Fairly early on in the night a 110 surprised us and scored a couple of minor hits before breaking off. The rest of the outbound trip was very quiet; then we arrived over the target.
Another 110 hit us and knocked out the tail guns and the starboard aileron. We set up on the bomb run and seemed to have avoided the searchlights but then there was a massive bang as the flak found us anyway. The starboard outer engine had to be feathered and fuel started leaking from the port inner tank. Still we pressed on and Matty Crews claimed to have released smack over the markers.
We turned for home and the skipper reported that at the rate at which the fuel was leaking there was no way we would even reach the French coast. We could have pushed on for another hour or so but skipper reckoned that if we were going to have to bailout anyway, we might as well do it now whilst we were just west of the Swiss boarder. Fine by me and the rest of the boys so out we went.
I think I was first out but that was the last I saw of anyone else. I walked due west for 2 nights and crossed into Switzerland with little trouble.
Reports on the others show that they were all captured.
Sgt Lance Penley
[mid upper gunner: Strawberry Girl]