On 16 December the Nazi counter-attack was opened in the Ardennes sector, and for a month No. 439 Squadron was employed on armed reconnaissance over "the Bulge" to strafe enemy movements behind the battle front. 

Many vehicles, tanks, and trains were destroyed by cannon fire, but the casualties again were heavy; in a six-day period, 24 - 29 December, four pilots were reported missing, two to flak and two to air combat. FS W.A. Wright and F/L K.F. Sage were killed; F/O B.E. Bell and WO S.A. Church were taken captive. In one engagement with a group of enemy fighters F/O R.H. Lawrence maneuvered his Typhoon so skillfully that two of his opponents lost control of their aircraft and crashed into the ground.

F/L HK McAvity (seated) with P/O PN Bernhart, F/O RM Mactavish & F/L TA Dadson (Photo: 439 Sqn archives)