OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK
of (Unit or Formation) No. 438 (Can) Squadron. |
| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events |
| Hurn, Hants |
June 4/44 |
|
Another bright sunny day. Arrived at Dispersal
this morning to find all aircraft with their invasion markings
painted on them. Ground crew completed the job between 1800
hours and 0300 hrs. in the morning. Word was received that only
local flying was to be done with the marked aircraft. Because
of this and because “big” doings were expected very
little flying was done. Two trips were made to Red Hill an Huntington
in the Auster and a Typhoon brought back in each case. Another
former pilot of 438 Squadron arrived in the evening in the person
of F/O A.C. Brooker (J. 26903). This last posting gives us 26
pilots. Total flying for the day, all non-op.: - Auster III
– 5:30 hrs., Typhoon 1B – 1:35 hrs. |
| Hurn, Hants |
June 5/44 |
|
The day opened cool and bright after a very windy
afternoon and evening on Sunday. Very little flying was done
today. One Squadron “ops” flight was made with 11
aircraft against another Radar installation near Le Havre. It
is believed the target was destroyed. Neither the Officer Commanding
438 Squadron nor the Wing Commander, Flying could take part
as they had been briefed for the Invasion. All pilots of 143
Airfield were called in for Invasion briefing at 2125 hours
this evening. At 1140 hours the Commanding Officer held a meeting
of all 143 Airfield and announced the Invasion would get under
way with a paratroop landing at 0300 hours tomorrow morning.
Personnel greeted this grand news with cheers and it could be
easily seen that the Commanding Officer’s action was much
appreciated. 438 Squadron was put on one-half hour’s readiness
from 0400 hours tomorrow morning with first “ops”
sortie at 0655 hours. Total flying for the day:- operational:-
12:50 hours. Non-operational – Typhoon 1B- 2:55 hrs. Auster
III 3:55 hrs. |
| Hurn, Hants |
June 6/44 |
|
The day opened cool and slightly cloudy. Everybody
was up bright and early this morning to see our 11 aircraft
off, led by the Wing Commander, Flying. No. 438 Squadron was
assigned the task of dive bombing two concrete block houses
overlooking the beach on which the 50th British Division was
to land tanks. This operation had to be performed just as the
tanks landing craft lowered their ramps. Cloud conditions were
5/10 from 2,000 ft. up with the result that the dive bombing
had to be done from a much lower level. Despite this and the
difficulties of a heavy smoke cloud above the beach direct hits
were scored on both targets with 1,000 lb. Bombs and it is believed
they were totally destroyed. All pilots came back safely with
their aircraft though one aircraft had a piece of flak bounce
off the prop. and bash in the leading edge of the wing. We had
no more action until 1715 hours when 10 aircraft made a sweep
south of Caen. Attacks were made on 4 recco. cars but results
are not known. One aircraft had a flak shell pass right through
the wing puncturing the gas tank. Despite this he was able to
get home on his nose tanks. Another “ops” sweep
was made by 10 aircraft which left at 2050 hours. On this sortie
attacks were made on two convoys which were unfortunately well
strung out. It is believed that in the bombing or the one, two
vehicles were destroyed. Strafing of the other resulted in four
vehicles left burning and ten damaged. This is the first large
scale strafing the Squadron has done and they came out exceptionally
lucky. One aircraft came back with a large hole in the tail,
another hit some object and was scraped from front to back.
Others had various rifle holes. Following briefing, the O.C.
spoke to the assembled boys of 438 and 6438 Echelon illustrating
the day’s doings with the aid of a map. This gesture was
much appreciated by the ground airmen and it is the intention
of the O.C. to give them a nightly talk. Total flying for the
day: operational – 45:40 hrs., non-op Typhoon 1B –
4:20 hrs., Auster III 3:40 hrs. |
| Hurn, Hants |
June 7/44 |
|
The boys were put on all day “readiness”
this morning from 0430 hours on. Four sit in their aircraft
at the end of the runway, and six on three minute readiness
at the Dispersal. The day is cloudy and cool with only moderate
visibility. Camouflage painting of the aircrew tent and the
officers’ tents was started today. A limited amount of
flying was done in Typhoons and the Auster. Two Typhoons (operationally
damaged) were flown away and two new aircraft flown back for
the G.S.U. [Group Support Unit] for the Servicing Section. One
scramble was called today and the two aircraft made an hour’s
sweep over the Channel. Nothing was seen. Total flying: operational-
3:25 hrs., non-op. Typhoon 1B – 2:00 hrs. Auster III –
3:50 hrs. |
|
 Four
pilots of 438 Squadron in 1943: P/O R.E. Johnson on the wing
and, from left to right, F/O R.F. Reid, F/O H.E. Dawber and
F/O R.M. McKenzie. Johnson and McKenzie were killed in action
on July 15th, 1944, and July 18th, 1944. |
| National
Defence Image Library, PL 22802. |
|
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