 On 3 December 1939 , 24 RAF Vickers Wellington bombers from Marham and Mildenhall bases attacked Heligoland . These were intercepted by I. / ZG 26 along with other Messerschmitt Bf 109 units . Specht scored his third victory , shooting down a bomber over the North Sea . But he was also seriously injured by return fire from the Wellington 's tail gunner , seriously wounding him in the face . Ditching into the sea , he was picked up by rescue craft . Losing the sight in his left eye , he spent the next six months in recovery . He was shot down by Corporal Copley of No. 38 Squadron RAF . 
