Took off and formed up with the squadron on time. We were deep into Enemy airspace before being surprised by an Me110, after taking heavy fire tail gunner reported turret unoperable, the fighter kept raking us with his guns from our rear. As he came towards us nose gunner gave him a scare and put off his aim but once again he turned to our rear and gave us a long burst, I struggled as I felt the Starboard wing getting more and more sluggish. Navigator reported damaged equipment.
Suddenly tracer came out of the dark sky luckily just missing. Again nose gunner got a chance to get his first fighter he did enough to keep the fighter at bay and we didn`t take much fire. Mid upper gunner Sgt Martinson informed guns working again and gave him a hard time on his way out.
We could see explosions over the target area and stayed on course to leave them our load.
Flak over Target seemed heavier than expected and we took some damage but at least we didn`t get bounced again, this was when Sgt Martinson recieved his serious wound from flak and tail gunner sgt preistley struggled to breathe as his oxygen and heat failed.
We dropped down to 10,000 feet and broke formation, which seemed to be a bit of a blessing as we managed to fly back without flak or fighters they must have been busy elsewhere.
Landed safely and checked over the old crate.
Sadly Sgt Martinson had died of his wounds before we could get any help to him I`m certain without him unjamming his guns when he did and giving his all we would have taken far more fire from enemy fighters.
awaiting repairs and replacement gunner for next mission.
respectfully,
Capt H. Twigge
R.A.F.
314 SQN
22 Dec 1943