The first of two nightfighters appeared while we were still short of the German coast. The first one put in a couple of bursts before being driven of by Sgt Aldrich in the nose. Sadly a round or two must have hit the port inner engine as the oil pressure dropped and then the engine cut out.
The second 110 managed to take out our port aileron but he was then shot down by our tail gunner Sgt Frank Harp.
Strangely no fighters bothered us from then on even in the target zone where our speed with only 3 engines & a full bomb load was slower than is usually healthy. The flak however made up for the lack of fighters and a shell burst sent multiple splinters into the waist compartment. Mid upper gunner Sgt Farnsworth was hit in the foot and his guns knocked out. The tail gun ammo feed was also hit. In the confusion our bombs went down well wide of the target.
The homebound trip was spookily quiet.
F/O Anthony Lockwood [pilot: Keira]