On the second approach to the target at Mannheim, Germany on 20 January 1945 out plane was trailing the squadron by approximately one-fourth mile. I was keeping a sharp watch out of the nose, trying to see the bombs go away when I saw a ship, presumably Lt. Mitchell, peel off from the formation and head to the right. I thought it strange, at the momentm because the flak had been light and inaccurate. The ship seemed to by under control, and I could see no sights of fire. I could have been wrong on the latter though because contrails were very dense and heavy. The last I saw of the ship, it was going into the clouds at a normal rate of descent.<\/p>\n