Just short of the target area Barry our Tail gunner spotted a ME110 trying to sneak in on us. He opened fired and yelled a warning to the skipper, he missed, but Jerry didn't as we heard shouting from the cockpit and our attacker disappeared into the night. Jerry's fire shattered part of the canopy and lightly wounded our skipper. Flt manged to get up front and dress his wounds as the skipper kept us level. This was just the beginning of our hell as we came over the target area we were jumped from behind and the ship was hit pretty good. We lost the starboard wing flap, the port wing took 2 hits to the wing root S/F damage to the pilot compartment but the last of the burst went through the nose and killed our bomb aimer Max. He was still leaning over his bomb sight when our Nav got there, gently pulling him aside and took the controls … talk about a kick in the gut. Then the Flak got us with 4 hits, S/F damage to the tail, SW and bomb bay and it knocked out Barry's O2 in the tail compartment and started a fire. I dropped out of my turret and grabbing a Fire Ext quickly put it out and climbed back into my turret. Needless to say we didnt hit a damn thing and we were a quite bunch heading back home. As we came in for a landing Flt fired off 2 red very flares for our wounded and then gave the Skipper a hand landing the ship. We were a quiet beaten bunch as we stood next to the ship watching the meds take Max's body away and the skipper climbing into the wagon. The "Spy" got the word about us and just ask a few quick questions. Really didnt feel like eating as I just grabbed a cup of tea and tried to get some sleep.
C Trimble
Mid Upper Gunner
Hell's Bells