Operation: Hamburg - Industry (Miss. 77):
June 15/16, 1944
Crew: Pilot: F/L Jake Houston; Bomb aimer F/O Reggie Newhouse; Navigator Sgt. Abe Hanover; Flt. Eng. Sgt. James Prentice; W/O Sgt. Lawrence Peering; Mid-upper Sgt. Felix Parr; Tail gunner Sgt. Thomas Leeland
Opposition outbound: Just after leaving the North Sea we were attacked by a Me-110: knocked out our No. 3 engine; brief fire which was soon extinguished. On the third pass the Sgt. Parr, mid-upper (his first trip) was wounded badly with bits of the turret in his neck and shoulders. (He was taken to the cot.) We were more than half way so I decided we should continue on to the target on three engines.
Weather over target: Good
Flak: Light (no hits)
Bomb run: As we started into the bomb run a Me-109 came up unnoticed; puts some rounds into the starboard wing root and wounded our wireless operator. (Although seriously wounded, Sgt. Peering wanted to stay in his compartment, and not knowing the extent of his injuries I allowed him to do so. By the time we reached base he had passed out, from the looks of his area, probably from loss of blood.) When the 109 made his second pass Reggie blew him to kingdom come. (Bomb aimer F/O Reggie Newhouse: Me-110 destroyed) Unfortunately the bomb run was off entirely. I think the 109 had distracted him — having to fight-off Messerschmitts and hit the target is a lot for one man to have to handle in those few critical seconds before release.
Opposition homeward: A 110 picked us up northwest of Bremen. His first pass he caused an oxygen fire in the tail compartment that fortunately was put out quickly; along with that he put rounds into the tail root. He came back at us for two more attempts and repeatedly hit the tail, caused some serious damage to control cables there, and destroyed the starboard wing aileron. A lot of metal was thrown at him but apparently no hits.
Landing: Okay.
Crew casualties:
Mid-upper Sgt. Sgt. Felix Parr — serious wound
Wireless Operator Sgt. Lawrence Peering — serious wound
Comments: Sgt. Leeland (tail gunner) said he heard the hits to the tail root and thereafter all the way home he could hear rattling and metal being torn off by the wind. He wanted to get out of his compartment but stayed the course until just before landing. Our firing was dismal, (except for the bomb aimer's, of course) no decent hits on any of the attackers.
(signed) F/L Jake Houston, Pilot
Beats Walkin'