Air Power & D-Day

[tiger63]

I need some info on D-Day Related Airplanes & what they did. (Pre D-Day strikes, post d-day ground support, etc.)


I would also like to know what version (A - whatever) of the P-40 was named the Tomahawk.
(Kinda funny that the P-40, a plane extremely underrated, was just about the only plane to change names with each version. (Tomahawk, Kittyhawk, Warhawk, etc.)

[ATI_7500]

Four Fw-190s - assaulting the beach when the first wave of american forces arrived.

Fifteen Ju-88s - bombing the bridgeheads in the afternoon.

So much for the german "resistance" from the air.

[HawkerTempest5]

Aircraft were used for many tasks leading up to, during and after D-Day. Before the invasion aircraft were used for PR and strikes against supply lines. It should be noted that as part of the deception twice the number of raids were carried out in the Calais area to help convince the invasion would take place there and not Normandy.
On June 4th, aircraft of the Allied Expeditionary air force recieved 18 inch white and black invasion stripes painted around the wings and Fuselage. On D-Day aircraft flew cover for the fleet, close air support, para drops, glider towing ops, air sea rescue ops, artillery spotting ops, photo-recon ops ect.
One mission not well know was flown by the RAF's 617 squadron. On the morning of June 6th, Lancasters of 617 squadron flew towards Calais, slowly and dropped "window". These strips of tin foil were cut to about half the wave lenght of German radar and were released in a way that made it look as though a fleet was approaching Calais. This together with other deceptions helped tie down German reserves in the wrong place.
After D-Day, aircraft such as the Typhoon and Thunderbold played a major role in dealing with German armour. In a few cases, heavy bombers were used in close support of the troops, but in at least one case, the bombers hit Allied possitions and this practice was stopped soon after.
Soon after D-Day, Germany began it's V-1 assault on the UK. Flying fast, these early cruise missiles caused a big problem and squadrons of Tempests and Spitfire MkXIVs were held back in the UK to deal with these weapons until the launch sites were over run in September.
The Allies had total air superiority over the invasion beach head and few German aircraft showed up to challenge the Allies. In the afternoon of June 6th, Spitfire IXe ML407 of 485 (New Zealand) squadron flown by Flt. Lt. Johnnie Houlton shot down a JU-88 and claimed a share in a second, the first Allied aircraft to score a victory on D-Day. This aircraft is still flying today.

[Hagar]

I would also like to know what version (A - whatever) of the P-40 was named the Tomahawk.
(Kinda funny that the P-40, a plane extremely underrated, was just about the only plane to change names with each version. (Tomahawk, Kittyhawk, Warhawk, etc.)

The export version of the P-40 (or Hawk 81-A1) originally intended for the Armee de l'Air (French Air Force) was named Tomahawk I when the order was taken over by the RAF. The P-40B was known as the Tomahawk IIA & P-40C was the Tomahawk IIB.

The P-40D was different enough to be renamed Kittyhawk I by the RAF. The P-40E became the Kittyhawk IA, the P-40F was the Kittyhawk II, P-40M the Kittyhawk III & P-40N was Kittyhawk IV.

I believe the P-40F & later versions were generally known as the Warhawk in US service. I don't think any of the type were used in the D-Day invasion or in the European theatre throughout WWII.

PS. All you wanted to know about the P-40 here. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p40.html

[Scorpiоn]

Copy-pasted from the CFS3 handbooks:

The U.S. Nineth Air Force and the
RAF

[Professor Brensec]

Better late than never, I always say!  ;D

Your right! The P40 is a very underated plane in OTHER countries, but here in Australia, it's revered as the wonderful fighter (and everything else we could use it for) that is was.
The Aliison was always a disappointment in terms of performance (especially without the supercharger), but we made 'em work well. (and so did the Flying Tigers!)
What else could we do when our frontline fighter was the US (and British) trainer (A6) with a couple of .30's????

They were also the only 'genuine' 350 mph plane until 1942 (according to my information, anyway! )

A beautifully restored example adorns our newly restored Australian War Memorial.  

[Felix/FFDS]

The main features of the June 1944 issue of Aeroplane Monthly celebrates the 60th Anniversary of D-Day with a series of articles on " Air Power & D-Day" .

Not only are the tactical and strategic air strikes covered, but also the reconnaisance, paratroop-dropping and glider-towing missions are detailed, and the special " spoofing"  or "electronics countermeasures"  missions.

[Felix/FFDS]

In the category of "I didn't know that" .... troop carrying C-47s, both US and British, carried small bombs as well, to add to the confusion.   I'd read that the Russians used their Li-2Ps as both paratroop carriers and bombers, but this is the first I've read that the Allies used them - even if just for this operation.

[SilverFox441]

I've always liked the dummy paratroops carried by some C-47's. Those stupid little decoys caused a lot of havoc.