Adjutant's Report, 2 November 1943:
Aircraft Z for Zebra DNR from mission to Leipzig. All crew to be listed as missing in action.
The Aerial View:
Lancaster Z for Zebra, on its second mission, was surprised by an Me 110 in Zone 6, enroute to the target. The nightfighter's first two attacks caused five hits, resulting in some minor control damage. The gunners then engaged the enemy fighter, and Flying Officer Floyd took evasive action. Unfortunately, the enemy aircrew was too experienced, and was able to maintain contact long enough to make a third attack. Z for Zebra was hit in the port outer fuel tank and set on fire. The fire quickly burned out of control and the crew were forced to abandon the aircraft over the North Sea. Although Sergeant Wright managed to transmit a distress signal before leaving the aircraft, the crew were too far away from friendly Air/Sea rescue to be saved. Sadly, all seven men perished off the Dutch coast.