Attack on Cognac 31 Dec 43

[Chris Goss]

Can anyone tell me what American units attacked this airfield on the morning of 31 Dec 43?

[Martin Gleeson]

Hi Chris,

Using a combination of information from "THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY" by Roger A. Freeman and "LOSSES OF THE US 8th AND 9th AIR FORCES", Vol.1 by Stan Bishop and John Hey.

The 8th Air Force attacked Cognac in force this day along with other targets in the general area. However in many cases Cognac was the secondary target when the primary target (Bordeaux-Merignac) was cloud-covered.

1st Bomb Division (91st, 92nd, 305th, 306th, 351st, 381st and 401st BGs). Many aircraft attacked Cognac instead of Bordeaux-Merignac, but have no more detailed information. Certainly the 91st and 351st BGs lost aircraft attacking Cognac.

2nd Bomb Division (93rd, 446th and 448th BGs) attacked Cognac as their secondary target.

3rd Bomb Division (94th, 385th and 447th BGs) attacked Cognac as their primary target.

Sorry I cannot be more precise. Perhaps others can enlarge on this ?

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[FrankieS]

Hello dear Chris and dear Martin,

maybe you find some more interesting here, entering the date?:
http://www.8thafhs.com/old/missions_by_date.php

Maybe the Frane crashes (attached) near to Cognac are to your imterest?
source: http://francecrashes39-45.net/index.php

best wishes,
Frank

[Kutscha]

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

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all. My interest is shortly before the attack, a Fw 200 from 9./KG 40 returned early from a mission with engine trouble & the pilot & BO were killed when their air raid shelter was hit