Mission 48 - February 27/28, 1944
Berlin — Industry
Outbound. Northern Germany surprised by an Me-110 which did considerable damage. Starboard wing hit at root, cockpit window shattered, port ammo box, brake out, mid-upper guns knocked out, and tail oxygen hit. Zone 9 tail gunner spotted a Ju-88 on its approach and destroyed it. (Ju-88 Destroyed - Sgt. Clive Southgate). A Me-110 caught us and knocked out the oxygen in the tail. On his 2nd pass mid-upper Basel blew away a good part of its starboard wing and he didn't return. Dropped to 10,000 feet due to lack of tail oxygen. (Me-110 FBOA - Sgt. Basil Freeborn).
Over target. Heavy cloud and no opposition.
Bomb run. Off, estimate about 10%.
Return. Between target area and the Dutch coast hit twice more by Me-110's which did some damage but nothing serious except a couple hits in the wing roots. (Very poor shooting by the Krauts as they both attacked several times unopposed by our mid-upper guns.)
Landing. Okay
(Signed) F/O Arthur Blackwell (Pilot)
"No Mice!"
Pilot: F/O Arthur Blackwell
Bomb aimer: Sgt. Guy Leighton
Flight engineer: P/O Todd Smyth
Navigator: P/O Layton Fox
W/O operator: Sgt. Stuart Hammond
Mid-upper gunner: Sgt. Basel Freeborn
Tail gunner: Sgt. Clive Southgate