The Germans certainly didn't give us first-timers a break! Goldberg spotted a night-fighter stalking us before we'd made landfall. The sound of shells slamming into Menippe let us know that we were in the real thing, now. Goldberg spotted the next two, as well, but I managed to keep us out of their sights.
The fourth got by Goldberg as we approached the target, but caused only minor damage before we escaped from the frying pan into the fire of Stuttgart's defences. Searchlights caught us, which attracted flak, damaging both rudders and the port wing. A single-engine fighter tried to follow the beam up to us, but Goldberg sent him spinning out of control. Unfortunately, the flak prevented Hawthorne from keeping us steady on the TI's.
I thought we were home free after that, but one final night-fighter hit us over the North Sea. This one finished off the starboard rudder and knocked out Goldberg's turret, so it was a good thing we were almost back.
We touched down fine, but when I tried to brake, Menippe slewed around to starboard and flipped over. The port brakes had been shot out at some point in the mission. Everyone was injured in the wreck, most with just cuts and bruises. Glazer, our flight engineer was hurt worse, as was Jackson, our mid-upper gunner. Glazer is recovering nicely, but Jackson has made his one and only contribution to the war effort.
Flight-Lieutenant Gregory Gifford
Pilot, Menippe
January 26, 1944