Operation: Aulnoye — Rail Yards (Miss. 76):
June 13/14, 1944
Crew: Pilot: F/L Evan Starling; Bomb aimer F/O Reggie Newhouse; Navigator Sgt. Abe Hanover; Flt. Eng. Sgt. James Prentice; W/O Sgt. Lawrence Peering; Mid-upper Sgt. Osborne Hackswell; Tail gunner Sgt. Thomas Leeland
Opposition outbound: Just before the French coast we were attacked by a Me-110: the first pass he didn't damage us but on the third he put rounds into the pilot's compartment seriously wounding our pilot; wounded the bomb aimer slightly, and destroyed the raft. The third pass hit us numerous times but all were to no effect. When that Jerry finished another came at us while I was taking over the flying. (The w/o got our pilot to the cot.) This one destroyed the starboard aileron, tail gun ammo track, damaged the port aileron and sent some rounds through our already damaged cockpit window putting shrapnel into my face. On his next pass he seriously wounded the mid-upper and destroyed the guns.
Weather over target: Good
Bomb run: As we went into the bomb run a Me-109 destroyed the port aileron; when he came back for another attack our tail gunner hit him enough that his pass did no damage and there was no follow-up attack. Flak put quits to our outboard starboard engine and did further damage but of no consequence. The bomb run was on with 30% on target.
Opposition homeward: None
Landing: Okay.
Crew casualties: Pilot: F/L Evan Starling - serious wound
Mid-upper Sgt. Osborne Hackswell - serious wound
Bomb aimer F/O Reggie Newhouse - light wound
Flt. Eng. Sgt. James Prentice - light wound
Comments: None
(signed) Sgt. James Prentice, Flt. Eng.
Beats Walkin'