AAR Mission: 142/7
Date: 18/19th March, 1945
Target: HANAU
Aircraft: The Big Bad Boar (Mission ABC)
Pilot: P/Off Frederick Haswell
Bomb Aimer: F/Sgt Anthony Hancock Flight Engineer: P/Off David Miller Navigator: F/Sgt Arthur Simpson W/Telegraph Operator: Sgt Charlie Johnson Mid-Upper Gunner: Cpl Paul Mallory Tail-End Charlie: Cpl "Bill" Cowley
Pilot Officer David Miller had only just been assigned to us when once again, we were assigned this mission. We had hoped for a quiet mission but the journey to Hanau was just too quiet with no enemy encounters. This could only be a bad omen.
Once we had reached the target, searchlights coned in on us and before we knew it, a Fw190 was coming at us from the port side. Mallory opened fire but to no avail as it was to be the last time he pulled the trigger as cannon fire from the "Butcher Bird" ripped into his turret, tearing through the plexiglass and killing him immediately. It also damaged the port rudder and in a successive run damaged the starboard rudder, breaking off abruptly and without any of our turrets having hit him.
Then the flak opened up, damaging the No.2 engine and rendering the left elevator inoperable. We were fortunate the rest of the damage was only superficial.
Amidst all of this, Hancock let the bombs go and despite the knocking about we had got from the flak, it was on target, estimating about 30%. We turned around and headed for home, caught again by the flak but again with only some light damage. We had just got out of the flak when cannon fire ripped into the plane from below. A tame boar had been stalking us and its deadly jazz music damaged the root of the port tailplane. Just before I was about to put it into a corkscrew, Cowley opened fire on the now visible Me110 and took it down.
Over the Ruhr, a Junkers 88 was spotted in the darkness. Cowley opened fire but only lightly damaged it. I began a corkscrew, Cowley firing on several occasions at it but although he did not bring it down, he did succeed in putting it off and it disappeared into the darkness.
There were no further encounters and we finally made it back home, landing safely before the fog rolled in but disappointed to have lost another of our own.
Respectfully yours,
Frederick Haswell (Pilot Officer)
Damage: 84 Peckhams