By the time it arrived at its target the other four Flying
Fortresses had already passed over, had dropped their bombs, and
had stirred up the hornets' nest of Japanese "Zero" planes.
Eighteen of these "Zero" fighters attacked our one Flying Fortress.
Despite this mass attack, our plane proceeded on its mission, and
dropped all of its bombs on six Japanese transports which were
lined up along the docks.
As it turned back on its homeward journey a running fight between
the bomber and the eighteen Japanese pursuit planes continued for
75 miles. Four pursuit planes of the Japs attacked simultaneously
at each side. Four were shot down with the side guns. During this
fight, the bomber's radio operator was killed, the engineer's right
hand was shot off, and one gunner was crippled, leaving only one
man available to operate both side guns. Although wounded in one
hand, this gunner alternately manned both side guns, bringing down
three more Japanese "Zero" planes. While this was going on, one
engine on the American bomber was shot out, one gas tank was hit,
the radio was shot off, and the oxygen system was entirely
destroyed. Out of eleven control cables all but four were shot
away. The rear landing wheel was blown off entirely, and the two
front wheels were both shot flat.
The fight continued until the remaining Japanese pursuit ships
exhausted their ammunition and turned back.
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