Drew, D Dog’s bomb aimer, prone in his position forward of the cockpit, looking out through the perspex nose of the aircraft, gave the order: ‘Bomb doors open!’
‘Bomb doors open!’ the pilot repeated after he lowered the lever.
Drew concentrated on aligning his bombsight on the aiming point, ‘Bomb aimer to pilot. Right… Steady…Left Left… Steady… Steady… Steady.’
The crew waited for the aircraft to jump as the weight of the bomb load fell clear, longing to hear Drew report ‘Bombs gone!’ Then David’s ‘Bomb doors closed.’
For a few vulnerable moments the Lancaster had to fly straight and level until a photo of the target had been taken. Not until then could they feel the relief of turning away from the appalling blaze below. The blaze it had been their job to help create.
•••••••••••••••••
But while they were still over the target, only seconds after the bombs were released, bursting flak struck the aircraft.
Dog was hit! A casualty!
Fuselage extensively damaged by shrapnel.
Starboard aileron torn.
No. 3 petrol tank holed.
Almost all the cockpit perspex blown out.
•••••••••••••••••
And David was also a casualty. Wounded in five places by flying metal. Right knee, thigh and shoulder hit. Tendons and artery in right hand severed. And shrapnel ripped through his thick leather helmet, fracturing his skull.
David lost consciousness.
Dog went into a dive.