"Morgan Hill" - After Action Report
23/24 February, 1944 - Miss. No. 46
Operation: Detailed against Berlin Industry.
Crew: Pilot: F/L Jake Fields; Bomb aimer Sgt. Randal Beale; Navigator P/O Norm Belling; Flt. Eng. F/L Ian Bellworthy; W/O Sgt. Sean Hemming; Mid-upper Sgt. Rich Dayton; Tail gunner Sgt. Joe Plaice
Weather en route: Clear and moonless
Weather over target: Little cloud - 2/10, good visibility.
Opposition:
Outbound: Over the North Sea attacked by a Me-110: lost the starboard aileron and I’m told he nearly packed in the inboard fuel tank. On his second pass he came at us from 12 o’clock and the mid-upper sent him off with his port engine flaming. (Me-110 FBOA - mid-upper, Sgt. Rich Dayton).
Over target: Not coned, but we were picked up by a Me-109 just before the bomb run. He knocked out the starboard flap and put some rounds into the bomb bay missing our load just enough that I’m here to write this. On his second pass he scored no hits except a structural one on the starboard wing. He was damaged by the nose gunner and should have left it at that because on the third pass he was blown away by the mid-upper’s fire. (Me-109 Destroyed - mid-upper, Sgt. Rich Dayton)
Bomb run on: 20%
Return: As we left Germany a Ju-88 attacked us, and, like all the rest tonight, was not spotted until putting a few rounds into the a/c: only effect was the bomb bay doors will need repair. He missed entirely on his third pass and didn’t return.
Marking: PFF. Aiming point Red T.I.s backed by Green T.I.s. Marking accurate, and on time.
Assessment of attack: Extensive concentrated fires in the target area.
Landing: Fine in spite of having no starboard aileron or flap.
Crew casualties: None
A/C and crew will be serviceable
(Signed) P/O Jake Fields, pilot, "Morgan Hill"