A heavy fighter found us over Germany. It came up under the port wing, taking out the aileron and puncturing the outboard petrol tank. I took evasive action, but the port wing was hit again before we got away.
Searchlights coned us over the target, bringing flak our way. A burst right in front of us knocked us off target. Our bombs dropped early as Zambrano slumped over his sight. Vine checked on him, and said it must have been mercifully quick. The searchlights continued to track us over the target, attracting a Me-110. Viffan and Byington both hit it before it broke off.
The leaking petrol tank would have prevented us returning to England even if we'd aborted the mission immediately. Vine now plotted a course for France, where I put Boom Shot down safely in a pasture.
F/Lt William Vidal
Pilot, Boom Shot
February 25, 1945
57 Peckham Damage Points