Richard G. Miller Mission October 30, 1942

Oct. 30

Went on nite mission to an airfield northwest corner of Crete. Dropped 500' s (9 of them) instantaneous fuse, Field was home of J.U. 52's, the transport ship Jerry uses; he has been spending It gallons of gas to get a gallon over to his front lines - has been flying 500 gals. at a time over and then carting it to the front. Had fair raid _ nearly got shot up several times by Ak-Ak we didn't expect; over Suda Bay and target it was a veritable 4th of July; landed at 7:30 a.m.

On landing found worst news of our stay here – “Cap'n" Kidd failed to return and couldn't be traced by I.F.F. because of so many ships being out; was hell to hear for he was one of the most likeable fellas here. His co-pilot was on his 2nd mission, his first being the one in which he had to bail out with rest of crew when got lost and ran out of gas. He had often remarked that he'd never fly again if he had to go thru that again. Then to add up misery, learned that one of the D.C. 3's stationed here was flying near Port Said and was shot down by a Spitfire - was inexcusable!! Didn't give the innocent transport a chance to identify itself _ made one pass and knocked it down in flames. It was at noon, visibility, perfect, ship absolutely unarmed - Gad they ought to raise Merry Hell with the R.A.F. man who sent up the fighter with instructions to shoot him down and then ought to have a court on "p" shooter pilot who wouldn't even look situation over first. Capn. Hopp was in another D.C. 3 about 1/2 mile away and saw it all; he had to rush out colors of day to keep from getting it too - the plane knocked down had Roth as pilot and Hanson as· co-pilot. Hanson just got in with Roth _ usually rode with Hopp. Hanson was good friend of mine, and I'd often remarked that he had nothing to worry about for he was always sure of getting home - then to get it like that _ sure makes a fatalist out of you and quick. I had to tell the girl he went with in Tel Aviv that he'd been killed _ seems she expected a future with him - she took it plenty hard. All our boys have vowed that it will go more than rough if any pursuit come within range now, It is a hell of a situation when two ships of our station get shot down by the British and we have lost only 3 to Jerry - hell, just whom are we fighting? Then, too, a B 25 got shot down over Delta a month or so back by British night fighters.