[lancaster]

Hi Guys,

I am doing much research on Lanc PB378(crashed near Eindhoven) and I am in touch for a few years with former Pilot Don Freeborn. His reargunner Gerry McNamara stated that he shotdown a fighter. In Freeborn's logbook excellent atack on Bottrop, shotdown by N/F baled out crew in Holland-N/F destroyed by reargunner-returned 5-2-45. Don Freeborn account;PB378 was attacked a short time after the raid when we were on our way home. Gerry McNamara saw the fighter under our a/c after he set us on fire. I had ordered the crew to bail out and they were all gone when Gerry asked me to "level out". I was diving to attempt to put the fire out without success. I was unaware that he saw the fighter under us firing upward under our belly.I pulled out of a dive which put the German directly behind us. Gerry could see the crew in their upward firing pos with gunner lying on his back. He opened fire when I was leveled and saw hits on the enemy a/c. When he saw fire coming from it he said "okay Skipper I got him and I am leaving", His turret wouldn't rotate so he jettisoned his guns and climbed out of the hole. Army people as well as me saw the German go down. It was confirmed shortly thereafter and Gerry receive a DFM immediate award".

Note: I still wondering which a/c Gerry shotdown. In his account he always talked about a twin engined nightfighter. Anyone who can put a light on this???