FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER 1943
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 171: Various targets in France are hit; 19 B-17's and 6 B-24's are lost.
1. 200 of 236 B-17's and 57 of 60 B-24's hit the Bordeaux-Merignac, Cognac-Chateaubernard and Landes Bussac Airfields at 1211-1315 hours; they claim 17-13-27 Luftwaffe aircraft; 18 B-17's and 5 B-24's are lost, 8 B-17's and 2 B-24's are damaged beyond repair and 103 B-17's and 5 B-24's are damaged; casualties are 9 KIA, 36 WIA and 231 MIA.
https://8thafhs.org/combat1943.htm