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Re: 9 August 1944 DO217 north of Gironde 2055 BST
III./KG 100
Aug 44: the first known use of a “smart” weapon against a land target occurred during the night of 2/3 August when several crews from III.Gruppe used FXs and Hs 293s to knock out a vital bridge near Avranches and another the following night at Pontaubault. Two Dorniers and crews failed to return from these missions. Bridges at Pontaubault were attacked again 4/5 August, a key highway bridge at Pontorsson 5/6 August, and bridges at Avranches again on 6/7 and 7/8 August. Five more Do 217s and crews were lost over these four nights, several of them the victims of night fighters. During the evening of 11 August a crew attacked ships in the Gironde Estuary claiming a hit on a large cargo vessel.
No mention of 9 August, but the above does suggest the sort of activity the Gruppe was engaged in.
L.
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