402nd Mission Report 26/12/44 - Fighter Sweep, Schiedam sector
Firstly, great work by all today, it appears both the Yanks and Limeys gave Jerry a bloody nose!
We flew a six-ship North West with a view to patrolling the frontline South of Rotterdam, carrying a pair of 500s just in case, as usual. Before we reached our first patrol point and still a good way back in friendly territory (approximately 14,000ft over Roosendaal), White 1 (Perf) spotted a gaggle of aircraft co-alt and another gaggle slightly higher, heading roughly South and closing fast. We climbed hard to intercept and gain advantage, pickled off our now redundant bombs in the process and got into fighting pairs. White flight engaged first, identifying a flight of approx. six Fw190 D9s and a similar number of Ju88s in a stacked formation that circled North. We prioritised the fighters with each of us either downing or damaging at least one fighter each in an exciting multi-level fur ball. Aside from a few scares caused by Jerry seemingly hell-bent on head-on attacks, all were dispatched without any significant damage to us.
Shortly afterwards, the Ju88s were spotted higher and to the North in a right-hand orbit, still stacked in a conveniently non-defensive formation. It was around this point that Red 2 (FT) reported total instrument failure and returned to base, I thank him for once again gluing to my wing during the melee and keeping me well covered. After a number of coordinated attacks, all bombers fell to earth and we proceeded to our original patrol waypoints.
Aside from bumping into the 485th hammering Jerry ground targets in and around Gorinchem (well done boys), with nothing else happening we headed home for tea and medals.
Well done 402 - another sterling effort from all pilots with great teamwork, top gunnery rendering an impressive haul of downed aircraft and above all, no losses.