This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as recorded in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book

for

23 December 1944

 B-78 Holland

Heavy cloud in the morning with medium ground haze improving towards lunch when the cloud broke in spots. The haze remained throughout the whole day. Shortly after lunch two bombs were dropped on the drome this afternoon that shook our hut up considerably. F/O's W. Anderson and A.C. McBride flew to England this afternoon where they are spending seven days leave. A buzz bomb was heard whizzing by the drome this afternoon and was spotted by F/o Bob Laurence enroute to enemy territory on an operation. The flying program for this day consisted of one operation and five A&E tests. In the last two days the weather has been very cold and frost set in this afternoon which according to the Met Office will cause the thermometer to drop even lower in the next few days. S/L Crosby, W/O Church, F/O Sweeney and F/O Davis all returned from England by air on the termination of their leave.

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
MN144

MN482

PD461

MN894

RB204

MN589

MP145

RB198

F/L J. Carr

P/O D.E. Johnson

F/O L.C. Shaver

F/O B.E. Bell

F/O R.H. Laurence

F/O V.H.J. LeGear

F/O J. Roberts

P/O A.E. Derouin

 Armed Recce 13:40 15:05
 

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/L Carr led the Squadron out on an armed recce over the American First Army battle front. The aircraft carried no bombs. The trip to the area took about twenty minutes and visibility was very poor, there being a heavy ground haze. The two flights broke up near Euskirchen, Germany and covered the ground in that area and south of it in search of vehicles. Scattered MET was located throughout, but attacks were difficult owing to the poor visibility. All attacks were hotly opposed by German ground defenses, nevertheless, all aircraft returned safely to base. CLAIMS: MET - 1 destroyed, 1 damaged, 5 probably damaged.

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