One night in February the pilots arranged a Squadron party, the first since its arrival overseas.  On the way to the inn in Dalryrmple the truck was side-swiped by a bus and F/Os Laycock, Hewson and Thomas received bruises and injuries that grounded them for a fortnight. F/O Ernie Allen also was hospitalized for a time far an appendectomy.

The arrival of No. 440 Squadron in mid-February presented a problem of aircraft supply. There were only six Typhoons to be shared between No. 439 and the newcomers, and the number was soon reduced to four when one aircraft was destroyed in fire on the ground and another in a crash. To remedy the situation fifteen of S/L Smith's pilots were, sent to Tain to pick up new Typhoons for the two squadrons and the training program continued apace. Formation practice, air-to-ground and air-to-air firing were stressed;  F/O "Babe" Swingler was the star in air-firing with two exceptionally good scores of 29 and 26 hits on the drogue, while F/O Bob Porritt led the field in skeet shooting with 19 hits out of 25.  Early in March night flying on Hurricanes was added to the program, followed by low-level cross countries end practice dive-bombing on the Tiffies. Then the two months of training came to an end and the pilots prepared to put all that they had learned to the test of experience on operations.

Squadron Leader W.M. Smith, CO 439 Sqn 7 Jan - 9 Mar 1944

Photo source: 439 Sqn archives PL229037

S/L Kelly, the first C.O. of No. 439 overseas, left the Squadron shortly after it moved to Ayr. S/L Smith, his successor, led the pilots through the period of training and then handed over the unit to S/L H.H. Norsworthy. Smith had been "an exceptionally good C.O., and all the pilots hated to see him go."  They were fortunate in having as their new commander a leader of outstanding ability.  Hugh Norsworthy had came overseas in the spring of 1941 and upon completion of his O.T.U. course was posted to No. 85 Squadron, flying Bostons and Mosquitoes on night-fighter and intruder work. At the end of his first tour, during which he shared in the destruction of a Do. 217. Hugh joined No. 3 Squadron on Typhoons for another period of service, after which he had a month's leave in Canada before returning to take over command of No. 439 an 10 March l944.