Mission: 110
Target: Bremen, Industry
Aircraft: Ferocious Florrie (1st mission)
Pilot: Peter Mason
Having come late to the air campaign against the Nazis, we had read and heard much of what was happening in the skies over Germany; it did not fill us with confidence. Our first take-off with the squadron went without a hitch and we made our way over the North Sea directed by Tony Pettigrew our great Navigator. Time passed monotonously without any sign of the enemy until Tony directed us to turn towards the coast.
As vague land features appeared below, the rattle of gunfire from the tail guns and the simultaneous yell of "Bloody bandit at 6 o'clock – it's a Ju88" over the intercom from George Taylor made it clear that we had our first contact with the enemy. The quads caused some damage to the night-fighter and I threw the Lanc into evasive action; the damage shook up the fighter enough to miss us on its first pass. It came at us again and the nose and top guns missed but in turn the Junkers failed to hit us again not coping with our evasion. He made another run and we missed him again; but he scored a couple of hits on us, one of which scratched the back of my left hand. He then disappeared into the darkness.
No Tame Boar approached us over the target but we were picked up quickly by the searchlights. The flak took advantage of us pinned in the light and a nearby burst slapped a couple of superficial hits on our starboard wing and bomb bay (I will admit to a little sweat). Unexpectedly, no Wild Boar came at us before the bomb run. Stan Bates the bombardier was steady throughout and placed a good 40% on the target buildings.
Our run out of the target zone and on the flight home saw no more contact with the enemy and we arrived at base, landing successfully. The base doc bandaged my hand, gave me an aspirin, patted me on the head and told me what a good boy I was and passed me as fit for the next mission.
Fighter hits: 3; Flak hits: 2 Damage points: 6