The following exchange was overheard between my engineer, F/Sgt Edward Jones and Sgt James Edgecombe, the mid upper turret gunner:
"Another daylight mission? When'd we get transferred to the Yank Air Force, Ned?"
"I don't know, James. But at least they get better pay, and better cigarettes."
"If they live to collect 'em."
As it turned out, with Fighter Command's excellent support, Ned and James need not have worried. Belligerent Bulldog took off and after some maneuvering, still not used to this formation flying, found our briefed position. Heading out over the North Sea we picked up our escort; the sky seemed thick with Spitfires, a beautiful sight to behold. And apparently a daunting one as well, Jerry not putting in an appearance until the outskirts of Krefeld.
Initial contact was a lone Bf 109 coming at us high on the nose. He was chased off by a pair of Spits. As we got nearer the target an Fw 190 and three more 109s attacked. Fighter Command pounced upon the 190 and one of the 109s while Arthur hit another. Ned missed his shot, but Jerry didn't. There was a frightening moment as I looked out to see Jerry's guns flashing, the tracers tracking directly at me. Fortunately, the hit resulted in superficial damage and Jerry was chased off by a Spit as he came around for another go. Blach burst of Ack-Ack started to appear in the sky around us, though none hit Belligerent Bulldog. W/O Thomas settled down to the task at hand and estimates 30% of our eggs in the basket.
It was a bit unnerving still coming under Ack-Ack fire as we left the target. Jerry seemed to be getting our range, one shell bursting nearby and peppering us with shrapnel. Leaving the Ack-Ack, we encountered a pair of Me 110s. Once again the boys from Fighter Command thinned their ranks, leaving us to deal with one, though he was an ace. We exchanged fire and then Fritz moved on, his rear gunner taking a parting shot that was no more effective than any of the other firing.
After that it was a quiet flight home, the biggest problem being landing in the pea soup that had settled in over Lincoln. This is where all the night flying came in handy, the low ceiling and poor visibility almost seeming normal. None of the boys were injured and the minor damage to Belligerent Bulldog
(5 Peckham Points) will be patched up in time for tomorrow's mission, should there be one.
F/O James Tewsbury, Commanding
Belligerent Bulldog