Operation: Mission 79 Givor (Railway)
19-20 June, 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. Brian Hostler; Mid-upper Sgt. Cecil Harding; Tail gunner Sgt. Thomas Leeland
Opposition outbound: we encountered a Me-110 as we passed over the beaches of France: his first pass he missed us entirely and on this second Bomb Aimer Sgt. R. Newhouse blew him out of the sky as he approached.
Shortly afterwards a second Me-110 caught us by surprise (again) and put some rounds into the starboard wing root. We nicked him but not enough to prevent his blowing away part of the perspex of the pilot compartment and killing Flight Engineer, Sgt. James Prentice. On his third pass a second time he put rounds into the pilot compartment and hit Flight. He also knocked out the starboard wing flap.
As we started the bomb run we were attacked by another Me-110. He came in unsighted and sent rounds through the pilot compartment and, as incredible as it might seem, he hit the lifeless body of Flight! On his second pass Bomb Aimer knocked him about enough that he decided not to return, but not before he destroyed the oxygen system. I had to drop to 10,000 feet and take us around again. In spite of the fact there was no flak or further encounters over the target our run was off with perhaps 5% hitting.
Weather over target: Bad 9/10
Flak: None
Bomb run: Off; 5%
Opposition homeward: One Me 110 hit us over the Channel. His first pass put rounds into the bomb compartment — empty, thank Heavens!, and did some damage to the control cables. And on his second Bomb Aimer Sgt. R. Newhouse blew him away for his second kill of the night.
Landing: Okay, in spite of having both flaps useless.
Crew casualties: Flight Engineer Sgt. James Prentice — KIA
Comments: Much more of an undertaking than the last mission …
(signed) F/L Jake Houston, Pilot
Beats Walkin'