Beats Walkin'
Operation: Mission 83 Hamburg (Industry)
27/28 Jun, 1944
Crew: Pilot: F/L Jake Houston; Bomb aimer F/O Reggie Newhouse; Navigator Sgt. Abe Hanover; Flt. Eng. Sgt. Ormond Pearling; W/O Sgt. Brian Hostler; Mid-upper Sgt. Cecil Harding; Tail gunner Sgt. Thomas Leeland
Opposition outbound: The only opposition to target was rough flying weather. The first Jerry, a Me 110 attacked as we started our run up to the target; the damage he did was moderate, raft, both wing flaps were destroyed and some rounds into the bomb bay which got mid-upper's attention and that was a mistake, but it was the last he would ever make as Harding spotted him through the clouds and when he turned in for his second pass blew him out of the sky (Me 110 Destroyed — Sgt. Harding).
Flak: Light — no hits
Bomb run: In spite of the fact that we had absolutely no opposition once that Me was "grounded" we were off target with an estimated "0" hits. So much cloud that we had to bomb on indicators which seemed to be all over the sky (probably high wind at lower elevations).
Opposition homeward: Leaving the target area we encountered another Me 110. He shot away the starboard elevator, and when he came around again nose gunner (Bomb aimer Newhouse) put enough rounds into him that he left without causing any more damage (FBOA Me 110 — Sgt. Newhouse).
Landing: With no flaps I was still able to put it down in one piece.
Crew casualties: None
Comments: None
(signed) F/L Jake Houston, Pilot
Beats Walkin'