AAR Mission: 128
Date: 1/2 February, 1945
Target: Siegen, Germany, Railway
Aircraft: Geelong (2nd mission)
Pilot: Stephen Forbes-Hampton
Bomb aimer Harold Morgan, Navigator Trevor Stevens, Flight Engineer Fred McKinley, Radio Operator Thomas Torrens, Mid-upper gunner John Moreley, Tail gunner Kenny Kelly
Bomb run: On; 30%
We flew an uneventful run to the target zone where we were surprised by a Schrage Musik equipped Ju88. First we knew was when three shells impacted the waist with shrapnel hitting the tail ammo racks without effect, damaging the oxygen supply and the third just putting a hole in the bomber's skin. As I wasn't evading because of the bomb run, the fighter came round for another run from the rear; but Kenny Kelly was waiting this time and hit him with all four barrels, starting a fire in his port engine; this didn't prevent him slamming another three holes in us, one of which also put a hole in Fred McKinley's right forearm (he'll be fine with two day's rest ordered).
The searchlights didn't pick us up but flak was pretty dense and two shells burst nearby causing five holes — one in the port wing root and another ricocheting round the bomb bay causing us to sweat, the others superficial. The bomb run was ok and we estimate 30% on the target area. We didn't see any Wild Boar fighters so left the target zone only to be met by a Me110 night-fighter which we saw in time but Kenny missed. I went into evasive manoeuvres and the fighter failed to get into position; but when he made a return run John Moreley in the mid-upper hit him heavily and the fighter missed and disappeared in the darkness.
Claims: 0-2-0.
Bomber Damage: 11 hits (5 from flak). Port wing root hit, Waist oxygen hit, Tail ammo racks hit NE, Bomb-bay hit NE, Flight engineer LW, 6 superficial
Hospital: Flight Engineer Fred McKinley two days