Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association

Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

Arlin Mission No. 20

**October 5, 1944**
**Target:** **Marshalling Yard, Cologne, Germany**
Mission No. 20 Date – October 5, 1944 Assigned Target – Marshalling Yard. Koln, Germany [Editors note: Cologne, Germany was the official 398th target for October 5, 1944. It is likely that Captain Arlin used a phonetic spelling for the target.] Target Attacked – Lead and Low Groups – None; High Group – As briefed Results – Lead and Low Groups – Nil; High Group – Unobserved (PFF) [PFF is Pathfinder Force] Aircraft Number – E-7740-Q (PFF) Bomb Load – 12 500 lb. Demo. Position in Formation – Deputy Wing Lead Time – 5 hrs. 30 min. Altitude over Target – 27,000' Casualties – None Damage – None Losses – None Loading List C.A. – Capt. Arlin, A. A. Pilot – 1st Lt. Brown, Robert E. Nav. – 2nd Lt. Lazier, Bernard T. Nav. – 2nd Lt. Meyers, Thomas E. (Mickey Operator) Bomb. – Capt. Levy, David L. Eng. – T/Sgt. McCort, J. J. Radio – T/Sgt. Catterlin, Richard W. W. G. – S/Sgt. Mallon, John P., Jr. Tail – S/Sgt. Johnson, Clayton E. Mission No. 20 Date – October 5, 1944 This was another one of those days. Nothing went right and the net result for the day was zero. Our assembly was at 5 angels, 19,000', due to weather. The weather was bad all through the rest of the mission. We missed our place in the division formation, so we went in at just any place we could find. The lead Mickey was out and so was ours, so the navigation was just by guess. The contrails were so thick we were on instruments most of the time. We flubbed around and got ourselves good and lost. We flew around over western Germany getting nowhere, only getting shot at every now and then. The high group had a good Mickey, so they went in and bombed the target. We gave it up and came back home with our bombs. The low group came back with us. The high group went on in and got separated in the weather over the target. They threw their bombs out the best they could and came home more or less individually. They were scattered all over. Some of them were shot down by flak, and others made landings in Belgium. There is no knowing at this time just how many crews we have lost. The mission for us was just next to nothing. We were flying as deputy, so it wasn’t too rough.

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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