AAR Mission: 122
Date: 5/6 January, 1945
Target: Hanover, Germany, Industry
Aircraft: Tailblazer (1st mission)
Pilot: Stan Burton
Bomb run: On; 30%
We were all a bit nervous on this, our first, mission, but trying not to show it. The take-off and flight out to the target were uneventful and maybe we relaxed a bit as we came in sight of the burning glow from Hanover because we suddenly woke up to the reality of tracers flying by and metallic clangs from the fuselage. A Ju88 had approached unseen, but luckily all the hits were superficial. Lloyd Wright, the tail-gunner, was very upset that he had missed seeing its approach, but as it continued its attack he made sure it didn't get a second chance as his fire concentrated on the glazed front of the twin engine fighter and it fell over into a steep spiral dive which did not stop until an explosion was seen on the ground. I was not evading while this episode occurred, as I was concentrating on getting into our bomb run. The searchlights never found us, but black puffs appeared all around as we flew through the flak barrage; but we sustained no damage and our bomb aimer, Alex Turner made a good drop estimated at 30%. No other fighters were encountered over the target nor on the flight home and landing was made safely in the early morning light.
Claims: 1-0-0; Tail-gunner Lloyd Wright 1xJu88 KIA
Bomber Damage: 3xsuperficial