After the last mission it felt good to be flying under cover of darkness again. The situation remained pretty calm until we approached the German border when a Me 110 Tame Boar managed to catch us by surprise. (All the quiet must have made the crew lax.) Jerry managed to damage the port wing root along with inflicting some superficial damage. Not that it went unanswered, James (Sgt Edgecombe) managed to nick the 110, although his rear gunner scored some minor damage before running off. Jerry must have warned his friends as there was another 110 waiting for us further into Germany. This time the crew was ready and I threw Belligerent Bulldog into a series of jinks at the call of "Bogey!" Still the Hun managed to damage the port wing flap before James sent him to Valhalla.
Yet another 110 was waiting for us at Nurnburg, again catching us by surprise. A green pilot judging by the way he flew, Jerry made several passes before the combined fire of WO thomas and Sgt Edgecombe brought him down. Almost immediately we were blinded by the glare of a searchlight. Caught in its beam, we were an easy target for a Bf 109 Wild Boar. Arthur tagged the bandit who then flew on. Still illuminated by the searchlight, the Ack-Ack had a field day with us. Despite multiple hits, the only damage of significance was the loss of the quad guns in the tail turret. Fortunately, Francis was unhurt. Arthur delivered an estimated 20% of bombs on target, the fires and smoke below making it somewhat difficult to tell exactly. Then wwe turned for home.
Another Tame Boar surprised us as we crossed the Dutch coast, scoring another hit to the port wing root. After that, it was a quiet flight back to Lincoln and landing. The wrench turners say they'll have Belligerent Bulldog ready to fly again tomorrow (111 Peckham Points), and we're all safe and sound.
F/O James Tewsbury, Commanding
Belligerent Bulldog