Pilot F/O A. Byford -- 419 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax II JP-204 coded VR-E flown by F/O A. Byford from 419 Squadron, was attacked by a JU-88.

While at position 55:10N-08:10E, flying at 22,000 feet, speed 165 mph at 19:29, was attacked by an enemy fighter identified as a JU-88. Monica gave a warning.

The fighter was first sighted by Sgt N. Fraser, the rear gunner, dead astern at 400 yards and commencing his attack. The rear gunner gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew starboard, and opened fire with a short burst of 50 rounds and the 4 guns packed up.

The fighter broke off his attack at 250 yards, port quarter and was lost to the rear gunner’s view. The rear gunner gave the resume course. All guns were cleared. 

Visibility was good; no moon, searchlights, or flak. 9/10ths cloud 3,000 feet below and no visual ground aids. Approximately six fighter flares, quite a distance astern of the Halifax at the time of the attack were seen. No damage was noted to the JU-88 and no damage was sustained to the Halifax. 

Pilot F/Sgt W. Byers -- 429 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax V LK-974 coded AL-Z flown by F/Sgt W. Byers from 429 squadron, was attacked by a JU-88.

On the homeward journey, this crew encountered an enemy aircraft believed by both gunners to have been a JU-88 at position 52:17N-11:40 E.  This took place at 21:40, 20,500 feet, speed 160 mph on a course of 307 degrees. The visibility was good with no moon and 10/10ths cloud below with tops at 15,000 feet.

The JU-88, which carried no lights was first seen by W/O Patterson, the rear gunner at 400 yards, below and crossing from starboard to port. The rear gunner immediately gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew port, and opened fire at 350 yards range. The enemy aircraft was last seen breaking away to the starboard quarter and below. The pilot resumed course after having carried out two complete corkscrews.

There were no searchlights or fighter flares in evidence on this encounter. Monica was unserviceable and there were no other signs of imminent attack. The rear gunner fired about 400 rounds without stoppages. The enemy aircraft did not open fire so the type of armament was not known. No visible damage was caused to the JU-88. 

Pilot F/Lt R. Hunt -- 429 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax V LL-178 coded AL-V flown by F/Lt R. Hunt from 429 Squadron, was attacked by an unidentified twin engine aircraft.

While on the outward journey they encountered an unidentified enemy aircraft at position 53:23N-13:00E at 21:07 while flying at 160 mph on a course of 159 degrees at 20,000 feet. Visibility was poor with no moon and 10/10ths cloud below with tops at 15,000 feet.

The enemy aircraft carried no lights and was first seen by the bomb aimer on the starboard bow up. F/Sgt McCaffry, the rear gunner, then sighted it on the starboard beam, flying parallel at 100 yards range. It then fell back to the starboard quarter and the rear gunner gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew starboard and opened fire with a short burst. The aircraft was seen breaking away to the starboard quarter below and the pilot assumed course after carrying out two complete corkscrews.

There were no searchlights or flares in evidence at the time of the encounter. No Monica warning was received and there were no other signs of imminent attack. The unidentified aircraft did not open fire so the type of armament is not known. The rear gunners claim some strikes on the aircraft. The rear gunner fired 250 rounds from 4 guns without stoppages. 

Pilot F/O J. Wilson -- 429 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax V LL-168 coded AL-M flown by F/O J. Wilson from 429 Squadron, was in a combat with a JU-88 and an FW-190.

While on the outward journey they encountered an enemy aircraft that both gunners identified as a JU-88 at position 55:18N-08:33E at 19:53 while flying at 155 mph on a course of 102 degrees at 19,000 feet. Visibility was good with no moon and 10/10ths cloud below with tops at 15,000 feet.

The JU-88 carried no lights and was first seen by Sgt H. Robinson, the mid under lookout, slightly below and to port. He immediately ordered the combat maneuver, corkscrew to port, and this brought the fighter into view of P/O F. Findlay, the rear gunner, at about 250 yards, dead astern. The rear gunner opened fire with a five second burst; the fighter broke away to port and was not seen again. The Halifax resumed course after two corkscrews.

There were no searchlights or flares at the time of the encounter. Monica did not give warning until after the corkscrew had started and there were no other signs of imminent attack. The enemy aircraft did not open fire so the type of armament is not known. The rear gunner stated that his tracer passed very close and all around the fighter and some hits on it are claimed. The rear gunner fired about 400 rounds from all four guns with out stoppages.

This Halifax encountered a second enemy aircraft, identified by the pilot and rear gunner as an FW-190 at position 53:30N-12:57E at 21:03 while flying at 150 mph on a course of 165 degrees at 21,000 feet.

The pilot first saw the enemy aircraft, which carried no lights, very near on the port bow and above. He immediately did a combat maneuver, corkscrew to port, and the rear gunner sighted the FW-190 at 150 yards on the starboard quarter above. The pilot was about to dive to port on his second corkscrew when the rear gunner gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew starboard, and at this time opened fire with a short burst. The enemy was last seen dead astern and above. As it disappeared from view, the pilot resumed course after completing two corkscrews. 

No searchlights or flares were in evidence of the encounter. Monica gave no warning owning to the fighters position when first sighted and there were no other signs of imminent attack. The enemy aircraft did not open fire, so the type of armament is not known. No hits were claimed on the fighter. The rear gunner fired about 200 rounds, experiencing stoppages.

Pilot P/O P. Davis -- 431 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax V LK-905 coded SE-D flown by P/O P. Davis from 431 Squadron, was attacked by a JU-88. 

While on the outward journey, they encountered an enemy aircraft identified as a JU-88 by W/O Beresford, the mid upper gunner, at position 54:37N-12:02E at 20:33 on a course of 114 degrees with a speed of 222 mph. Visibility was moderate to poor, with no moon and 10/10ths cloud below.

The enemy aircraft was first sighted by the mid upper gunner coming in from the port bow and up, firing machine guns and cannon from a range of 600 to 700 yards. The enemy aircraft appeared to be using a large quantity of tracer. The mid upper gunner gave evasive action, corkscrew port, and opened fire when the enemy aircraft closed to 300 yards. The JU-88 dived away to the starboard quarter below. At this point, F/Sgt Clarke, the rear gunner took over and fired a short burst. The JU-88 broke away out to the port beam and attacked from this position. The mid upper gunner gave a feint combat maneuver, corkscrew starboard, enticing the enemy aircraft to close its range. As the JU-88 did this, he changed the maneuver to a diving turn to port, opening fire at the same time at a range of 400 yards. 

Hits were observed on the enemy aircraft’s port wing and engine, which sent the enemy into a spin downwards into the clouds below. Approximately 10 seconds later, the clouds were illuminated by an orange glow observed by the bomb aimer and rear gunner. In addition to the cannons and machine guns carried, it is the mid upper gunner’s belief that the leading edges of the enemy aircraft wings were armour plated as the tracer appeared to bounce off.

The enemy aircraft appeared to come across once more in the vicinity of our track T.I markers as in the case of our other combat of this night with SE-F, LL-180. No assistance from the ground was given to the fighter.

Both gunners claim this enemy aircraft was destroyed. The damage to our aircraft was bullet holes in the starboard wing. The number of rounds fired was 500 by the mid upper gunner, and 300 by the rear gunner.

Pilot F/Sgt A. Tinmouth -- 431 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax V LL-180 coded SE-F flown by F/Sgt A. Tinmouth from 431 Squadron, was attacked by a JU-88.

While on the outbound journey they encountered an enemy fighter identified by Sgt W. Walton, the rear gunner, as a JU-88 at position 54:28N-12:29E at 20:46, height 21,000 feet, speed 155 mph on a course of 155 degrees. The visibility was moderate, with no moon and 10/10ths cloud below.

The enemy aircraft was first sighted by the bomb aimer flying across our aircraft’s track from the starboard bow to the port bow where it turned and carried out the same tactics from port to starboard when it dropped back into position for an attack from the starboard quarter below. The enemy aircraft was seen in this position by the rear gunner at approximately600 yards. Our gunner immediately gave orders for a corkscrew to starboard. The JU-88 continued to close in and when at 500 yards opened fire with machine guns and cannons, which passed astern of the aircraft, but seemed to creep in, eventually striking the starboard fin and rudder, and the starboard side of the fuselage. Our gunner opened fire at approximately 400 yards, firing 400 rounds. The enemy aircraft broke away to the port side and was not seen again.

The enemy aircraft appeared to come from the area of one of our T.I route markers on track. There was no assistance from the ground to the fighter, in the way of searchlights or flares. Monica was not used by our aircraft throughout the operation.

Damage to our aircraft consisted of: starboard fin and rudder damaged, starboard flaps, wireless equipment, and oxygen supply, starboard wheel holed, and engineer’s instruments shot away. The rear gunner, although having no oxygen or heating, stayed in his turret throughout the rest of the trip using portable bottled oxygen, and giving evasive actions by call light when sighting other enemy aircraft, which did not attack. The engineer was wounded and the rear gunner was admitted to hospital suffering from a shortage of oxygen and a severe case of frost bite. Strikes on the enemy fighter were claimed by the rear gunner, but the mid upper gunner did not open fire. 

Pilot F/Sgt W. Wright--433 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, Halifax III HX-352 coded BM-C flown by F/Sgt W. Wright, had three combats with ME-109's and an FW-190.

The first attack took place on the way to the target at position 54:55N-10:50E at a height of 20,000 feet, speed 180 mph, course of 040 degrees at 20:40. The enemy aircraft identified by Sgt D. Horton, the rear gunner, as an ME-109 was sighted on the starboard quarter, below at 400 yards flying a parallel course. The ME-109 climbed to attack and the rear gunner gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew starboard. As the enemy aircraft passed from starboard to port, the rear gunner fired a short burst. The enemy aircraft broke away to port and disappeared.

The second attack occurred at 20:46 at position 54:32N-12:04E, course 110 degrees, speed 180 mph, height 21,000 feet. The enemy aircraft, a single engined plane thought to be an ME-109, was sighted by the rear gunner on the starboard quarter, well down at 400 yards. The rear gunner instructed the pilot to carry out a gentle corkscrew. The fighter climbed to the bomber’s height, falling back to 600 yards. The fighter then closed to 400 yards and the rear gunner gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew starboard, while at the same time opened fire. The enemy aircraft broke away to port and disappeared.

The third attack was at 21:35 at position 52:15N-13:19E, speed 180 mph, height 20,000 feet, by an FW0190 from dead astern and up. The enemy aircraft was first seen by Sgt M. O’Reilly, the mid upper gunner, when it was at 300 yards. He gave the combat maneuver, corkscrew port. As the bomber dived to port, the fighter dived starboard passing directly over the bomber. The mid upper fired a short burst as the fighter passed over and disappeared on the port quarter.

The mid upper fired 100 rounds without a stoppage. The rear gunner fired 100 rounds, and during the first attack had 3 gun stoppages. On the second attack all guns in the rear turret were u/s due to jammed links. Slight damage was claimed on the first ME-109, the spinner on this aircraft was painted white.

Pilot W/O2 C. Neilson -- 433 Squadron
While on operations to Berlin on February 15/16,1944, 

On route to the target at position 54:37N-12:00E on a course of 110 degrees, speed 160 mph, height 21,000 feet and at a time of 20:45 they had an encounter with an FW-190. The enemy aircraft was first sighted on the starboard quarter down at 500 yards.

As the FW-190 turn into attack, F/Sgt J. McLaughlin, the rear gunner instructed the pilot to turn starboard and opened fire with a long burst. The enemy aircraft did not open fire and broke away, port bow down. It was not seen again. M/Sgt J. Wells, the mid upper gunner, did not fire as he was unable to bring his guns to bear on the enemy fighter.

PFF markers were on the starboard side of the bomber at the time. No searchlights or fighter flares had been seen up to the time of attack. Visibility was good with starlight.

The rear gunner fired 400 rounds without a stoppage. No damage was claimed on the FW-190.