AAR Mission: 130
Date: 8/9 February, 1945
Target: Politz, Germany, Oil
Aircraft: Burke and Beyond (1st mission)
Pilot: William Farnham
Bomb aimer Henry Prentise, Navigator David Bristow, Flight Engineer John Denham, Radio Operator George Harris, Mid-upper Gunner Dennis Tryon, Tail Gunner Anthony D'Witt
Bomb run: On; 30%
Our first mission was pretty hard on us but we were very satisfied with our performance overall, staying steady in spite of repeated attacks. The attacks started as we neared the German coast when an Me110 crept up behind but was spotted by Tony the Tail Gunner; he missed the enemy fighter but allowed me to weave into evasive action. This didn't help as the Me110 hit us anyway, one on the rudder and a superficial. Two other passes missed both ways.
We were well into Germany when another Me110 was spotted by Tony; once again he missed and we evaded, but again we were hit, two only superficial but a third knocked out the tail guns mechanism. Two other passes saw a hit on the starboard #2 engine oil tank starting a fire which was quickly extinguished. The mid-upper had a couple of shots but Dennis didn't manage a hit, but we were able to fly on. Another Me110 was spotted soon after and knocked out our port aileron.
Then we were at the target and a fourth Me110 had a go at us. Spotted but I couldn't evade because we were into our bomb run. It hit the starboard root and made an ineffective hit on the starboard flap; two other passes failed to hit. We avoided the searchlights and the light flak didn't bother us; no Wild Boar appeared and Henry dropped at least 30% in the target area.
After the excitement of the flight out to the target the flight into base was an anti-climax — not a sign of an enemy night-fighter the whole way back. My landing was a bit shaky but we got down ok and will be ready for next mission.
Bomber Damage: 11 hits; Starboard wing root hit, rudder hit and flap hit; Port #2 engine oil fire extinguished, aileron inoperative; Tail guns inoperative; 5 superficial hits; damage repairable by tomorrow.