This Day In History

Summary of Events for  No. 439 (CAN) Squadron 

as compiled by  C20089 F/L M. Harrison  in the  439 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 540

for

21 February 1945

B-78 Holland

The morning brought on the usual duff weather but cleared rapidly after lunch and paved the way for seven good operations, all on rail interdictions with the exception of the first show which was on a V-1 position; other flying consisted of three A&E tests. This is the first day on which operations were put into effect since the 16th of this month and it was quite a treat to again contribute to the war effort. The aircraft state is the same as yesterday.

 

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
SW420 PD451 SW443 PD608 RB510 RB324 RB456 RB477	S/L Beatty J.H. W/O Horrocks L.J. F/O Roberts J. F/O Harrison J.L. F/L Shaver L.C. F/O Hallford F.M. F/O Anderson W. F/O Kubicki W.	Dive Bombing	12:40	14:00 13:55 14:15 14:05 13:50 13:50 13:50 14:05
Details of Sortie or Flight The day started off with a Wing Mission on V-1 sites just west of Rotterdam at D.6671. 439 Squadron used eight aircraft carrying 1000 lb bombs with instantaneous nose fuses. S/L Beatty led Red Section and F/L Lyal Shaver Blue Section. 438 Squadron took off first followed by 439 Squadron at 12:40 hours. 440 Squadron took off last. They circled base at 9000 feet, picked up 181 Squadron who led the way. They headed 300 degrees to Middelharnis, turning there to the target.  181 Squadron went in first with rockets on flak positions followed by 440 Squadron dropping A.P. bombs on other gun positions. Their work was effective as only a little light flak met the remaining two squadrons just south of the target. 439 Squadron went for No. 1 V-1 site, while 438 took care of No. 2. They headed north on the target, turned over and dove to the south using a 60 degree dive from 9000 feet to 4000 feet. They continued south and reformed  at Helwijk. All bombs from both squadrons were well in the target area. The Squadron returned safely to base. Claims - V-1 site damaged.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
PD461 RB198 RB326 MN144	F/O Davis W.C. F/L Breck A.W. F/O McBride A.C. F/O Cleghorn D.G.	Dive Bombing	13:15	14:15 14:15 14:30 14:20
Details of Sortie or Flight Four aircraft, led by F/O Bill Davis, became airborne on a Ramrod into the Geldern-Wesel rail line. The aircraft carried 2x1000 lb. bombs with 11 sec. delay tail fuses. The Flight crossed the bombline at 10,000 feet letting down slightly to 8,000 feet from where the dive took place. 5/10ths cloud at 20002500 feet obscured the railway line somewhat, but one direct cut was noticed just east of Gildern at A0627. Yellow 4 (F/O Don Cleghorn) had his gun panels blown off from his starboard wing, making dive bombing impossible. He jettisoned his bombs over enemy territory with unobserved results. Much smoke was noticed from small towns in the area, as a result of the bombing by the "mediums". A few puffs of 40 MM were noticed, which was inaccurate. All aircraft returned safely to base. Claims - 1 rail cut.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
RB281 MP151 RB377 SW446	F/L Legear V.H. F/O Johnson D.E. F/O Saunders A.W. F/O Derouin A.E.	Dive Bombing	14:40	15:55
Details of Sortie or Flight F/L Vic LeGear led a rail interdiction mission with the intended target the Borken-Enscrede rail line. Four aircraft were used and 1000 lb. 11 second delay tail fused bombs carried. They took off at 14:40 hours with a clear sky. They headed for the Reichswald Forest climbing to 9000 feet. Just east of the forest, they were bounced by a lone Mustang, heavily camouflaged and wearing roundels. F/O Johnny Johnson was forced to jettison his bombs live near Rees. The Mustang eventually flew off and the flight continued. The Borken area was covered with 4/10ths cloud with good visibility. Some Spitfires looked them over but did not molest. The intended line was missed during this activity so the Borken-Groenlo line was attacked. A 7000 - 1000 40 degree dive was used going north along the line and breaking west. One direct hit was seen with two very near misses covering the lines with debris. No movement was seen  and all aircraft returned safely to base via the Reichswald forest landing at 15:55 hours. Claims - Rails - cut at one place, & 2 near misses.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
RB206 PD451 RB477 RB324	F/L Shaver L.C. F/O Bullock J.W. F/O Anderson W. F/O Hallford F.M.	Dive Bombing	15:15	16:40
Details of Sortie or Flight Four aircraft, led by F/O Lyal Shaver took off on a Ramrod to bomb the Enschede-Neede railway line. The aircraft carried 1000 lb. bombs with 11 sec. delay tail fuses. The flight dove from 8000 feet, obtaining two cuts but on closer observation the tracks were noticed to have been lifted from the intersection at V3602 to Haasberger. This is quite possible as this is only a secondary line and with the Reichsbaka's shortage of rail lines, he is probably using his secondary rails for repair work.  The boys then carried out an armed  recce into the tactical area, returning by the Bocholt-Borken lines. No movement was noticeable. All aircraft returned safely to base. Claims - rails - cut in two places.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
SW420 MN144 RB210 RB326	S/L Beatty J.H. W/O Horrocks L.J. F/O Cleghorn D.G. F/O Kubicki W.	Dive Bombing	16:45	17:00 18:00 18:00 18:00
Details of Sortie or Flight Four aircraft, led by S/L Beatty, were to carry out a Ramrod on the Krefeld-Gladback rail line. S/L Beatty developed engine trouble before take-off, but F/O Cleghorn (No.3) took over the Flight. The boys carried 1000 lb. bombs with 11 second delay fuses. The Flight received quite a bit of 40 MM and 88 MM going into and from the target area. However, the boys pressed on and on pulling up from their dive they noticed one direct hit (two cuts) at E1293 and also three TRGs fell to the onslaught of F/O Kubicki's bombs, that happened to be parked on a siding beside the main line. The Flight returned safely to base. Claims - Rails - 1 cut, TRG - 2 damaged.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
RB456 PD608 SW443 PD461	F/O Davis W.G. F/O Harrison J.L. F/O Roberts J. F/L Breck A.W.	Dive Bombing	16:55	18:30
Details of Sortie or Flight Another Ramrod led by F/O Bill Davis, after being held up at the end of the runway for approximately forty minutes, due to intense air traffic, finally were airborne at 16:55 hours. They carried 1000 lb. bombs with 11 second delay tail fuses. The show was to have been rail cutting on the Borken-Stadtlohn line, but due to approaching darkness and lack of petrol, the Flight nipped in over the bombline north of Venlo, to dive-bomb the tracks south east of Geldern, between the two towns of Nieirkerlf and Aldekerk. Good bombing results were observed, with one sure cut at A0817 and two near misses. On pulling up about six puffs of fairly accurate 88MM flak was observed. Much artillery fire from our side of the line was noticed. Haze cut down visibility to three miles. F/O Harrison (No.2) had his windscreen oiled up, and on landing, he swung off to the right, going into a soft spot causing him to go on his nose. He was unhurt and the aircraft only had a broken airscrew. All other aircraft landed safely. Claims - Rails - 1 cut.
A/C Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Up	Down
SW446 MP151 RB282 RB377	F/O McBride A.C. W/O Roach R.J. F/O Saunders A.W. F/L Jackson S.C.	Dive Bombing	17:20	18:45
Details of Sortie or Flight F/O McBride leading four aircraft got airborne on the final ramrod of the day, carrying 1000 lb bombs with 11 second delay fuses. The target was a rail line running between Dorsten-Coesfeld. The weather was not very good with 5/10ths cloud at 4000-5000 feet. The haze was quite bad cutting visibility down to two miles.  Two Spitfires bounced the lads just over the bombline, causing no end to consternation to our Flight. The visibility was undoubtedly the reason. The dive was carried out from 8000 feet to 3000 feet, although it was quite difficult to observe results, one cut is claimed. Considerable 20 MM was thrown up over the target area. The show was supposed to carry out an armed recce just north of the Ruhr but due to the approaching darkness, the boys set course for base. All aircraft landed safely. Claims, one rail cut.

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