We got shot up quite badly by night fighters over the North Sea and the Danish coast. The cockpit was shattered by several 20mm shells and FO Smythe copped it quite badly. The tail and mid upper gunners managed to shoot down both NF (Zones 5 & 6) that hit us. I dropped down to about 5000 feet and headed home, cutting across the tip of Holland. We dropped our load on a coastal flak battery — didn't observe any results. Another 110 came after us over Holland — he ran right up our backside and the gunners sent him away on fire — they don't think he went down. Landed ok — Smyhte is still in surgury but the medical officer seems to think he will recover, though he won't be flying for long time