We did get off for Berlin. Some “milk run” for our first OP. The aircraft was not able to reach operational height and we fell far behind but were able to reach and bomb our target. Shortly after turning for home we were hit hard by a fighter. I don’t know if we were upside down or not but I was suspended from the ceiling for a short time. When I got back on the floor the skipper told us to put our chutes on. This I did and about then we were hit again and the front turret was blown off. The only way I was able to move was to crawl on the floor. I crawled down the steps to the bomb bay.
At this point I passed out and came to swinging on my parachute. After stabilizing the swinging, I tried to put my gloves on because it was cold and wet. The next thing I remember I was on the ground in a woods.
Having no definite plan of action I began walking generally westward. I walked all night and all the next day. In the evening I approached a group of large buildings. Upon entering one of the buildings, I discovered that I was in a long corridor with many doors. It appears that I was in the female living quarters of an industrial complex of some sort. I was taken to a canteen in a factory, but was unable to communicate with anyone for quite some time. I was eventually identified by a party official and taken into custody. After a long hight I was driven to an airfield, given lunch and then by train to Frankfurt.

OTU - Chipping Warden
1943