We were wary with it being our first flight and an uneventful first few hours was appreciated. Johnson, who was the W/T Operator, took the opportunity to give us trivia about Mainz. It didn't help to know that the printing press was invented in a city we were going to bomb.
Over the Southern Ruhr, Cowley on rear guns reported a sighting of a Ju-88 and opened fire. Fire was exchanged and although both the Cowley and Mallory on the mid-upper guns reported hits, the 88 kept on coming. Fortunately, its hits on us were only superficial before it broke off.
A Me-110 tried to bounce us as we were nearing the Target Zone. I felt I'd gone deaf when Cowley loudly exclaimed over the intercom that he'd got him. Nevertheless, it was our first kill and it lifted our morale … for a little while.
Then we hit the flak.
The port wing took damage but the tail took the brunt of it. Both rudders were damaged but above all, the rear turret was knocked out and Cowley had been wounded from shrapnel.
Throughout, we concentrated on the final approach, the bombardier keeping his focus and releasing the bombs on target, directly over the markers. Once done, we banked the ship around and headed for home.
We didn't know what hit us when cannon shells ripped through the port wing from below. It was very lucky it missed the vital systems. We'd heard rumour of "Jazz Music", now we were listening to it. I took evasive action to try and shake it off, Mallory opening fire every chance it had on the Ju-88. Again, it broke off and left us shaken but in one piece.
It wasn't over yet. Jerry had one more crack at us. Cowley reported a 110 coming at us from behind but we could do nothing about it but wait and hope. Cannon shots ripped into the tail again, hitting the oxygen supply and causing a fire. Fortunately, we got it put out before it really caught hold.
It came at us again, cannon fire raking right down the airframe and knocking out the landing gear controls. The mid-upper turret gunner had been hit in the arm but he carried on firing. His determination paid off as the 110 spiralled out of control.
We dropped to 10,000' but we didn't get any more bother from Jerry. We were finally over the Channel and nearing home. It was not going to be an easy landing.
As we came in without our gear down, the crew braced themselves and all hoping and praying we'd make it in one piece. After a shuddering, shaking and screeching, the Big Bad Boar finally came to a halt.
Mallory & Cowley immediately got their wounds seen to. They would be back in action in a few days but now had war wounds to show off to show off to the girls in the WAAF.
The Big Bad Boar was very badly damaged and it would be at least four days before she would fly again. Jerry had made our war personal and we would be ready.