AAR Mission: 143/8
Date: 27th March, 1945
Target: PADERBORN
Aircraft: The Big Bad Boar
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
A two week break between missions was a welcome reprieve and we had time to rest, toast our departed comrades, meet our new Mid Gunner Hamish Ferguson from Perth in Scotland and also got ourselves in what we hoped was the right frame of mind to bomb the hell out of what was left of the Nazi war effort. We had heard the boasts from some visiting yanks from the 8th Air Force that there were no enemy planes up during the day. They should see what we had to put up with on a night. However, to be told our next mission was a daytime one was a surprise nevertheless. Our first mission in the Big Bad Boar had been a daytime one so this was effectively going back to where we had begun.
It was still a different feeling to be flying in formation rather than part of the stream and to have sunlight instead of moonlight as our guide. Despite what that American pilot had bragged about, we were to find that he was wrong and it was reassuring to know that we had fighter escorts to give us some help if we needed. However, we knew that they could not see off everything and we found this out on our first encounter this day with the enemy.
Not far over the German coast and a wave of enemy 109s came at us, two of them coming in on our six being intercepted by the fighters. I heard Cowley complaining over the intercom "I could have had one of them!" as we all knew how keen he was to get his tenth kill of our campaign. Ferguson, however, was to quickly fire his guns for the first time in combat as one of them came down on us in a vertical dive. His double-turret opened fire, hitting and causing the plane some serious damage. It failed to hit and broke off its attack, smoke trailing from its engine.
We did not encounter any further enemy action until we were approaching Padeborn. There was another trio of 109s. Again, our fighter escort was able to look after two of them but one came in at us from 6 O'Clock High. Both Ferguson and Cowley opened fire on it at the same time, the plane disintegrating and some confusion as to whose kill it was.
We were told Paderborn had a heavy flak defence and we certainly found it. We did not hit the flak, the flak hit us. Fortunately, most of the damage was superficial and I was about to breathe a sigh of relief until Miller reported a fuel leak from the port wing. Right now, we did not have time to ascertain how bad it was. I focused on keeping the plane straight and level to allow Hancock to do his work. I was glad to hear "Bombs away!" and to know about 40% of our bombs had found the target.
I banked her around and headed for home. Flak was not as heavy going out and we were fortunate to miss it. I was grateful for our fighter escort again intercepting a 109 and a Junkers 88 that tried to make inappropriate advances. Miller was monitoring the fuel gauge and said we should just make England if we took it easy. If there were any other enemy fighters trying to get to us, we never saw them. Although I was curious to see what RAF Little Snoring was like in daytime, which we had landed at after fuel problems over Ladbergen, I would rather get the Boar home.
I was able to land her safely back at base. I am sure that we were running on fumes when I brought her in to land at base. The only matter remaining was whether Ferguson or Cowley claimed that 109 that was shot down near Paderborn. Instead of cutting cards or tossing a coin, they played some odd hand game involving rocks and scissors. A coin toss would have been a lot quicker. Anyway, after ten games, the winner was Cowley but he graciously promised Ferguson the next disputed kill.
Although our spirits are high following this mission, I think we will all be glad when this war is over.
Respectfully yours,
Frederick Haswell (Pilot Officer)
Damage — 19 Peckhams