Mission No. 24
Date – December 5, 1944
Assigned Target – Rheinmetall Borsig Works, Berlin, Germany
Target Attacked – As Briefed.
Results – Unobserved (PFF)
Aircraft Number – M-7975-U
Bomb Load – Four 500 lb. I.B.; Eight 500 lb. G.B.
Bombing Altitude – 26,500 feet
Time – 8 hours 30 minutes
Position in Formation – Wing Lead.
Damage – None
Casualties – None.
Losses – None.
Loading List
C.A. – Capt. Frazier, W. E.
Pilot – Capt. Arlin, A. A.
Nav. – Capt. Pickett, P. E.
Nav. – 1st Lt. Kozak, S. V.
Mickey – 1st Lt. Meyers, T. R.
Bomb. – 1st Lt. Baxter, M. V.
Eng. – T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J.
Radio – T/Sgt. Ruff, C. F.
W. G. – S/Sgt. Carter, C. M.
W. G. – S/Sgt. Wilson, W. C.
Tail – S/Sgt. Hoffman, A. W.
Editor's Note: The diary indicated Dec. 4, but the 398th flew to Berlin on December 5.
Mission No. 24
Date -- December 5, 1944
At the briefing this morning, this mission looked especially rough. Berlin can always be figured as a rough one, and our route in and out was an open invitation to enemy fighters all the way. The target was to be hit by twelve groups from the First Division, and twelve from the Third. The Third was to go in first, and then the First with us the second group over the target.
We took off before dawn and had most of the assembly completed by daylight. In spite of the fact that we were assembling in the dark at 14,000 feet, everything went well and we departed the Debden Buncher on time. Immediately after leaving the Buncher, we made contact with the “A” Group and, after much “essing” and turning, fell into our correct position and departed the coast and started our climb.
Our course took us across the Zuider Zee and Holland, and direct to the target. We hit the coast of Holland at 24,000 feet and continued our climb to bombing altitude of 26,500 feet. Not once en route to the target did we encounter any flak, although we skirted and flew over many areas that were supposed to be flak areas. No opposition of any kind was encountered by us all the way in.
As we made our run off the I.P., I could see a lot of flak ahead and on both sides of us. But, as we came up on the target and dropped our bombs, not one burst was fired at our group. Groups on both sides of us were getting badly shot up, the flak was heavy and accurate, but we just happened to be there at the right time to get in and out without being fired upon.
The flight back was very similar to going in. We stayed at altitude because of the towering cumulus clouds, and came all the way out without any opposition in the form of either flak or fighters. We departed the coast of Holland at 26,000 feet; here a few scattered bursts hit our high squadron, but did no damage. After leaving the enemy coast we were able to let down below the weather and come home and make a normal formation landing.
The fact that the mission looked so rough at the briefing may have been the reason for so many abortives. Five ships aborted by the time we hit the border of Germany. When we returned and told them we had a milk run, they all wished they had “been able to make it.”
Although we had a very easy mission, the rest of the groups didn’t fare so well. 91 jerries were shot down as they intercepted or tried to intercept our formations. Most of these attacks were made against the groups of the Third Division. Between the flak and fighter, we lost about 30 bombers.
