Colonel J.L. Laughlin C/O 362nd FG

[CJE]

He is said to have sunk a "major German warship" at Brest on 25 August 1944 - in fact being the only USAAF pilot in the ETO to have accomplished such a feat.

However, I have found no trace of any "major warship" sunk at Brest in August '44, just a destroyer, Z23, severely damaged twice by bombing: the first time by 617 Sqn Lancasters and the second time on 12 (or 21) August and in La Pallice harbour, but definitely not sunk (scrapped in 1951).

Moreover, Jerry Scutts makes no mention of this fact in his Osprey volume on P-47 aces of 9th and 15th AF.

Any clue anyone?

Thanks in advance.

Chris