Having seen this dramatic photograph, I was delighted to find that the full story behind it had been published in the squadron newsletter.

All of our aircraft landed safely, including P(F/O Summons), which after colliding with another aircraft on route to the target was coaxed on its two port engines alone through a gauntlet of flak towards Dusseldorf. Good airmanship and richly-deserved good luck (which unhappily deserted the other victim - an aircraft from a sister squadron) brought the unfortunate episode for F/O Summons and his crew. Losing height and weaving as much as it dared, P presented a sitting a solitary target for Jerry's guns. A run was made on a built up area, believed Dusseldorf, where in far from ideal conditions the bomb aimer deployed his entire load - minus one bomb tail - well and truly laid.... a truly remarkable performance, as was discovered on subsequent inspection of the mangled bomb bay. Thereafter, losing height on a "Home, James!" course, was escorted on the finishing 'straight' by a Spitfire, BQ-P touched down at Manston with a dignity that belied its crumpled propellers, and disembarked its crew entirely unscathed.

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