We were dogged by Me-110's from the German border all the way to the target. The first one surprised us, and knocked out Mid-Upper Gunner Chamberlain's heat. It crossed in front of us as I took evasive action, and Dahlgren, our Bomb Aimer, blew it to pieces.
Clarke spotted the next three that came up behind us. The first two caused some minor damage, but Clarke drove the last one off.
We were caught by searchlights over the target, but the flak didn't come near us. Perhaps our low altitude, keeping Chamberlain warm, confused the gunners. A single-engined fighter came up on our starboard side, and disappeared to port without causing any damage.
Dahlgren has been going over the the bomb run in his mind, and now thinks he lined us up on a decoy fire. Serchlights continued to track us long after bombs gone!
, and a 110 took out the intercom, but the light flak was ineffectual.
When we finally shook the searchlights, another 110 surprised us, but Dahlgren claimed a hit, and the attack was broken off.
Searchlights found us one last time, over the Netherlands, but we got out of them before the flak could find the range.
We landed safely, and discovered that the #1 engine's oil tank had been holed and self-sealed.
Pilot Officer Kenneth Cahill
Pilot, Alcyone
September 30, 1943
51 Peckham Damage Points