We were well into France before the first fighter turned up. It was a Ju88 and his first burst seriously wounded our tail gunner and smashed the port aileron. A second fighter later managed to damage our tail wheel before being driven off by Sgt Litchfield in the mid upper.
Poor weather over the target failed to prevent the flak from finding us and the resultant burst killed the bomb aimer outright. It was Sgt Woodward's first mission.
With bombs scattered far and wide we headed home. Two more fighters attacked us on the way and Sgt Pounds who had been moved out of the rear turret was hit again and died shortly after.
More damage was sustained to the port elevator but the landing was fine.
F/O Anthony Lockwood
[pilot: Coventry's Revenge]