Crossing the coast it seemed to be pretty quiet until we got closer to the target, surprised by a JU-88 that riddled my turret pretty good. I felt a heavy slam in my lower back and my guns went silent as I sunk in my chair … I let the skipper know my guns were out, I didn't say anything about being hit but he could tell and sent the radio op to come and get me out … On the second pass despite our upper getting in a few good hits, Jerry killed our Nav and LW our bomb aimer … This mission was going to crap rather quickly. Our bomb aimer was keen to press on and as we continued the next JU-88 hammered the PW pretty good, knocking out our #1 engine and PW flap … our sudden loss of speed and some quick moves by the skipper caused him to lose us. Enough of this and the skipper slowly turned us around and headed for home. We dropped our load into the sea and got us home. The meat wagon met us and took us to hospital. Later in the ward the Doc came by and told me that my flying days were done. Found out later that I will be assigned to the base support staff …
C Trimble