Operation: Escort and strafing airfield west of Salzburg (Austria)
Date: 16th April 1945 (Monday)
Unit: No. 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group
Type: P51D Mustang
Serial: 44-15608 (“Cape Cod Express”)
Code: CY-T
Base: Wormingford
Location: near the Airfield west of Salzburg
Pilot: Cpt. Chester E Coggeshall Jr. 0-754471 USAAF Age 24. Murdered
REASON FOR LOSS:
"Coggy was killed on the last scheduled mission of his second tour. He was leading Red Flight strafing an airfield near Salzburg and destroyed the 190 above. He was hit by flak and bellied in crashing through a building and the airplane was demolished. It was reported that he survived the crash, but was hung by civilians who were in turn hung during the Nurnberg Trials. Amazing that he had flown two tours and had not seen an enemy plane in the air.
Burial details:
Cpt. Chester E Coggeshall Jr. Long Island National Cemetery, New York. Grave: J.15558. Next of kin details not available are you able to assist?
Researcher Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered - September 2016. With thanks to Brennan Gauthier, Russ Abbey and Steven Barlo for photographs. Others Michel Beckers collection. Thanks also to Traugott Vitz for name correction and place of execution of Kobus.
RS 10.07.2018
RS 10.07.2018 - Update to the name Kobus and his place of execution.
Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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