Everything was fine until we reached Berlin. Searchlights picked us up and the flak shot us to pieces — 8 hits. The rudders wouldn't respond, the bomb sight, mid upper and tail turrets were wrecked, and I suspect other damage that we didn't find out about. (Landing gear inop.) When we went to drop Jeeves discovered the bomb release wouldn't work so we dropped manually — I have no idea where they went because we were jinking all over trying to get away from the flak and the lights. A single engine fighter flashed by us but didn't hit us. Over Holland the night fighters picked us up and stayed on us all the way to the channel. (zones 6,5,4) The #3 and 4 engines were shot out, we dropped down to about 500 feet … just as we crossed the coast he shot out our #1 engine … 'Sparks' was calling air sea rescue and we went into the drink about 5 miles offshore. The channel wasn't too rough and we all got into the dinghies ok. The 110 made a low pass and dropped a flare over us. About 30 minutes ater 3 motor launches picked us up about 2 minutes ahead of an eboat! — hot tea, blankets and a fast trip home. we were lucky.