Nothing too rough on the first mission, good weather, light flak, and a close target combined for a safe mission. No fighters until we got over the target. An Me-110 that Cpl Ulamnis didn't spot came at us from 6 o'clock low but failed to hit anything. Somehow we avoiding the searchlights, but one of those Wild Boar fighters still came at us from dead ahead. P/O Ulster had already gone back to his bombsight so only Sergeant Shale had a shot at him. In the confusion of the searchlights and flak bursts all around us the Sergeant's shots went wild.
As close as we were to the target, I decided to forgo evasive action to give the bomb aimer a better chance to hit the target.
This bastard had a fair bit of luck on his side, he jogged off to the side to evade the Sergeant's fire but a burst into our port wing. At the time there was no loss of performance or change in the fuel level so I presumed that damage was only superficial. Upon landing the crew chief informed me that several rounds had passed through the #2 engine housing without hitting the engine proper. A right miracle.
Thanks to the Pathfinder's flare drop P/O Ulster was able to home in on the target. The drop wasn't too bad as far as we could tell (in the dark at altitude). A second Tame Boar came up from low behind as we exited the target area moving fast; I felt the plane shake as a burst of cannon fire hit the starboard wing this time. Again according to FS Monoghan there was no change in engine performance or fuel leading the both of us to conclude damage was only superficial.
The rest of the flight back was uneventful, we encountered no fighter cover and there were no delayed repercussions from the damage to both wings. I've had to reassure Cpl Ulmanis that it wasn't his fault that the plane was hit; it was his first mission, he can't be expected to perform miracles yet. His morale seems to have improved though the Corporal does strive to please the Corporal may take himself too seriously at times.
Respectfully,
Warrant Officer Class 1 Alvin Matheson
Royal Canadian Air Force
Attached to No. 314 Squadron, Royal Air Force