On our 21st mission bombing the Vienna Florisdorf Oil refinery, just after bombs away there was a loud sound of metal hitting metal, that over-covered the normal sounds of flying. The plane pitched upward violently at the same time. A flak shell probably a 125 mm had hit about one foot behind and at waist level of our pilot R. J. von Schriltz. It coursed upward tearing a gash through the plane. It hit a machine gun stripping the perforated cooling barrel, and bent the gun into a ninety degree angle. It also destroyed the plexiglass cover of the turret. At the same time two shells burst on each side of the aircraft, peppering the fuselage. A fragment, about two inches long and three quarters of an inch thick, just missed me. It’s been said, “God was my Co-Pilot”, this was certainly the case as that dud never exploded. With our forward speed, if it were timed a fraction later, even the dud would have torn off our left wing. We brought the aircraft home. A Stars and Stripes photographer took this photo, and it appeared in the next issue. The plane was scavenged for parts.