Morgan Hill - After Action Report (14th Mission)
21/22 March, 1944 - Miss. No. 52
Operation: Detailed against Frankfurt - 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 weather all the way to the target.
Opposition:
Outbound: Sgt. Plaice seriously wounded. (2 - Me-110's FBOA - mid-upper, Sgt. Rich Dayton). (Me-110 Destroyed - mid-upper, Sgt. Rich Dayton).
Over target: Coned, heavy flak and three e/a attacks; lost oxygen in all compartments (dropped to 10,000) (Me-109 FBOA - mid-upper, Sgt. Rich Dayton).
Bomb run: (visual) on: 20%
Assessment of attack: okay, (we were so busy fighting off Krauts it's a miracle anything got near the target.
Homeward: Lost no. 4 engine (Me-110 Destroyed - mid-upper, Sgt. Rich Dayton).
Landing: A/C was destroyed; five crew KIA and two with minor wounds
Crew casualties: (5) Pilot: F/L Jake Fields -KIA; Bomb aimer Sgt. Randal Beale - KIA; Navigator P/O Norm Belling - serious wound; Flt. Eng. F/L Ian Bellworthy - minor injury; W/O Sgt. Sean Hemming - minor injury; Mid-upper Sgt. Rich Dayton - KIA; Tail gunner Sgt. Joe Plaice - KIA
Comments: This were a bloody-awful experience! I lost five of my mates, four killed (me best mate, Joe Plaice, our tail gunner, on the outward leg as we crossed the North Sea, and our navigator Norm so badly wounded he'll never fly again - if he lives). Before we ever bombed we fought off five attacks including a 109 just as we started the run. Dropped the load, attacked again losing no. 1 engine and oxygen and had to drop to 10,000 and plod along with every flak battery from Frankfurt to the coast having a go at us; we were attacked four more times getting back and then ending with this bloody crash landing (I don't think Jake knew both wheels weren't down - he never said anything, and I didn't see no flares). If it hadn't been for the fine shooting of our mid-upper (2 kills and 3 FBOA's) I wouldn't be here writing this. Counting this catastrophe most of us done fourteen missions in Morgan Hill and now she's scrap metal. She were a good crate and took good care of us and now me and Sean are all that's left. I don't know about him but when this tour is done the only thing they'll see of me is me backside;
I don't feel like writing no more …
(Signed), Sgt. Sean Hemming, W/O)