Mission 49 - February 29 / March 1, 1944
Stuttgart - Industry
Outbound. Clear skies to target. Had just passed the enemy coast when surprised by an Me-110. Tail gunner hit him but he continued on; on third pass bomb aimer sent him off trailing engine smoke. Did little damage except to our rudder controls and to the wing root. (Me-110 FBOA - Sgt. Clive Southgate).
Over target. Clear sky. Second attack - a Me-110 which in three passes did no damage. Light Flak, not coned, and saw no other Kraut fighters.
Bomb run. On, 20%
Return. No encounters!
Landing. Okay
(With absolutely clear weather for the entire mission it seemed more like a training run - two German fighters the whole trip! I think Freebie spoke for all the lads when he said he spent the entire time worrying when the next shoe would fall …)
(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