Mission 51 — 17/18 March, 1944
Berlin — Industry
Outbound. Weather worsened as we approached central Germany. Not far west of Berlin we were surprised by a Me-110. On his first two passes missed us, but on his third he and the bomb aimer exchanged a flurry of shots resulting in Sgt. Leighton hitting him bad enough that he could only finish that pass and hope to get home with a smoking engine. Unfortunately in the exchange Leighton was seriously wounded in the chest and stomach. Having no bomb aimer I aborted the mission. (We found out later the fighter had knocked out our brakes.) (Me-110 FBOA — Sgt. Guy Leighton)
Bomb run. Did not bomb.
Return. Attacked leaving target area. Missed first pass; on second took out the port wing flap. Mid-upper caught the Kraut on the third and sent him down in flames. (Me-110 Destroyed — Sgt. Basil Freeborn)
Landing. Okay
(Sgt. Leighton will not fly again in this war.)
(Signed) F/O Arthur Blackwell (Pilot)
No Mice!
Pilot: F/O Arthur Blackwell
Bomb aimer: Sgt. Guy Leighton (serious wound)
Flight engineer: P/O Todd Smyth
Navigator: P/O Layton Foxx
W/O operator: Sgt. Stuart Hammond
Mid-upper gunner: Sgt. Basel Freeborn
Tail gunner: Sgt. Clive Southgate