit pilots who must lead a very uninteresting tour at times.

Webmaster's Note: The Squadron's empathy for Spitfire pilots refers to those confined to fighter escort duties and is surprising in light of the numerous references about how uninteresting rail cutting missions were to 439. It appears that in hindsight, rail cutting was much more preferable than escort duties, because at least rail cutting missions offered the opportunity to shoot or bomb something and tangibly contribute to the war effort. This is my perception anyway.

MP136

MN969

MP145

MN869

MN894

PD557

MN124

S/L Fiset K.J.

F/O McBride A.C.

F/O Stelter J.

F/O Fraser J.G.

F/O Hogg J.E.

F/O Hiltz R.A.

F/O Laurence R.H.

F/O MacDonald R.N.

14:40

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Details of Sortie or Flight

Eight pilots took-off on a Ramrod to bomb the railroad running out of Utrecht, Holland, in a north easterly direction. The point to be bombed was six miles from Utrecht and the armament consisted of 500 lb bombs (.025 tail fused). The Squadron took off and orbitted the base twice whilst forming up and gaining height. The C.O.'s (S/L Fiset, DFC) engine was giving him concern so he returned to base and Blue One (F/O Hogg) took the lead of the Squadron and Red Three (F/O Stelter) carried on  in Red Flight. 

The cloud was heavy cumulus extending from three to seven thousand feet and close to 8/10ths;  the Squadron flew above it and map reading was difficult, however, Red One found the target without much delay and the Squadron went into line astern and on into the dive. Fortunately, the clouds left an open spot over the target and all seven aircraft were able to have a good dive. 

The bombing was very accurate, at least three pairs falling on the rails, one at the junction of Bilthoven, 8 miles from Utrecht. Flak was quite intense but ineffective; the Squadron did one orbit south of Utrecht, formed up, and returned to base with no further event.