AAR Mission: 141/6
Date: 16/17th March, 1945
Target: NÜRNBURG
Aircraft: The Big Bad Boar (Mission ABC)
Pilot: P/Off Frederick Haswell
Bomb Aimer: F/Sgt Anthony Hancock Flight Engineer: P/Off Frank Pritchard Navigator: F/Sgt Arthur Simpson W/Telegraph Operator: Sgt Charlie Johnson Mid-Upper Gunner: Cpl Paul Mallory Tail-End Charlie: Cpl "Bill" Cowley
We had only just got to meet F/Sgt Hancock, who was our new Bomb Aimer, when we were assigned this mission. He might be wet around the ears but we could hardly say we were seasoned veterans yet. We first encountered the enemy when a Tame Boar stalked us and fired on us when we were over central Germany between Kassel and Frankfurt. Damage on the port wing was only superficial and Cowley's quad turret opened fire and quickly took the Me-110 down. I'm sure I heard him snarl "That's for Briggs!" over the intercom. Not long after, a Ju-88 was spotted behind us. "Corkscrew Port!" came over loud and clear over the intercom and I wrenched the yoke around to try and evade it. Mallory and Cowley both fired on it, this time Cowley clearly stated that it was a "gonner".
We made it to Nürnburg where we we caught a little bit of bad luck and were caught in the searchlights. We did not get any Wild Boars but the flak got us instead. I felt a shudder on the port wing and one from the front of the plane. Hancock reported something had been hit but that he was too busy aiming his bombs to notice. Pritchard reported all engines and systems seemed to be fine. We proceeded straight and level until Hancock shouted "Bombs gone!" to which I banked the plane around and hoped for the best. Caught in the searchlights once more, the flak opened up again. There were shudders from the tail, waist and the port wing. All crew reported in, Cowley commenting that the port rudder had been hit. However, the outboard engine on the port wing had been hit, which I managed to feather.
Two nightfighters caught us on the way back, both by surprise and both fitted with the oblique-firing "jazz music". Cowley claimed two more kills from them, which made four kills for him today. However, Pritchard was seriously injured in the abdomen during the second attack, Simpson applying first aid to keep him alive. There were no further enemy attacks and we made it home safely.
F/Sgt Frank Pritchard received emergency treatment once we landed. The Medical Officer said he would recover but that he would not be returning to flying duties.
I recommend Cpl William "Bill" Cowley for promotion to Sergeant and also that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. On this mission, he shot down four enemy fighters, which brings his total to nine. Without the role he played in our mission tonight and the sterling role he has played throughout our still brief but nevertheless eventful career, the damage inflicted on our plane by enemy night fighters would likely have been more persistent and quite probably have brought us down.
Respectfully yours
Frederick Haswell (Pilot Officer)
Supplemental - I recommend F/Sgt Frank Pritchard for promotion to Warrant Officer to that of effective Pilot Officer in the event so to improve his pay or any pension if he is invalided out of the RAF.
Damage: 91 Peckhams