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Arlin Mission No. 15 Pilot - Capt. Arlin, A. A. Co-P - Capt Genung, M. L. Bomb. - 1st Lt. Baxter, M. V. Nav. - 2nd Lt. Aune, Arnt M. Eng. - T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J. Radio - T/Sgt. Ruff, C.F. R.W. - S/Sgt. McCort, J.J. L.W. - S/Sgt. Wilson, W.C. Ball - S/Sgt. Carter, C.M. Tail - S/Sgt. Hoffman, A.W. Arlin Mission No. 15 Things looked pretty rough at briefing time. We were to go into the Leipzig area where we always get fighters. Our route in took us north of Amsterdam and then a little bit south and on into the target. We had to skirt several large flak areas but got through without getting much flak in the formation. Outside of the flak nothing happened until we reached the I.P. [Initial Point]. As we turned off of the I.P. the flak started to boil up on each side of us. We could tell by the bursts that the flak was being fired from either side of [us] but was unable to reach us. We were flying down a very narrow corridor with flak bursting very heavy and very close on both sides of us but just a small amount was able to reach us. The target was visual so by squirming and twisting we followed this narrow corridor down and made a short bomb run and headed out. We didn't follow the briefed route out because by watching the flak come up ahead of us we were able to pick our way out of the area down narrow corridors between the flak areas. All the way in and out flack was intense all around us but we got through in very fine shape only for short time were we in anything more than moderate flak. Just as we were leading the target area of a group of about 50 to 100 Me 109's store queued up just off to our right. They were all little ahead of us, a little above us and just too far out to be in effective range of are guns. They stayed out there for what seemed like hours while we waited for them to attack. After what couldn't have been more than a minute or two they broke off and came in at us. They came in and started what looked like a head-on attack on us, a long line of bunches of them were coming in. At the point I expected them to open fire on us and really bore in they leveled off and went just over us so close it was almost possible to count the rivets in their ships. They passed us up and hit the group directly behind us. On their first pass I counted nine Bombers exploding and others going down in various stages and conditions of distress. The Jerries went right through that formation and for a while the sky was filled with fire and smoke as ships exploded and went down on fire. There were some collisions between bombers and the attacking Jerries and the Fortress gunners accounted for quite a few fighters so for a little time there was quite a show. I am sure thankful that they passed up my formation. Our fighter support was soon in there and kept the Jerries too busy to attack us again. I feel very grateful that I was able to bring all my ships back from this one. It turned out easy for us but awfully rough for some people near to us. The mission was a goose egg for us. Due to an accident our bombs went away early so we missed the target. Maybe we can starve the Germans out if we blow up enough of his wheat fields. |
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