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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
02
March 1945
B-78
Holland
No
cloud first thing in the morning and with the sun out, there was
a real semblance of Spring, then low scattered cloud crept in
and right after lunch dark clouds and a heavy breeze whipped in
from the north bringing on a fairly heavy hail storm. It cleared
up rapidly leaving scattered cloud that formed a complete
overcast late in the afternoon, but night saw a cloudless sky.
Three
eight-plane operations were carried out today also one sector
recce for F/O Hap Herod the new member, and a radar calibration
test done by F/O's Bill Davis and Johnny Johnson in cooperation
with G.C.C. which gave them courses to steer at certain heights
and speeds. This was primarily to test the new radar equipment
that was being introduced.
Two
Colonels from the British Second Army talked to the pilots
of our Wing on the importance of rail cutting which has resulted
in the disorganization of the German supplies, as on overtaking
more ground the enemy has had guns without ammo in one sector
and an ammo in another without guns. On the whole the talk was
quite dry.
One
of the highlights today was the arrival of General Montgomery on
the drome to meet Prime Minister Winston Churchill and
cigar. The Prime Minister arrived eventually and dashed off with
the general apparently to the front line.
F/O
Murray Hallford made all preparations to embark for the French
Alps, but only got as far as Sick Quarters with a high
temperature.
We
lost another Flight Commander, he is F/L
Lyal Shaver, a very forceful character and a competent
leader. This loss shook us rigid! Lyal was one of the finest
pilots in the Wing and we all felt so optimistic about him.
Being married in Canada before coming over for his second tour
will no doubt cause that additional grief. To day, Lyal has
carried out 66 operational sorties, totalling 80:15 hours on his
second tour and gives him a total of 202 sorties, 171:55
operational hours and a grand total of 839:10 flying hours.
One
aircraft was lost on operations today reducing our strength to
17, and all are serviceable; the pilot strength has been reduced
to 24.
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 |
| MN144
RB977
PD451
RB324
RB510
RB377
RB198
PD461
|
F/L
Shaver L.C.
F/L
Gray J.O.
F/O
Saunders A.W.
F/O
Hallford F.M.
F/O
Davis W.G.
F/L
McCullough J.H.
F/L
Breck A.W.
F/O
Elsley D.C. |
Dive
Bombing |
07:50 |
09:00
|
| Details
of Sortie or Flight
The first show
of the day was on rail interdiction; 500 lb. bombs, 11
second delay tail fused were carried by eight aircraft.
Red Section
led by F/L Lyal Shaver took off at 07:50 hours. Flying
above and behind 438 Squadron in order to give them cover,
they crossed the Rhine north of Wesel at 11,000 feet. As
they reached Haltern, 438 Squadron went down on their
target. Going into echelon starboard, the two sections of
439 Squadron picked their own targets and went down from
9000 feet. Red Section dive-bombed the Dulmen-Munster line
at A7463. F/L Shaver strafed 20 OTRG's and a loco on
this line. This section spotted another loco with 50
OTRG's and a flak car, on the Dorsten-Coesfeld line.
F/O Bill Davis
with Blue Section dive-bombed the Haltern-Munster line at
A7262, but no cuts were observed. Blue section also
strafed a train in the station at Buldern. It was well
clobbered resulting in damage to one loco and some trucks.
The Section formed up and returned separately, all landing
safely at 09:00 hours.
Claims: Locos
- 2 damaged, OTRG - 2 damaged.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| MN144
RB477
RB198
PO608
SW443
MN936
PD451
SW420
|
F/L
Shaver L.C.
W/O Roach R.J.
F/L Breck A.W.
F/O Harrison J.L.
F/O Roberts J.
F/O Bullock J.W.
F/L Jackson S.C.
W/O Horrocks L.J. |
Dive
Bombing |
10:55 |
11:40
12:05
12:05
12:05
12:05
12:05
12:05
12:05
|
| Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
whole Wing was airborne on the same target that 439 Squadron
attacked earlier in the morning, the railway and
marshalling yards at Buldern, on the Dulmen-Munster line;
500 lb. 11 second delay tail-fused bombs were carried. The
aircraft took off in pairs and climbed through 8/10ths
cloud over base. The Wing formed up and set course at 7000
feet, 439 Squadron acting as top cover. The trip to the
target was uneventful, and the Squadron attacked in order.
439 squadron was the last squadron to go down, using a 60
degree dive. No results were observed.
After
the attack, F/L Shaver & F/L Breck attacked a loco and
15 plus cars, with a claim of 4 cars damaged; considerable
light flak was encountered and F/L Shaver was seen to be
hit, flick on his back, dive into the ground and burst
into flames in the area E8546. F/L Breck climbed up
through 10/10ths cloud and returned to base alone, landing
at 12:05 hours.
Claims:
Locos - 1 OTRG - 4 damaged.
Casualties
- F/Lt. Shaver, missing, believed killed.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB456
PD461
PD451
RB324
RB510
RB977
RB281
MN691
|
F/L
Davis W.G.
F/O Elsley D.C.
F/O Saunders A.W.
F/L McCullough J.H.
F/L LeGear V.H.
F/L Gray J.O.
F/O Fraser A.H.
F/O Johnson D.E. |
Dive
Bombing |
16:25 |
17:25 |
| Details
of Sortie or Flight
The
Wing was out again on their rail-cutting mission. 500 lb.
bombs with 11 second delay tail fuses were carried. 438 Squadron
was detailed to cut the Borken-Dorsten line, 440 the
Dorsten-Wesel railway, while 439 went for the
Borken-Bocholt line. The Squadron took off in order,
aircraft taking off singly due to a 75 degree crosswind.
F/L Bill Davis led Red Section with F/L Vic LeGear leading
Blue. The Wing circled base to 10,000 feet then set course
for the Reichswald Forest above 8/10ths cloud, 4000 to
10,000 feet in depth. From there each squadron headed for
its respective target.
Since
the target line was well covered, Davis went for the
Borken-Dorsten line. They headed north at 10,000 feet in
echelon starboard, dived towards the south at 80 degrees
breaking to port. No flak was seen until they circled the
target when a few accurate bursts of 88 MM made the
vicinity unhealthy. They reformed and headed for home
landing safely at 17:25. No hits were observed due to
cloud and flak.
Meanwhile
F/L Vic LeGear carried on, , circled Borken, and found a
nice break in the clouds about 5 miles west of the town.
They went down towards Borken in a 80 degree dive from
echelon starboard. They were met by considerable light
flak. The dive was from 9000 to 3000 feet breaking port
and climbing through broken cloud. They returned to base
via the Reichswald Forest. After circling the base once,
F/O Hugh Fraser had his engine seize on him and had to
force land just north of the airfield. It did not do the
aircraft any good but he got out unscratched, whilst his
kite was a Cat AC. The cause of the failure was unknown.
All other aircraft landed safely at base.
No
claims.
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