Early on during the trip a 110 was spotted trying to position for an attack. Both the mid upper and tail guns hit him for no real effect and he too only managed a couple of superficial hits on our Lanc.
A second 110 equipped with upward firing guns was more successful. He hit the starboard outer engine which then had to be feathered. Sgt Farnsworth in the mid upper turret then got in a burst that seemed to blow the 110's tail off. We pressed on to the target area on three engines but that was the last we saw of the Luftwaffe all night.
There were no searchlights or wild boars in evidence over the target but a stray flak burst hit our bomb aimer Sgt Aldrich in the hand. Small wonder that the bombs then went wide of the mark.
F/O Anthony Lockwood [pilot: Keira]