10
February 1945
B-78
Holland
A
cold shower with a high wind greeted us this morning, however, in
spite of that we are quite comfortable in the crew rooms, the one
belonging to the pilots is almost surrounded by water and if need
be, we will convert it into a houseboat. The rain subsided before
lunch. At 12:14 hours a buzz-bomb was heard going over, then the
motor cut and let loose one hell of a bang. WOII Bud Propas then
asked one of the pilots " What did one buzz-bomb say to the
other"? Dunno! Answer, "Let's cut"!
P/O
Don Elsley finally got back from England with a new Typhie
after waiting for one several days. All aircraft of this Squadron
are now fitted with the new type 3G I.F.F. (Identification
Friend or Foe) except for two which still have the 3090 type; the
new aircraft transferred from the U.K. are supposed to be equipped
with the new type.
Our
pilot strength has now been boosted to 24 on the acquisition of a
newly posted pilot, J.9456 F/L S.C. Jackson who is commencing his
second tour with us. His previous tour was done at RAF
Stations Conilla, Bagaichi and Chitagong India with 67
Squadron, during which he has done 68 operational sorties
totalling 127 operational hours. This handsome youth hails from
New York, USA.
With
the improved weather later in the afternoon, we were able to whip
in three operations. Three A&E tests were also made, one of
which was carried out by WOII Bud Propas who pranged his aircraft
at B-86 Helmond when the motor cut out on him. As far as we know,
the aircraft burst into flames and Bud was dragged out but not
before suffering burns to his face and fracture to the base of his
skull. At present he is on the dangerously ill list.
With
the addition of a new Typhie, the S.W. series, our total is 17 and
all serviceable.
Detail
of Work Carried Out by
No. 439
RCAF Squadron
as
recorded by
J20602 F/O R.H. Laurence, J29881 F/O W.G.
Davis,
and
C20089 F/L M. Harrison in
the
439 Squadron Operations Record Book
Form 541
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB198
RB377
RB326
PD461
|
F/L
Carr J.
F/O
Roach R.J.
F/O
McBride A.C.
F/L
LeGear V.H.
|
Dive
Bombing |
10:40 |
16:00 |
| Details
of Sortie or Flight
Bad
weather held up operations in the morning, but the Squadron
put in some work this afternoon. F/L Johnny Carr led Red
Section off, four aircraft being used, carrying 1000 lb. 11
sec. delay bombs. They took off at 14:40 hours and climbed
through a hole in the 8/10ths cloud to 10,500 feet. Huge
white cumulus clouds made for a pleasant journey. The target
was the Coesfeld-Dulmen rail line over which was a fair
hole. A steep dive from echelon starboard was used, but it
is believed the rail was not cut. However WO Dick Roach saw
his bombs wreck a house and set it on fire. The aircraft
zoomed back up through the clouds, formed up, and set course
for home. No flak was seen. All aircraft landed safely at
16:00 hours.
Claims
- one house destroyed at A.6265.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN144
MP151
RB262
RB485
|
F/L
Shaver L.C.
F/O
Marlatt S.D.
F/O
Anderson W.
F/O
Kubicki W.
|
Dive
Bombing
|
15:55 |
17:35
|
| Details
of Sortie or Flight
F/L
Shaver led Yellow Section on a rail interdiction against the
Winterswijk - Ruurlo line, using 4 aircraft carrying 1000
lb. 11 sec. delay bombs. They took off at 15:55 hours,
climbed to 10,000 feet and headed north of the
Reichswald-Forest for the target. They went into echelon
starboard, but found the line obscured by cloud. They passed
over, turned around, found a hole and dove steeply to port.
Only one cut was made at A.3469 due to the strong wind. They
then did a recce around Hengelo but cloud obscured
everything, as they headed for home.
Coming
over the Rhine at 9000 feet, they were met by four bursts of
88 MM flak. F/L Shaver received small holes in his port
aileron and 'D' flap. All aircraft landed at 17:35 hours.
one aircraft slightly damaged.
Claims
- rails, one cut.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB206
RB324
RB281
PD451
|
S/L
Beatty J.H.
F/O
Hallford F.M.
F/O
Fraser A.H.
F/O
Saunders A.W.
|
Dive
Bombing |
16:25 |
17:35
17:35
16:30
17:35
|
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
S/L
Beatty led Blue Section off on a raid against the Borken-Winterswijk
railroad. Immediately after taking off, F/O Hugh Fraser had
engine trouble and had to land, doing so with his bombs on
as he could not jettison within our own drome. The Flight
carried 1000 pounders with 11 sec. delay fuses. They climbed
in clear sky to 9000 feet. Before reaching the bombline, the
sky became overcast with 10/10ths cloud and only the
occasional hole. Over the target they found such a hole and
immediately went down diving steeply from echelon starboard.
A little light flak greeted them. After dropping the bombs
they pulled up steeply circling the hole and saw the line
cut in one place. They were vectored home through the clouds
and all landed safely.
Claims
- one rail cut.
|
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