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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
for
25
December 1944
B-78
Holland
Webmaster's
note: This entry is very difficult to decipher so please bear with me.
High
thin scattered cloud with a fairly heavy ground haze in the morning
that dispelled somewhat towards the afternoon. Jerry was out early
this morning with a ME410 and straffed the maintenance Section,
hitting nothing but the frozen ground. The serviceability must have
been very poor indeed as the rows of aircraft stood out like sore
thumbs on this drome. However, the interruption of slumbers met with
no little profanity. Although it is Christmas today, yet it seems like
any other working day with the groundcrew out on the aircraft and the
pilots out supporting the American First Army. The Airmen's Mess
provided the real Christmas touch when a big dinner was served to the
Airmen by the officers, this delighted the airmen to no end.
Conversely, the Officer Mess dinner was rather deserted in view of
operations which accounted for the scarcity of officers, but the
repast was excellent in quality and quantity. Three operations were
carried out also a sect. recce to familiarize F/Sgt Propas, the latest
addition to the Squadron. Another aircraft was transferred to the
Squadron making a total of 17 of which 12 are serviceable.
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 |
| MP134
RB233
MN482
MN869
MN144
MP145
PD459
MN581 |
S/L
R.G. Crosby
F/O
A.H. Fraser
F/O
W.G. Davis
W/O
S.A. Church
F/L
J. Carr
P/O
D.E. Johnson
F/O
J.D. Sweeney
F/O
J.L. Harrison |
Armed
Recce |
10:05 |
11:35
'
11:40
'
11:30
11:20
11:30
' |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eight
aircraft without bombs took-off, Red Flight led by S/L Crosby
and Blue Flight by F/L Carr on a recce of the area south of
Euskirchen in the American sector. They reached the area
uneventfully except for P/O Johnson who returned early with
engine trouble. The flight split up when enemy vehicles were
spotted southwest of Euskirchen. During one of their straffing
attacks F/O Kubicki was fired upon by an American Mustang but
was not hit. After some successful attacks, the flights returned
to base independently, Red Flight being attacked again by
Mustangs near Aachen. This time however, they did not fire. All
aircraft returned safely.
CLAIMS:
- Tanks - destroyed. MET - 3 flamers - 8 destroyed.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB233
MN581
MP151
MN869
PD461
JR506
MP145
PD459 |
F/L
J.A. Cote
F/S
Propas B.
F/O
R.H. Laurence
W/O
S.A. Church
F/O
L.C. Shaver
P/O
D.E. Johnson
F/O
J. Roberts
P/O
A.E. Derouin |
Armed
Recce |
12:50
'
'
'
'
13:00
12:50
' |
14:25
'
'
'
13:25
14:25
'
' |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eight
aircraft once
again took-off led by F/L Cote, to carry out an armed recce over
the Aachen area and south over the battle area of the American
First Army. Once airborne, F/O Shaver (Blue One) returned to base
with a very rough engine and F/O Roberts (Blue 3) took the lead
of Blue Flight. over Duran, Germany, the two flights split
up, and Red Flight made one pass at a dispatch rider, but he
disappeared. The two flights then patrolled back and forth going
as far south as the Ahr
Cerbirge
hills. Very little movement was seen except for two Me. 262's
beating up Aachan and one MET which was attacked. They returned to
base only being hampered by considerable flak in the Duran area,
which however found no mark on seven violently weaving aircraft.
CLAIMS:
- MET - 1 damaged.
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| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN144
MN589
PD459
MP145
MP134
MP151
RB233
JR506 |
F/L
J. Carr
F/O
V.H.J. LeGear
F/O
J.D. Sweeney
F/O
B.E. Bell
D/L
R.G. Crosby
F/O
W. Kubicki
F/O
W.G. Davis
F/O
A.H. Fraser |
Armed
Recce |
15:10 |
16:25 |
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Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eight
aircraft without bombs took-off to do a recce northeast of St.
Vith in the Malmedy area, on a search for enemy vehicles. Flak
was encountered south of Aachen, and on reaching St. Vith, the
two flights split up with S/L Crosby leading Blue Section and
F/L Carr leading Red Section. Intermittent light flak was
encountered during their straffing attacks. All aircraft
returned to base undamaged even though they were jumped twice by
P.51's which fired a few bursts at them. Several trucks and
tanks were discovered and after they were subjected to the
Typhie's offensive cannon attacks, the following claims were
registered. TANKS: 1 flamer, MET - 3 flamers, 8 damaged.
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