Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association

Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

Arlin Mission No. 27

**January 3, 1945**
**Target:** **Marshalling Yard, Cologne, Germany**
Mission No. 27 Date – January 3, 1945 Assigned Target – Marshalling Yard, Cologne, Germany Target Attacked – As Briefed. Results – Unobserved (PFF) Aircraft Number – E-8398-Q (PFF) Bomb Load – 12 500 lb. G.P. 2 Smoke. Position in Formation – Wing Lead. Time – 6 hrs. 20 min. Bombing Altitude – 26,000' Casualties – None. Damage – None. Losses – None. Loading List. CA – Major Petersen, T. J. Pilot – Capt. Arlin, A. A. Co-P. – 2nd Lt. Buffalow, B. W. Nav. – Capt. Pickett, P. E. Nav. – 1st Lt. Kozak, S. V. Bomb. – 1st Lt. Baxter, M. V. Mickey – 1st Lt. Lathrop, Robert Y. Eng. – T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J. Radio – T/Sgt. Suchman, Charles F. W. G. – S/Sgt. Carter, C. M. W. G. – S/Sgt. Wilson, W. C. Mission No. 27 January 3, 1945 If it hadn’t been for really foul weather over England, this mission would have been a real milk run. After take off, we ran into the soup, but broke out into the clear with plenty of clearance for the assembly. Although we took off well before daylight, dawn was breaking by the time we had reached our assembly altitude of 20,000 feet. The assembly went slowly due to the altitude, but by the time we set course, most of the ships had formed. The rest caught up with us before we left the English coast. The trip in and out was nearly entirely over our territory, so we met no flak en route, either coming or going. Over the target area there was flak, but due to so many ships being in the general area at the same time and going so many different directions, and also the solid cloud cover below, we were able to get in and out without being fired upon. Our deputy had the G.H. ship with which the bomb run was to be made. He was unable to take off with us due to mechanical troubles, so we went on in to the PFF target. Our GH target was a railroad bridge only 10 miles beyond our lines. The PFF target was the yards in the northern part of Cologne. The mission was a “piece of cheese,” as the English would say, up to the time we hit the English coast on our way home. At the coast, we were right down on the deck. Our ships in the low elements couldn’t have been more than 100 feet above the water while the ships in the high elements were dragging through the bottom of the overcast. At the same point and at the same time we entered the English coast, there were about five or six other groups doing the same. The visibility was practically nil. The ground was visible directly below; that was all that could be seen. The air was exceedingly rough making it very difficult to keep the formation together. However, by having all the ships turn on all their lights, including landing lights, we avoided collisions with other groups and made it home without any accidents.

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 David L. Clark.
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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