Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association

Captain Alan A. Arlin's Diary

Arlin Mission No. 29

**January 21, 1945**
**Target:** **Tank Factory, Aschaffenburg, Germany**
Mission No. 29 Date – January 21, 1945 Assigned Target – Tank Factory, Aschaffenburg, Germany Target Attacked – As Briefed. Results – Unobserved (GH) Aircraft Number – M-8483-T (PFF) Bomb Load – six 500 lb. G.P.; six 500 lb. I.B.; 2 smoke Position in Formation – Group Lead. Time – 8 hrs. 45 min. Bombing Altitude – 25,000' Casualties – None. Damage – None. Losses – None. Abortions – Seven. Loading List. CA – Major Petersen, T. J. Pilot – Capt. Arlin, A. A. Co-P. – 2nd Lt. Buffalow, B. W. Nav. – Capt. Pickett, P. E. G.H. – 1st Lt. Slusher M.N. – 2nd Lt. Lathrop, Robert Y. Bomb. – 1st Lt. Veley, L. B. Eng. – T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J. Radio – T/Sgt. Cook, Richard J. W. G. – S/Sgt. Wilson, W. C. W. G. – S/Sgt. Hoffman, A. W. Mission No. 29 January 21, 1945 This mission was a lot like the last one. The weather was unusually foul, the enemy opposition light, and we went in to the target with below the minimum number of ships. The take off was before dawn under fairly favorable weather conditions on the ground. After take off, we went into the soup and didn’t break out of it until we had reached 25,500 feet. Our briefed altitude was 15,000 feet so our assembly was a mess. We left the buncher 19 minutes late with a total of four ships. By the time we reached the departure point, more ships had caught up with us and we had 12. Again we stuck our neck out for trouble by going in with so few ships. By the time we had reached enemy territory, we had picked up six more making us 18 out of 38. On the way in to the target, the tops of the clouds dropped so we were able to let down from 26,500 to 25,000 feet. The trip in and out were uneventful except for light flak crossing the lines on our way in. The rest of the time, we didn’t encounter any enemy opposition. We had good fighter support all the way but no Jerries came up to challenge us. Coming back, we were able to let down over the Channel and return to the base and make a normal formation landing without any trouble. The mission, with the exception of the assembly, was milk run and very much liked by all . . . . THAT’S ALL BROTHER!

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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