Our first trip to Berlin and Brummy wanted to lay his eggs right in Jerry's lap.
Our way into the target was fairly uneventful. We met a 110 as we entered German airspace and Sandy managed to put a few holes into him. Then ran into another who returned the favour. Our run into the target went well, no flak helped and Brummy was as good as his word, laying down 85% on target. On the way out though things hotted up. Jerry managed to get a fix on us which allowed a 109 to do some serious damage. We lost #1 engine and suffered countless holes in the old girl , before Bully took a serious hit at the rear. Fortunately though we managed to scramble our way out. On the way back another 110 jumped us, still over Germany, causing more damage including the loss of #4 engine. After that it all went quiet and we limped, slowly, back into blighty.
When we landed the extent of Bully's injuries were clear and when I saw him last, he was sitting up in bed smiling, but the dreams he had of opening for Warwickshire, once all of this was over, have sadly gone.
Crew Status: Tail Gunner s/wound.
Replacement: Kenneth Miller; 'Jock'
Respectfully,
Pilot Officer Christopher Jenkins-Lacey
314 Squadron
Hatherton Wolf