A NATION IN FLAMES NICK ARMBRISTER

Unconscious, he soon drowned in the cold sea, the Nazi’s first loss. The doomed fighter flew several more miles out of sight and splashed down in shallow water further down the coast, breaking into three pieces. Desperate radio calls from Black Shark Leader received no answer. Angry at their loss, the leader and his number two scythed down, this time head on, firing at close range into the cockpit area to kill the pilot and front gun position. This was dangerous and had to be done right, a single mistake would be deadly. British tracers shot out from the single nose gun and four upper turret guns, crossing German gunfire which sparked and exploded on the bigger targets. One Halifax swerved to starboard, the pilot having lost his head to a cannon shell, a dead hand on the controls. His wingman saw this too late! He attempted to turn but stood no chance, with a massive bang! Both bombers collided and blew to pieces, nothing remaining but smoke, broken metal and bits of falling bodies.