Well after being unceremonisly dumped on the airfield by the duty Anson from (HB)CU 1657, I was eventually shown to my corner of the Nissen hut. My batman, Watt introduced himself and said he "Hoped I would last longer than his last gentleman" most encouraging! I was just about to find the CO when a face appeared at the door "What ho!" It said "I’m Glebe the Ops Officer, would you fill in this movement book and this next of kin form. There's a bit of a flap on. Your to take Barrington's old crate, L for Leather, by the way your visiting Stuttgart this evening!"
The intercom buzzed into life "Enemy coast ahead". Shortly afterward the first ME 110 was spotted by F/S Johnson the first of four he spotted that night, hence the reason the crew have nicknamed him 'catseyes'. Bits were seen to fall off this one, but still he came back. Blast! The Elevators have gone, lots of bangs and crashes coming from the Bomb bay. Towards Ludwigshaven the second attack batters the Port Wing root and on a second pass puts the wind up me as glass shatters around the cockpit and the control cables feel slack.
Over the target we manage to dodge the searchlights and the Flak is close but no hits. Just as we are about to drop the eggs, a ME 109G all guns blazing comes head on. I don't know who was more surprised, Him or me! His prop almost grazed the canopy! "Bombs gone" but way off target.
We were attacked twice more on the way home. The first over Belgium caused minor damage, more bangs and crashes, then came at us from 12o'clock F/S Chamberlain spotted it and squeezed the trigger, the ME 110 caught fire and blew up! "A ruddy fluke, a ruddy fluke" he kept shouting until I told him to pipe down, also giving himself his own nickname. The last attack over the Belgian coast was a half hearted affair after one squirt the 110 turned for home. Landed ok.
I can hear the crew celebrating 'their' kill, singing "do you know the muffin man" etc. at the top of their voices. Must stop they are shouting for me to join them!
F/S Ed 'Catseyes' Johnson X2 ME 110 Damaged
F/S Bill 'Fluke' Chamberlain X1 ME 110 Destroyed
Regards
P/O H. Wilson
314 Squadron
L for Leather