Crew -
Lt Brandon as Command Pilot, Major Holmes as Navigator, Lt Kaynor as Nose Gunner


Comments -
Radio Operator was to fire flare gun out of the open Bomb-bay at "Bombs Away" command but cartridge-primer dented but did not fire. Our laod in the Bomb-Bay was 10-500 pounders in one section and M-47 incendiars in another section. Took off with 2500 gallons of gasoline, 4500 rounds of ammunition and 300 units of chaff. Route was Holland, Germany, and then back through Belgium. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions all have the same target at 1937, Reached enemy coast at 1858 on way in and target at 1937, returned to enemy coast at 2246 in the dark. Received 3 small flak holes. Both guns in tail and one in nose were inoperative. Off to one side in the Ruhr Valley (Happy Valley) a thick black cloud from flak bursts was seen, about a mile square. Bombed the hell out of our target. Baker saw freight cars etc. fly up in the air. Good pictures were taken of the bombing. A radio operator in our Group parachuted out of his plane minutes after bombs were dropped. No apparent reason. 2 enemy JU-88's tagged along behind our group and downed one of our planes by gunfire over the English Channel. One Ju-88 dropped 4 bombs in the dark aimed at our runway but missed. Explosions killed one ground crew man. Enemy strafed on air-crew on ground - hitting 2 men, and Navigator through the groin, neither man was killed. One of our own planes in the air was hit by flak from our flak guns, 3 bailed out successfully, 1 man with only 1 hook fastened to parachute suffered a few face burns but other that that was okay. A 4th crew member bailed out with his chute in his hands and died on impact with the ground. Bombs from JU-88's also landed on nearby houses.