OPERATIONS RECORD
BOOK
of (Unit or Formation) No. 443
Squadron R.C.A.F. |
| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events |
| B.82 Airfield, Grave
Holland |
1-Oct-44 |
|
Weather cloudy and
unsettled, periodic rain showers
throughout the day. Ground personnel
moving to B.82 airfield (Grave)
Holland today without any incident
on the road. All equipment and
tents now set up ready for normal
operations again. Two new pilots
reported to the squadron at noon
being C.10399 F/L T.P. Watt and
R.88145 W/O R.L. Gaudet. Four
patrols flown by squadron without
incident today. F/O P.E. Piche
returned from England and 7 day
leave. F/O W.J. Sherman and P/O
P.C. Bookman departed for 83 G.S.U.
Thorny Island to pickup two replacement
Spitfire aircraft. |
| |
2-Oct-44 |
|
Weather clear and
warm, visibility very good. Squadron
took part in front line patrols
again today without incident.
This airfield was subjected to
an attack by enemy anti-personnel
bombs at approximately 1100 hrs.
It is likely that only one large
container of these bombs was dropped;
there were two casualties among
our pilots, W/O Gaudet received
a slight cut on one arm which
was treated immediately and this
pilot cleared as fit; F/L H. C.
Charlesworth was injured in the
left arm and has been transferred
to Casualty Clearing Station at
Eindhoven for X-Ray to determine
the extent of his injuries which
at present are considered only
slight. There were two other attacks
later in the day but not in our
immediate vicinity. P/O P.C. Bookman
returned this evening with a replacement
Spitfire for the Squadron. Personnel
busily engaged in “digging-in”
around their living quarters as
only protection against enemy
attack by missiles from the air. |
| |
3-Oct-44 |
|
Weather cloudy and
cool, 10/10 cloud at 4,000 feet.
Squadron took part in usual front
line patrols without incident
and was on immediate readiness
without being sent off in the
afternoon. F/O A.M. Thomas returned
from leave in England today. Information
received that F/L H.C Charlesworth
will return to the squadron from
Eindhoven within four days, his
injuries being only light and
not requiring further treatment
and hospitalisation. |
| |
4-Oct-44 |
|
Weather clear and
warmer, visibility good, becoming
cloudy in late afternoon. Squadron
took part in regular patrols over
front lines during the day without
incident. F/O W.J. Sherman returned
today from 83 G.S.U. with a replacement
aircraft. Pilots moved into billets
provided in the nearby town of
Grave this afternoon. Present
home is in a large building built
as an old folks home during peace
time. At present there is no heat,
no electricity and no water but
it is expected that some of these
services will be provided in the
near future. The necessary M.T.
[motor transport] runs have been
authorized and set up to maintain
steady communication at all times. |
| |
5-Oct-44 |
|
Weather cloudy and
cool, 9/10’s cloud at 5,000’;
clearing somewhat during afternoon,
but still very hazy. Squadron
tool part in three patrols over
Nijmegen area without incident.
Amendment to establishment received
to allow 13 N.C.O. pilots and
14 officers for a total of 27
pilots. |
| |
6-Oct-44 |
|
Weather clear and
cold. Squadron took part in three
patrols over Nijmegen area without
incident. A packet of anti-personnel
bombs was dropped by enemy aircraft
at our aircraft dispersal. None
of the kites were damaged but
one airman was fatally injured
and another received slight wounds.
A number of the tents received
tears from flying particles. Due
to inconvenience of periodic M.T.
bottlenecks in contact between
the airfield and pilots billets
in Grave, … to the night,
a temporary squadron den has been
arranged from pilot’s tents
and furnished comfortably for
unavoidable periods. |
Canada in WWII
