Mission 139 Debriefing
Target: Hamburg
We took off on schedule with high expectations of a good mission. Almost immediately we were surprised by a Ju88 which turned our starboard wing into Swiss cheese. Fortunately, no serious damage was done aside from destroying an aileron. We encountered no opposition during our approach to the target, but enemy flak took out our #1 engine and knocked our run off target. We dropped our bombs, but I do not believe any hit the designated target area. As we returned for home, a ME 110 took us by surprise. It was at this time a shell fragment found Flight Officer Joseph Campbell. He died instantly. I took over the controls and brought the plane home without further incident.
David Everret
Flight Officer RAF Bomber Command
March 9, 1945