I think the Germans must have been tipped off that we were coming. Clarke spotted a Me-110 out over the middle of the North Sea, at about the limit of their range. We took some damage, nothing important, and as soon as I shook him off, Clarke spotted another one. Daily got a shot from Mid-Upper as I threw Alcyone around, and he fell in flames.
Clarke was wide awake and spotted a third 110 as we were approaching the German coast. This one managed to take out both our intercom and radio before we got away. With Clarke unable to warn of enemy fighters coming up behind us, we'd be a sitting duck, so I jettisoned our load and turned for home.
We ran into two more 110's on the way, taking a lot of superficial damage, and a couple of heavy hits to the wings. But none of us were hurt, and we landed safely.
Pilot Officer Kenneth Cahill
Pilot, Alcyone
October 23, 1943
95 Peckham Damage Points