A baptism by fire. Or water, as it turned out. We were intercepted while still over the North Sea. None of us had any idea we were being stalked until we heard the sound of cannon fire. I immediately put Moonglow through her paces, and eventually got away without damage.
Once we were over Germany, we were surprised again. This time, the #4 engine, port aileron, and nose guns were knocked out on the first pass. Again I took evasive action, but Vilfan, in the tail turret, was wounded before we could escape. Tarwater reported that we were slowly losing petrol from the inboard starboard tank. If we continued to the target on three engines, we'd come down in Germany. If we headed home, we'd come down off the English coast. I asked Vine to give me a course for Belgium, but when I tried to jettison our bombs, the bay doors were jammed. With the bombs aboard, we wouldn't even reach Belgium, so the North Sea was our only chance, even though we'd be coming down closer to Germany than England.
Soon after setting the new course, we were attacked again. Moonglow took several hits before Byington finally got a good hit on the Me-110, setting it afire.
We'd just crossed the German coast when we were subject to a fourth surprise attack. Tarwater was badly hurt before I could get us away.
With the remaining engines running on fumes, I ditched Moonglow shortly after that. Thalheimer reported our position, and we took to the raft, Vine and Thalheimer carrying Tarwater. We had a long wait before being picked up — too long for Tarwater, unfortunately.
F/Lt William Vidal
Pilot, Moonglow
February 21, 1945
153 Peckham Damage Points prior to ditching