El Djem
Although a fighter pilot, Cochran flew the lead C-47 on Christmas Eve 1942, airdropping paratroopers of the 509th Infantry Regiment to destroy the El Djem Bridge in Tunisia. He and his squadron unsuccessfully attempted to destroy the bridge by dive-bombing. He got lost during the night operation, and dropped the paratroopers in the wrong direction from the bridge; most of them were killed or captured. Prior to his return to the US, he was assigned to XII Training Command; he trained new fighter squadrons, including the 99th Fighter Squadron, just come over after completing their training at Tuskeggee, Alabama.