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Pilot - 1st Lt. Arlin, Alan A.
Co-P - 2nd Lt. Stallings, Harold O.
Bomb. - 1st Lt. Baxter, Morris V.
Nav. - 2nd Lt. Walkup, Charles A.
Eng. - T/Sgt. Chmielewski, Raymond J.
Radio - T/Sgt. Buchsbaum, Louis
Gun. - Pvt. McCort, Joseph J.
Gun. - S/Sgt. Wilson, William C.
Gun. - S/Sgt. Carter, Charlie M.
Gun. - Pvt. Hoffman, Arnold W.

Losses
Ship No. 7339-H Lt. O'Neil and Crew

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Arlin Mission No. 1
Date-May 19, 1944

Yesterday and the day before we were briefed for missions but both were scrubbed at the last minute because of weather. Today the weather was much better so we were able to get our first mission out of the way.

The C.Q. [Charge of Quarters] woke us at the 0200 this morning, all later than usual. By 0330 we had finished breakfast and were at the briefing room.

Briefing started with a roll call. When everyone was present Major Jones, the group S-2 Officer [from the Intelligence Section], began his part of the briefing by rolling up the screen that covers the wall map. There our routes to and from the target were shown along with the primary and secondary targets. Our target today was the Wilhelm-Strasse Railroad Station in the center of Berlin. Our routes in and out were to be the same, carrying us across Holland into Germany between Bremen and Hanover and straight on in to Berlin. After going over the routes and the targets in detailed he lowered the screen and projected detailed and enlarged pictures, maps and R.A.F night charts of the target area showing the exact size shape and location of the target and discussed the best method of picking up in identifying it. He also pointed out the M.P.I [which is the mean point of impact, or center of desired bomb pattern on target]. After this he discussed the flak chart showing the disposition of the 450 flak guns protecting this target. In closing he said we could expect heavy fighter opposition and intense flak in the target area.

S-2 finished, the Operations Officer, Major. Miller gave us part of his poop. Times for engines, taxi and take-off, our position in the division, fighter support, targets being hit by other divisions, gas load, bomb loads, etc.

The weather officer, Lieutenant Held showed us the weather to be expected from the base to the target and return. He also gave us the temperature, pressure and winds up to 30,000 ft. When he finished the Bombardiers and Navigators were dismissed to attend their special briefing.

After the room had quieted down operations gave us the information on the assembly, buncher, base altitude, bombing altitude, assembly altitude, flares, take-off runway, taxi instructions and other information needed by the pilots.

The Communications Officer, Capt. Cameron gave us instructions regarding radio procedures and discipline. Named the ships guarding B and C channels, fighter call signs, instructions for releasing chaff, and all other data concerning communications. Before being dismissed a general discussion was held to clear up any questions and to rehash some of the poop.

With time to spare before stations time we were dressed and had our equipment out at the ship. The crew installed the guns, checked the ammunition, gas, bombs, flak suits, radio in the ship in general. Engines time came up and we were ready to go. The engines started and warmed up; we taxied out to take off position. While waiting to take off the engines were checked and run up. One last check and we taxied out and took off on time at 0805.

We climbed out and arrived at the Debden Buncher on time at 6,000 feet, to find some of the other ships already there forming. In about 20 minutes the ships were all in formation and it was time to depart.

We flew a jagged course over England, climbing and getting into proper position with the division. By the time we departed the English coast our wing was in the division formation and we were climbing out over the channel towards Holland.

A few isolated flak guns greeted us as we crossed the enemy coast for the first time. We climbed on up to 24,000 feet, our bombing altitude, and proceeded in to the I.P. [initial point], skirting flak areas and keeping our eyes peeled for Jerry. Up to the I.P. no opposition was encountered other than occasional light flak. P-51s, P-47s and P-38s in large numbers were continually under, over and all around us going and coming.

As we turn off the I.P. toward the target a huge black smudge in the sky showed us where we were going. Everything seemed to start happening at once. First we could see dog fights between our escort and the Jerries in his F.W. 190's and M.E. 109's. Then ships bearing black crosses could be seen flashing past as they bored through our formation. I was so busy trying to stay in formation I was only able to get a few brief glimpses of them. About this time flak began bursting all around us and for what seemed like hours the sky was filled with exploding shells. A B-17 off on our left and a little ahead received a direct hit and his right wing disappeared in a cloud of smoke and flame, he exploded a few seconds after being hit. Another ship went down in flames behind us, that was Lieutenant O'Neill. His crew was seen to bail out OK.

For a time the sky was filled with smoke, exploding shells and burning ships, fighters and bombers alike were going down. Then bombs away, ours didn't release immediately so the late release threw them out into the edge of the city. The flak was still intense as we made a turn away from the city. As we left the flak area Jerry was there waiting and he gave us a little trouble for short ways before he left us and took on another group behind. Some other groups suffered severe losses to Jerry.

As we left the target area and headed home, still escorted, by fighters, we could look back and see the battle still going on as other wings behind us were still going in to drop their bombs. Over Berlin was a huge black cloud of exploding and spent flak. Out of this cloud hung many black ribbons, each marking the end of some ship. Approaching and leaving this cloud hundreds of ships could be seen. Off to one side where our fighters had tangled with the enemy fighters was what appeared to be swarms of bees milling around and around with smoke trails falling out of the bottom of each swarm showing that someone else had got it. We were too far away to distinguish whether they were friends or enemy. Below it all we could see an occasional chute of someone who had been able to bailout.

The return was uneventful. We were too high and there were too many clouds for us see much of the country. Again as going in we were able to skirt the flak areas and we were not attacked by fighters. After crossing Germany and Holland and were just leaving the enemy coast behind a few flak bursts came up. It seems like they have to have those few parting bursts. We let down crossing the channel and came home and landed in formation.

After parking and cutting the engines we crawled out fully expecting to find the ship riddled but found only one flak in the waist. Some of the other ships were pretty well shot up but most like ourselves got off pretty easy. Interrogation and chow over with we find ourselves awfully tired and let down. The best thing for that is a good shower and many hours in the sack.