Had only one encounter with enemy night fighters prior to bomb run. GAF Bf110 shot down by Sgt. Hoskins with nose guns. On approach to target, attacked by another Bf110, which was spotted and shot down by Sgt. Ivon Cavaiani. We were not accosted by any other GAF nightfighters, were not hit by searchlights or flak.
Bomb Run ON TARGET, with est. 30% hitting the railway.
As we headed home, were attacked by a Ju88 that hit us hard. Sgt. Cavaiani (tail gunner) was killed and our portwing inboard fuel tank holed. Sgt. McCoy did some quick calculations to let me know we were not going to bring Brigette #1 home. We had only about 150 miles worth of petrol. To make matters worse, we were again attacked by GAF nightfighter, another Bf110. Fritz raked us, killing mid-Upper turret gunner Sgt. Fitch. As we neared the German-Dutch frontier, Sgt. McCoy announced we had about two minutes petrol remaining. I put our aerocraft into a slow downward spiril and ordered surviving crewmen to bail out. Everyone made it out safely. I am told the bodies of Sgt. Fitch and Cavaiani were recovered from the wreckage of Brigette #1 (which ended up crashing in a patch of trees near a German farmhouse).
Respectfully Submitted,
Edward C. Bynes, P.O. RCAF
Pilot — Lancaster Bomber Brigette #1