Had it rough over the target. Searchlights coned us, and then the flak found us. Nesbitt watched our tailwheel go tumbling into the darkness. A Me-109 followed the searchlights to us, destroying Quarterman's bomb release controls on his first pass. Nesbitt got a piece of him on his third pass, and we didn't see the 109 again.
With the bomb release controls out, and being bounced around by the flak, Quartermann had his work cut out for him. Even with a manual drop, though, he managed to unload on the target! Not the best run he's had, but very impressive under the circumstances.
Nesbitt spotted a Me-110 behind us after we turned for home. I took evasive action, but we got hit anyway, and the cockpit heat cut off. Quarterman drove the 110 away as it passed in front of us, and we descended to 10,000 feet for the rest of the trip back. Landing was a close-run thing without a tailwheel, but we made it.
W/O Michael Nelson
Pilot, Candy
July 27, 1945
46 Peckham Damage Points