15 July, 1944
Lieutenant Thomas and the crew of Victorious reporting.
After our daylight mission the boys and I figured we deserved a break. This mission was our worst yet. We were jumped by a Junker 88 just over the coast of France. He put quite a few holes in us before we were able to lose him in the clouds. After a brief respite we encountered 110's in zones 6 to the target area. I wonder if Jerry has discovered a new aircraft finding device. We didn't see any of the buggers before they came up on our tail and fired at us.
Weather over the target was bad, nevertheless flak was intense. An ME-110 damaged out bomb site as we were going into the target area. We were spotted by searchlights and hit in the tail and the nose, which seriously wounded Dalton [bomb aimer]. We didn't have time to get a replacement to the nose in time, thus we did not drop our bombs.
We encountered another two ME-110's and a 109 on the return journey. One of them gave Smith [tail gunner] his second light wound.
In terms of successes, Smith [tail gunner] claims two ME-110s and an assist on another with Paul [mid-upper gunner]. Paul also claims an ME-110.
In terms of losses, Dalton [bomb aimer] has got his ticket home. The yard tells me that we were quite thoroughly shot up in this mission.
I can only hope that Bomber Command will send some other group next mission.
—Lt. Dick L. Thompson,
Victorious, 314th Bomber Squadron
210 Peckham points