Trouble started just after crossing the French coast. An ME110 attacked from behind and damaged the waist Control Cables and a hit in the Bomb bay took out the Bomb release mechanism. The rear gunner got a long burst into the 110 and it broke off trailing a shower of sparks.
At the turning point to the target another Me110 attacking from below caused major damage:
Port Wing: #2 Engine — #2 oil tank fire out
Starboard Wing: Root — Hit
Tail: Tail Wheel — Tail wheel inoperable
Port Wing: Landing Gear — Inoperable
Flight Deck: Equipment — Navigation equipment inoperable
Flight Deck: Oxygen supply — Engineer oxygen hit Pilot oxygen hit Navigator oxygen hit Radio Operator oxygen hit
The rear gunner got some hits on the enemy AC but it continued the attack causing more damage by knocking out the starboard elevator.
As the ME110 passed the Mid-Upper got a good burst into it port wing and the fuel tank exploded. The Me110 was seen to explode at lower altitude.
By this time we could see the TIs going down over the target so despite loss of navigation gear were able to press on. Another ME110 tried an attack but the rear gunner saw him first and hit him with a burst causing it to break off.
Over the target we got hit by two bursts of flak which holed the rubber rafts in the starboard wing, damaged the #3 starboard engine and the starboard rudder. With the bomb release mechanism out the flight engineer and wireless operator managed to pry the bomb dogs open but the load was truly scattered wide over the target area.
The trip home was quiet with the pilot relying on some starshots by the navigator to head to the coast. Somehow we managed to find one of the emergency fields on the coast and out pilot managed to bring our A/C in on the right landing gear only as the port gear would not descend. With great skill he kept her flying until the last minute when the port gear hit the tarmac and caused a ground loop but we were safe.
The ground crew at the emergency base are looking over the damage and will decide in the morning if she can be repaired.
Peckham Points 257