Folks,

I shamefully admit that it is somewhat unusual to begin a post with a mission report these days. Too often we come and go completely off topic, but not tonight. I managed another mission late this afternoon. Here is what happened:

We were a detached escort of 109s. Participating in the raid were contingents of K51/I, 276/III, K51/II and Z26/I. The targets were Portsmouth Naval yard and the Ventnor RDF station. We had 100 JU 88s from KG51. No less than 94 enemy ships, Spits and Hurris, responded in plenty of time to make a real nuisance of themselves. We mixed it up 6 miles SE of Bognor Regis at angels 14.

I have not often seen the RAF so anxious for a scrap. Time and again I took head-on passes from both Spits and Hurricanes. At one point I found myself in the clutches of two determined Spitfires. They begged me to turn with them for a time but I courteously demurred. Instead, I dove away from the fight then I zoomed and I boomed, I twisted and I turned until the tails were turned. One of the Spits, to his great discomfort, now found me snapping on his tail. Pieces flew from the stricken aircraft and then a wing folded. I never saw a chute, I hope he got out. His wingman had lost us for a time, just long enough for me to deal with his pal and then pick him up with the advantage of height. I fell upon the wingman with my canonen blazing. I do not think he ever saw me coming.

Gruppen losses were 3 damaged, 7 destroyed with the loss of 6 crewmen. The enemy losses were greater than ours however the raid results were not optimal. It looks like the diamonds have once more evaded me. Not since C51 farted in the presence of our Fuhrer have I felt such mixed emotions.