We head out over Europe, it still is eerie that all of continental Europe is blacked out. There is no resistance to the target. As we are over Frankfurt a ME-110 comes at us. He misses, but the rear gunner hits us. The bomb sight is destroyed! He comes around and hits us again, the Mid-Upper Gunner's heat suit is hit, making it inoperable. He will have to survive the frostbite possibilities! He attacks for the last time & hits the Starboard wing. The #3 Engine is hit and it quits working! We prepare for the bomb run, suddenly everything is bright! The spotlight finds us! A ME-109 streaks in wasting no time. The Starboard wing aileron is hit, making it inoperable! And the Oxygen supply is hit! He comes around again and the port wing root is hit and on another pass the port wing flap is hit.
During the action no one noticed but the tail gunner took a hit & is lightly wounded. We slip away and hide in the darkness. None of our bombs hit the target & we turn for home, rattled by all of the commotion. Over France a 110 attacks, misses & our front gunner gets him going by, destroying the plane! We fly on and just before we escape over the channel another 110 finds us. Luckily he misses, but unfortunately we also miss. We limp home on three engines and manage to land safely. Good 'ol Gert is holding up well for us.