AAR Mission: 135
Date: 23/24 February, 1945
Target: Pforzheim, Industry
Aircraft: Burke and Beyond (6th mission)
Pilot: William Farnham
Bomb Aimer: Henry Prentise, Navigator: Vern Bolland, Flight Engineer: Trevor Monash, Radio Operator: George Harris, Mid-upper Gunner: Dennis Tryon, Tail Gunner: Anthony D'Witt
Another failed mission doesn't do anything for Aussie bomber crew's reputations. An uneventful flight across the Channel and into Germany was suddenly interrupted by the flash of explosions on the starboard wing and tail. A Ju88 night-fighter had come up unobserved to slam 3 shells into us. The #3 engine was knocked out and it was impossible to feather the prop. Another shell struck the wing root but the one to the tail was superficial. Tony D'Witt wasn't caught again as the big fighter came in again and an exchange of fire saw the enemy's port engine smashed, while two return hits on Burke and Beyond were only superficial. As the Ju88 broke off, I jettisoned our bomb load on the German countryside and turned to return home. This was a slow trip because of the unfeathered prop but we reached base safely to land less than an hour before the rest of the squadron.
Bomb run: Did not bomb; 0%