Mission 79: Givors (Rail line)
19/20 Jun, 1944
To Target: Leaving the coast a Me-110 attacked. Sgt. Mayerling in the tail spotted the Kraut and destroyed him before he got off any shots. We were about halfway to the target and a Ju-88 came at us from behind and below. Sgt. Mayerling picked him up as he rose to the attack, he apparently missed him but I threw the plane into evasive action immediately. After the attack, the tail gunner reported his heat was out which was followed by the same complaint from the bomb aimer and navigator (we had taken a number of rounds through both the nose and the tail). By the time I was able to pull out of the dive we were at 10,000 feet and I stayed there and turned us for home. Shortly thereafter I called mid-upper gunner and got no response. I sent 'flight' back to investigate and he said the gunner was unconscious and bleeding profusely. He was placed on the cot and 'flight' did what he could to stop the bleeding.
Bomb run: Did not bomb.
Return: No further encounters.
Landing: Okay
Victories: Destroyed: 1
1 — Me-110: Sgt. Alex Mayerling
Casualties: Sgt. Les Wheatfield, serious injury. (I'm told that he will recover but will not fly missions.)
(Signed) F/O Chris Donovan, Pilot
Black Magic
Pilot: F/O Chris Donovan
Bomb aimer: Sgt. Cyril Barrette
Flight engineer: P/O Adrian Thoreau
Navigator: P/O Ben Morrison
W/O operator: Sgt. Thomas Herald
Mid-upper gunner: Sgt. Les Wheatfield
Tail gunner: Sgt. Alex Mayerling