The target was well-defended tonight. LeBlanc spotted the first nightfighter coming up behind us shortly after we arrived over the continent. He kept after us for quite a while, and we took some damage in the port wing, but we lost him eventually.
Another nightfighter hit us without warning as we approached Bourg Léopold. This one cracked my window on its first pass, and set the #1 engine to run away on its second. I shut it down and feathered the prop.
I hadn't heard Oak's guns in the mid-upper turret. He didn't answer the intercom, but there wasn't time for anyone to check on him, as we were caught by searchlights. That gave the flak our range, and a couple shells burst uncomfortably close. I could feel the fragments rattling against The Real Pipperoo, and LeBlanc reported a scalp wound. A single-engined fighter followed the searchlight to us, starting a fire in the #4 engine's oil tank. The first extinguisher charge wasn't enough, but fortunately the second one put it out.
Madden did his best with the run in, but adding the flak to the weather was just too much. After toggling our bombs, he went back to move Oak to the cot, and then took over in the mid-upper turret. Fortunately, no further fighters were encountered on the way home.
Oak is going to make it, but it will be a long time before he flies again.
F/S Thomas King
Pilot, The Real Pipperoo
May 25, 1944
131 Peckham Damage Points.