Sit Here, Adolf! — After Action Report 15/16 April, 1944 — Miss. No. 57
Operation: Detailed against Berlin — Industry
Crew: Pilot: F/L Rick Abbotsford; Bomb aimer F/O Brian Holmes; Navigator P/O Colin Bright; Flt. Eng. F/L Ian Bellworthy; W/O Sgt. Sean Hemming; Mid-upper Sgt. Arthur Kingsley; Tail gunner Sgt. Ross (Rosie) Dillon Weather en route: Mostly clear all the way to the target.
Opposition:
Outbound: Attacked over Netherlands by 110. First pass knocked out the waist compartment oxygen and started a fire which we managed to extinguish; second, according to mid-upper's report a bunch of rounds rattled off the bombs but with no "lasting" effect. Third pass put finished to the tail gunner's [Sgt. Ross Dillon] oxygen, and sprayed the forward fuselage seriously wounding Flight engineer, Ian Bellworthy in the back. I dropped to 10,000 feet and we put Bellworthy on the cot and gave him codeine for his pain.
The next attack was spotted and Rosie [Sgt. Ross Dillon] put enough rounds into him that he was sent scurrying home with flames coming out of his port engine — but not before he knocked out the rudder controls. (Me-109 FBOA — Sgt. Ross Dillon)
The next attack came when we were north of Brunswick. A 110 shot up the instrument panel knocking out control to the flaps and damaging the tail wheel (which we didn't know until landing). We were fired at by flak but took no hits.
Over target: On the run-in attacked by a Me-110 which put paid to the tail turret, not caught by the searchlights or wild boars, and moderate flak.
Homeward: South of Brandenburg we were hit by flack which finished the number two engine, tore up Rosie's flight suit (no heat), knocked out the mid-upper turret and wounded Sgt. Kingsley with a couple pieces of shrapnel to his leg. No further EA — a spot of luck, that, because were down to nothing but the nose guns.
Bomb run: On and estimated 60% on target
Assessment of attack: Photos should verify "Sit here, Adolf's" 60% contribution to what generally looked like a well delivered package to Herr Adolf und cronies.
Landing: Due to all the damage I brought her down at Woodbridge just to be safe. Without the controls and the damaged tail wheel it was a bit hairy and we ended up off the runway — but whole! After a cursory inspection and a couple temporary fixes we were told we could continue on to base.
Crew casualties: One slight wound: Mid-upper, Sgt. Art Kingsley; serious wound: Flight engineer, F/L Ian Bellworthy
Comments: One helluva trip! Not like the previous ones at all. Two wounded — one seriously and one slight. Bombing from 10,000 feet is obviously more accurate but I sure wouldn't want to do it every trip! And flying on three engines can make a return trip seem like forever.
F/L Rick Abbotsford, pilot