This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book

for

07 November 1944

 B-78 Holland

Heavy gale all day with scattered showers. The tents were flapping like mad and we expected them to give way at any time, as other sections have had some blown down. There is quite a sea of mud around the dispersal so that the fellows keep inside their huts and tents, nursing the stoves continuously with wood. We have some good news today, J.21925 F/O Stelter, the first of the original pilots of this squadron has finished his tour of operations. He was with 123 Squadron in Canada before it moved overseas to be called 439, and is now the fourth pilot of our squadron to finish a tour. He has done 97 sorties, 94:00 operational hours, making a total of 691:35 hours.

Only one operation and one weather recce comprised the day's war effort. J.27023 F/O A.L. Henderson was posted to B.P.C. but is to report to 3 P.R.C. Bournemouth first. This is a compassionate posting and it is expected that repatriation to Canada will ensue.

 

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
MN894

MN537

F/O J.A. Cote

F/O R.A. Hitz

Weather Recce 08:15 09:25
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/O Cote with F/O Hiltz as his number two, took-off to do an early weather recce. They went north encountering a bank of heavy cumulus cloud over the Rhine extending from 6000 to 12000 feet. Continuing, they found scattered cloud with good visibility and thinning out to 1/10ths to the east of Almelo. They then returned to base via Zello, reporting the weather suitable for operations.

 

A/C Type & Number Crew Duty Up Down
MN869

MN989

MN547

MN144

MN482

JR506

PD492

MN184

F/L C.L. Burgess

F/O J. Sweeney

F/O J. Roberts

F/L W.L. Saunders

F/O B.P. Swingler

W/O S.A. Church

F/O  P.N.  Bernhart

F/O J.G. Martin

Dive Bombing 09:35 10:30

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10:40

10:35

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Details of Sortie or Flight

The target to be bombed this trip was the rail at Boeteloo, Holland.  (V.0312). Eight pilots led by F/L Burgess, armed with 500 lb bombs took-off to do the job. They formed up and set course, however, they faced a bank of clouds from 2005 to 13500 feet and after climbing over these, found it impossible to locate their target. They turned back and found a hole in the clouds near Goch, Germany so went down and dropped their bombs on the rails between Goch and Wooze and cut it once successfully at E.9341. They experienced a lot of light flak coming up from Uden, but all returned safely without a mishap and landed with a 30 degree cross-wind - all in all it is not a good day for flying.

 

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