10th Mission

Target was a Marshalling Yard at Bielefeld, Germany 4/10x coverage.  Visible.  From what I observed the hits weren’t too good.  5 hour mission, 3 ½ hours on oxygen.  2300 gals (280) [Aircraft named “Little Chum”].  Pilot accidentally hit Automatic Pilot and ship nosed down.  Thought we had it at the time so I grabbed my chute.  Over target saw 10 enemy jets up at about 30,000 ft (good place for them).  They didn’t attack.  Other formations were hit.  Lost 41 bombers, we got 171 of theirs.  No flak over target but on the way home lead navigator screwed up and took us by Osnabrook.  Had plenty of flak but not many holes.