Our great luck ended tonight. We only encountered a 110 that Toombs blasted on the way in but once we got to the target we were hit hard by the enemy.
The searchlights picked us up and locked onto us. No matter what we did we couldn't get out of them. Flak got us and knocked out the port wing flap, damaged the tailplane, destroyed the landing gear, and knocked out the heat to the pilot compartment.
That was just the start. A fighter knocked out the #2 engine and killed Parker. The fighter kept attacking and wounded Combs. He should be alright according to the medical staff.
They also knocked out the #1 engine. A fire erupted from the oxygen system in the pilot compartment. The doctors are checking out Newton just to make sure he wasn't burned but he doesn't appear to be.
Despite all of the hits Combs did an excellent job hitting the target.
We then had to drop to 10,000 feet, with two engines out, and make our way back from the target.
We were surprised by a 109 that killed Combs. The enemy was then shot down by Toombs. That was the last enemy we saw.
Newton managed to land the plane without incident despite all the damage.
-Peter Ford