NIGHTMARE
Operation: Mission 98 — Industry at Karlsruhe
Date: 12/13, Sept. 1944
Crew: Pilot: F/L Chris Bevin; Bomb aimer Sgt. Ernie Whitbread; Navigator Sgt. Bob Starling; Flt. Eng. Sgt. 'Rip' Higgins; W/O Sgt. Tom Clarion; Mid-upper Sgt. Neal Harding; Tail gunner Sgt. Thomas Boland
Opposition outbound: We encountered opposition for the entire flight to the target: first attacked over the Channel; tail gunner saw him approach and immediately shot him down; shortly after another 110 attacked with exactly the same results! (Two Me-110's destroyed — Sgt. Tom Boland). And then another 110: he put hits into bomb bay, both wings, pilot comp., nose, and in all of them there was only slight damage.
When the next attack came the tail turret was heavily damaged and rendered inoperable. Other hits: port tail rudder hit, rounds into the port wing, waist, rudder, etc. and then on his final approach he came at us from aft and seriously wounded tail gunner, Sgt. Boland who was trapped in the turret.
Over the target: on the approach we were again attacked and hit several times with no effect; managed to avoid the flak.
On target — 30%
Opposition homeward: none
Landing: Okay
Crew casualties: Tail gunner Sgt. Thomas Boland — serious wound
Comments: It was amazing the number of ineffectual hits we took, and we were fortunate that there were no attacks on the homeward leg for we had no protection aft. I've just been informed that tho' his wound was serious, Sgt. Boland will fly with us on the next mission. With his having shot down two Me's AND surviving a serious wound, it will be his shout at the 'Ox & Furrow' tonight — hope he has a pocket full of guineas!
(signed) F/L Chris Bevin, Pilot