The night was all black and quiet until we were 25 miles North east of Essen. Tail Gunner Hartford spotted a Me 110 trying to sneak up on us from 6 low. With an accurate burst of fire, he damaged it seriously. We saw a fighter go down with an engine on fire and Corp Hartford claims it as KIA.
We reached Leipzig and a Do 217 was spotted at 7 level! Corp Hartford was really alert on this mission. He called "Bandit! 7 level!" and fired and hit that bandit really hard too! We saw this one too go down on fire.
Then a single engined fighter attacked from 12 level. He must have seen our bomber against the fires and lights below. He disappeared as quickly as he had come.
We left Leipzig behind us and another Do 217 attacked 30 miles west of the city. Corporal Hartford spotted him at 6 low. I went into evasive action and his tracers went by Lovely Louise without doing any harm. I was flying evasive action to try to shake him off, but he fired suddenly from 7 level. The left wing was hit and Corp Hartford sent a hail of bullets in his direction. He missed and the Dornier fired again. His aim was off and he disappeared.
80 miles later a Ju 88 was spotted at 6 low. Corporal Hartford fired. This time he hit the Ju 88 and damaged it. It came around for a second attack. Must have had us on the radar. He was spotted at 5 level. Hartford called "Corkscrew starboard!" The manoeuvre worked, but only after he had fired once again. He wounded both the mid upper gunner and tail gunner.
There was no more action on this mission.
Signed,
Howard Wharton
Howard Wharton, Pilot — Lovely Louise