AAR Mission: 146/11
Date: 9th-10th April, 1945
Target: KIEL
Aircraft: The Big Bad Boar
Pilot: F/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: Sgt Hamish Ferguson, Tail-End Charlie: Sgt "Bill" Cowley
It was not until we were approaching the target zone that a Me-110 "Tame Boar" crept up on us from behind, opening fire and catching us by surprise. Perhaps it was the knowledge that the war was nearing its end, an assumption that this mission would be as uneventful as the last one or we were just war-weary, we had become complacent. Its cannon fire ripped into us, damaging the port rudder and cracking the main canopy around the cockpit. Cowley quickly responded and brought the enemy down before it could inflict any more damage.
Then we got caught by a heavy burst of flak. It destroyed the autopilot mechanism, damaged the port wing root but most importantly seriously wounding David Miller, my Flight Engineer, ripping straight through his hip and almost tearing the leg straight off. Johnson grabbed the First Aid box and immediately saw to him but from what I heard about the blood loss, the chances for survival did not sound good.
Hancock did his best to focus on the bombing run and let the bombs go but whether it was impact from the flak impact shaking his alignment or he was affected from whatever else was going on, the bombs fell short and missed the target completely. There were no more enemy night-fighters as we flew our way home and it was a relief when we landed. We were exhausted, we had failed to successfully bomb the target and my Flight Engineer was dead.
Respectfully yours
Frederick Haswell (Flying Officer)
Damage - 66 Peckhams