Just crossing the coast we were picked up by an ME-110 that caused S/F Damage to the Tail, Port Tailplane root and Bomb Bay. I also lost the heat to the compartment so I dove Grim down under 10,000 ft. Just short of the target another ME-110 came in to try his luck, which was very bad for him, as our tail gunner spotted him right away and sent him down with both engines flaming! Nothing over the target as we lined up on the markers and dropped 20% on target. Leaving the area we got picked up by another ME-110 which caused S/F to the SW. Over Holland we got picked up by an Me-110 which must have been flown by an expert, despite damage to him by our nose guns he came in caused S/F to the SW and knocked out our STRBD Landing gear. That was the last of jerry as we heading across the channel and back to base. Flt and I looked at the landing gear controls, we saw that the STRBD gear wouldn't show being locked. We decided to try it anyway. "Crew assume crash positions," I called out over the intercom as we came in. As we touched down I thought we were going to make it but I heard a loud bang! and a terrible lurch to the right as the gear collapsed and sent us into a very bad ground loop. It seemed very quiet as we came to a stop. I heard the the sizzling noises of the fuel in the wings spraying onto the engines! I pulled myself out and saw the still eyes of Flt looking at me. I checked and he was dead. Looking up I could see what was left of the STRBD wing catching fire. I ran towards the back and got everyone out as fast as I could. From a safe distance we stopped and fell to the grass. A quick count of heads showed everyone except for Flt was there, though our Bomb aimer was in a bad way. The meat wagons and our lorry came and got us. We later found out that our Bomb aimer died of his injuries in the crash. The CO came over and talked with us. We were a sad looking lot as we headed out to our huts.
Cliff Trimble