Our ride inbound was quiet till around an hour out of the target. This is when a Me110 surprised us. The Jerry missed us on this pass but Airmen Kelman flamed the Krauts starboard engine and it exploded shortly after. About 15 minutes later a second Me110 surprised us again. This Kraut came from the low six o’clock position peppering the flight deck waist and bomb bay. He also seriously wounded MSgt Cantel. Upon this fighter’s return attack he sprayed us with more rounds finishing off MSgt Cantel and slightly damaging our starboard wing root. This was his last attack. As we approached the target we meet no further fighter opposition, but the flak was heavy. We took three hits from one burst that knocked out our starboard wing flap that contributed to our poor bomb results, 0% on target. This was the last enemy activity for our trip home. Lt Barnard attended to MSgt Cantel, though it was too late as he was already gone.
FO K. Wheldon