398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association


Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

Arlin Mission No. 14

August 11, 1944
Target: Coastal Gun Installation, Brest, France

Arlin Mission No. 14
Date - August 11, 1944
Assigned Target - Coastal Gun Installation, Brest, France
Targets Attacked - As briefed
Results - Good
Aircraft Number - 7975-P (PFF)
Bomb Load - 12- 500 lb. Demos.
Position in formation - Wing Lead
Time - 6 hrs. 10 min.
Altitude over Target - 25,000 ft.
Casualties - None
Damage - Minor Flak Damage
Losses - None

Loading list

C.A. - Capt. Petersen, T. J.
Pilot - Capt. Arlin, A. A.
Bomb. - 1st Lt. Baxter, M. V.
Nav. - 2nd Lt. Merkin, Arthur
Nav. - 2nd Lt. Anderson, Earl W.
Nav. - 2nd Lt. Myers, Thomas E. (Mickey Operator)
Co-Pilot - Lt. Stallings, H. O.
Eng. - T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J.
Radio - T/Sgt. Ruff, Charles F.
R. W. - S/Sgt. McCort, J. J.
B.T. - S/Sgt. Wilson, W. C.
Tail. - S/Sgt. Hoffman, A. W.

Arlin Mission No. 14
Date - August 11, 1944

After we landed everyone got out of the ship and lined up to go have a picture taken . Just then the Colonel came out to see how things went on the mission, when he saw everyone lined up there he asked if we were having a the Squadron picture made. It must have looked like that because we had seven officers and five enlisted men on board. We had more navigators and pilots that we knew what to do with. Even though the visibility was unrestricted at the target we took a PFF ship and a lot of personnel to make sure we hit the right target. It was one of those targets you can't miss . To miss would mean killing our own troops near the area.

The only part of this mission that offered any excitement at all was about two minutes over the target area. The weather was exceptionally good all the way. We made the usual assembly and made our approach to the target from the sea. As we got in near the target a few guns opened up on us with some quite accurate fire but they failed to do any great amount of damage. We made a good bomb run, dropped off our bombs and headed back out to sea. The bomb release would have been perfect but the release failed to work and "Bax" had to kick them out manually. This caused a slight delay and the M.P.I. was just a little over. The target was hit all right put the center of our bomb pattern was just over.

This was a nice mission. Over the water all the way. No flak or enemy fighters to sweat out. Everyone got back OK and no one was shot up a very bad. Would like to go back again, tomorrow.

Acronym Note: The term C.A. stood for Command of the Aircraft, or Aircraft Commander in conversations.

Notes:
  • First Lieutenant Alan A. Arlin of the 601st Squadron was the pilot of Rapid City original crew No. 31. On many of his missions, 1st Lieutenant and later Captain Alan A. Arlin was a lead pilot for his squadron or for the group.
  • The above transcription was provided by Dave Jordan.
  • This transcription is a careful reproduction of the original except for occasional spelling and punctuation changes. In some circumstances, based on relevancy, some material may not have been transcribed.
  • Clarification of acronyms or special words or guesses of certain words are shown in brackets [ ].

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