May 30, 1944 Mission #6
Location of target: Dessau, Germany, 51" 50'N 12" 12'E SW of Berlin

Type of target: Junkers Aircraft factory

Load: 2700 gals of gas, 42-100 lb. incendiaries
Altitude: 25,700 feet
Flight Time: 7:20 hours

Escort: P-38s, P-51s and P-47s all the way.

Force of raid: Two wings of 18 plane formations (108 total)

Position: No. 3 of the high element of high squadron of high group of first wing

Opposition: Intense flak and 30 ME-109 German fighters

Battle damage: No holes what so ever.

Results: Hit target as briefed. Could not see accurately, because the German fighters hit us just before and just after bombs away. Lots of black smoke, visible for 50 miles.

Day's losses: 11 Bombers, and 9 fighters

Remarks:
We caught quite a lot of flak coming into the target. When we hit the IP [Initial Point], they really started throwing it up. The flak was very accurate and intense. The target was plainly visible.

Just before bombs away, 20 ME-109s dove from one o'clock and from 12,000 feet. They came at the lead group, pulled up and went through us. I started firing with the right nose gun. The fighters seemed to come in very slow. I got a lead on a ME-109 and put about 100 rounds at him. He started to smoke and flopped around the sky. He looked as if he was out of control.

A B-17 below us started a steep spin, and exploded. The wings and tail came off, everything burning. I saw one chute open. Another B-17 side slipped to the left and out of sight. Left waist gunner saw a B-17 off to the left blow up, with three chutes coming out.

Ten more ME-109s came straight at us. Everyone fired their guns, but no results were noticed. A ME-109 went right over our head. He missed us by 50 feet. Owen saw square goggles on the pilot. Swastika outlined in white on the tail. Planes looked very sleek, flush riveted, very round and smooth. Pilots were darn good. The B-17 that was behind us had ME-109s picking on him. The gunners shot one ME-109 down; their pilot was really flying violent evasive action. He made it back OK.

Thompson was also straggling, with fighters shooting him up. That was the last that we saw of him. He did not come back. We have lost four planes to date. At interrogation, I found out the ball turret gunner was shooting at the same plane that I was. I think my bullets were hitting home, but I gave the claim to Soule. No. 4 engine started to act up at the IP, shaking like the devil over the target, but it smoothed out. Mission was a success.