Having moved to Asch Y-29 we took off in the early evening and headed east for over 100 miles to just southeast of Cologne which was used as a landmark. I led Yellow section on a wide arch route to come up on the south side of the airfield and as we arrived we could see Red section attacking the FLAK emplacements. They were largely successful in this endeavour. I pulled hard to starboard to line the section up for a bombing run along the south edge of the airfield along which were parked a good number of E/A both twin-engine bombers and single-engine fighters.I aimed for the group of E/A at the far end as the near ones had already been damaged by Red Section's strafing run. I released bombs at a very low altitude at high speed. P/O Irwin as Yellow Two was a little too far behind me and was caught up in the blast of my bombs' explosion though he didn't seem to take any significant damage to his a/c. After climbing away I looked back and the whole line of E/A was aflame. One of Red Section continued strafing through the fire and smoke. I claim at least three of the twin-engine E/A destroyed by my own ordnance.
We egressed at low altitude. Red Two P/O Cook had become detached from our group but was heading due west by himself. Red One Sqn Ldr Merfort developed trouble with oiling on his windscreen and a damaged engine due to FLAK. He had to put down in a field near to Aachen. Yellow section continued to head for base but I had great difficulty locating Y-29 until P/O Cook, who was flying above our base with his nav lights on, was able to guide us in. We all three carried out a good landing in treacherous and crosswind landing conditions. F/Lt 'Madov' Emblin |
