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Wings at War Series, No. 2

Sunday Punch inNormandy

THE TACTICAL USE OF HEAVY BOMBARDMENTIN THE NORMANDY INVASION

An Interim Report

Published by Headquarters, Army Air ForcesWashington, D. C.

Office of Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence

From Reports Prepared by Eighth Air Force

New Imprint by the

Center for Air Force HistoryWashington, D. C. 1992

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14. ABSTRACT

Focuses on the invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. This short study describes, in detail, the close cooperation among the Allies informulating the D-Day plan.

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Foreword

Sunday Punch in Normandy focuses on the all-importantinvasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944, forever rememberedas "D-Day." Just before dawn, wave after wave of Army AirForces heavy bombers targeted the beach areas to make wayfor the assault troops. The pilots encountered virtually no airopposition, because the massive Allied air superiority efforthad been brilliantly planned and well-orchestrated.

This short study describes in detail the close cooperationamong the Allies in formulating the D-Day plan. A finalsection on operations gives a chronology of the interdictionmissions flown by Eighth Air Force fighters and bombers.

CONTENTS

Page

Planning the Operation ..... ........... IEighth Air Force Aims and Commitments . . .. 4Transition From a Strategic to a Tactical Role . . 13Eighth Air Force Assignments in Relation to the Over-

All Cooperation Plan ....... .......... 19Operations 2 June-17 June 1944 ........ .' ...... 22

Subsidiary Operations .... ............ ... 29

Enemy Air Reaction .... ............ ... 29

ILLUSTRATIONS

Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz ... ......... .. FrontispieceEighth Air Force Over-All Plan ..... .. facing 2

Angouleme Marshaling Yard ..... ......... 5Pre-Dawn Assembly Plan ............ .. facing 8Fighter Bombing and Strafing Operations . .. 10Beach Scene, Showing Craters ... ........ .. 14-15ist Bombardment Division Target Area facing 182nd Bombardment Division Target Area facing 20

3rd Bombardment Division Target Area facing 22

Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle ... ......... ... 23

Beach Scene Landing Craft Offshore . . . . facing 28Le Mans Airfield After Attack ..... ........ 30

OFFICIAL PHOTO USAAF

Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz, Commanding General, United States Strategic Air Forces

The Tactical Use ofHeavy Bombardment in the

Normandy Invasion

Planning The OperationENGLAND was bulging with troops. Along the narrowlanes dispatch riders dashed. Tanks lumbered over theroads; assault craft were piled at distribution points; frequent

and elaborate exercises were being staged. Already there had beenpractice alerts, when all personnel were required to be at their bases.Newspapers speculated, the German press and radio exulted that theAllies had missed the most favorable tides and could not assault foranother month. Tension ran high.

For months there had been good-natured badgering between mem-bers of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces, who in turn had bandedtogether when assailed by ground force personnel. Now they werebeginning to realize that they were all members of a bigger team, anoutfit which would soon be called upon to conduct history's greatestmilitary operation.

Forgotten now were differences between strategic and tactical,between ground and air, between Army and Navy, between Ameri-cans and their Allies. All were welded into one compact, devastatingfist, set to deliver the Sunday punch.

There are more facets to the Normandy invasion than to a finelycut diamond. Volumes and sets of volumes will be written about it.This booklet considers only one, the tactical employment of theEighth Air Force heavy bombers before and during the invasion andthe resultant change in the disposition and use of Eighth Air Forcefighters.

It required careful planning. Here are shown the planning steps,with the problems which arose and demanded workable solution.Also included is a summary of Eighth Air Force operations from Dminus 4 to D plus i i.

Like the other participating components, the Eighth Air Force,

commanded by Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, did its part in highlycreditable fashion.

The plan for invasion envisaged air operations on a comprehensiveand unprecedented scale. These were divided into two phases. Theaim of the first was the attainment of Allied air supremacy and

destruction of the enemy's productive capacity to the point where,once the projected foothold on the Continent had been secured, over-whelming materiel superiority could be brought to bear. The secondphase had as its objective effective air cooperation with the groundassault.

A vital share in the preparatory operations was allotted to thestrategic bomber forces of the Royal Air Force and the U. S. EighthAir Force. In the second phase the Ninth Air Force and the SecondTactical Air Force (RAF) were in the forefront, but again thestrategic forces made important contributions.

On 15 April 1944 the over-all air plan for the employment of all

British-based aircraft in cooperation with the forthcoming invasionof France was formally issued by Headquarters, Allied ExpeditionaryAir Force, having been originally drafted some 6 weeks earlier. Itcontained detailed provisions for operations and furnished the basisfor extensive preparations by the Eighth Air Force to fulfill its con-siderable proportion of the over-all assignments. A directive fromLt. Gen. Carl Spaatz's headquarters, USSTAF, dated 30 May 1944,

confirmed earlier informal directions requiring the rendition by theEighth Air Force of maximum cooperation according to provisions

of the air plan and related documents.Between 15 April and 6 June practically everybody had a hand in

formulating the plan, which changed so often and so much its finalform was only a distant relative of the original. The commandersof all the principal air, ground, and naval forces in the theater worked

on it. Details were suggested, developed, polished by committees of

staff representatives and technical experts. When formally published,it represented the knowledge and opinions of men who knew their

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jobs. A brief chronology of the more important planning phases canbe traced as follows:

i. The AEAF was created on 15 November 1943, with Air ChiefMarshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory designated as Air Commanderin Chief. Headquarters, AEAF, was thereafter represented at the2ist Army Group meetings, and the basic requirements of air coop-eration were established, subject to the general policies already formu-lated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff.

2. A Joint Planning Committee was formed on 15 December 1943by Headquarters, 21st Army Group, to consider the relationship ofair power to the assault plan, the delay of enemy reserves, coordinationwith naval fire, and neutralization of coastal artillery. When Head-quarters, AEAF, became fully organized and staffed, an OperationsPlans Section was constituted, which gradually took over the functionsof the Joint Planning Committee.

3. Of more immediate significance to the Eighth Air Force wasthe formation on io January 1944 of the AEAF Bombing Committeeto plan specifically the employment of bomber aircraft. Principalconsiderations were:

a. Suitability of targets for bombingb. Relationship of bombing commitments to the scale of effort

estimated to be availablec. Allocation of priorities to the various commitmentsd. Apportionment of the available bomber effortSupplementing the AEAF Bombing Committee almost from the

start was the Operational Planning Committee, consisting of certainmembers of the first-named body plus representatives of the 21st

Army Group and each of the air forces involved. The work of thetwo committees was so closely interrelated that no separate assessmentof their contributions toward the final detailed plans is possible. Thefunction of both was to transform into concise and exact operationalprograms the general policies agreed upon by the air, ground, andnaval commanders. Designated to represent the Eighth Air Forceon the Operational Planning Committee was a senior operations con-troller, but as the earlier meetings concerned primarily the commit-ments of the tactical air forces, his attendance was required onlyoccasionally until 15 April 1944. Before and during this period,specific problems pertaining to heavy-bomber operations were oftensubmitted by letter to USSTAF or Eighth Air Force for solution.

3

By 25 May, details of the Eighth Air Force program were largelycompleted. On 29 May, Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory requestedeach headquarters concerned to appoint a regular member of thecommittee, prepared to meet daily. Thereafter until 30 June, theEighth Air Force representative was in constant attendance day andnight.

To facilitate complete understanding between the Eighth Air Forceand the principal Army headquarters, SHAEF granted permissionfor direct contact between USSTAF and Eighth Air Force representa-tives, on the one hand, and American and British Army staff officers,on the other. Two such meetings were arranged, at which veryimportant concrete agreements were reached. The first involvedthe commander and staff of the American First Army Artillery, andthe second was with staff officers of the I and XXX Army Corps of theBritish Second Army. Final coordination of air activities was achievedthrough informal meetings among representatives of the variouscommands.

Daily meetings of air force commanders were begun on D minus3 and continued throughout the critical period of the invasion. Finalalterations in plans were considered and decided upon, as well as thetransitory problems arising as the invasion forces moved inland afterthe initial foothold had been secured.

Eighth Air Force Aims and CommitmentsHeavy Bombers

Before considering the tactical program involved, it is well tosummarize briefly the strategic role previously enacted by the EighthAir Force, together with RAF Bomber Command. This role,designed to provide indirectly for the ultimate success of the invasion,was incorporated in the Combined Bomber Offensive Program, itsaim having been defined as "the progressive destruction and disloca-tion of the German military, industrial, and economic system andthe undermining of the morale of the German people to a point wheretheir capacity for armed resistance is fatally weakened."

Pertaining more directly to the success of the invasion was thecorollary development of a specific bombing program against theGerman aircraft industry. This program was directed at the attain-ment of virtual air supremacy and as such was indispensable to opera-tions by ground forces. It was not until the summer of 1943 that

4

TACTICAL TARGET. A good concentration of bombs on the Angoulememarshalling yard, scored by Eighth Air Force heavy bombers.

631804-45- 2

the Eighth Air Force could operate in sufficient strength to executesustained large-scale attacks, but its efforts in those summer monthswere sufficient to keep the GAF from creating enough front-linestrength to stop subsequent major operations. Adverse weatherduring November and December prevented the cumulative bombingnecessary for complete success in such an undertaking, but productionlevels had been affected to the extent that the Luftwaffe had done littlemore than maintain its strength during 1943.

A more intensive campaign was possible during the early months

of 1944, reaching a peak of sustained effort during the period 20-25

February and maintained, subject to tactical considerations, until theend of May. The substantial damage to factories and assemblyplants, coupled with destruction in aerial battle of German first-linecombat aircraft by both bombers and escorting fighters on a hithertounprecedented scale, was unquestionably the decisive factor in reduc-ing the GAF to the point where it had no more than a nuisance valueduring the critical invasion period. This was attested by the remark-ably low number of sorties directed against the Allied beachheads andshipping lanes.

The following figures give some appreciation of the war of attrition

by the Eighth Air Force against the GAF. During the first 6months of 1944, 6,813 bombers dropped 16,522 tons on aircraft fac-tories, and 8,257 bombers dropped 21,267.7 tons on airfields and airparks. In the same period 1,914 first-line enemy aircraft were

destroyed by the bombers in aerial combat and 1,682 were destroyed

or damaged on the ground as a result of bombing of air parks, air-fields, and factories. To these figures can be added the impressive

total accounted for by escorting fighters-I,696 destroyed in combat

and 761 in strafing attacks. Results obtained against other strategic

targets were not so strikingly apparent in relation to D-day opera-

tions, but evident shortages in fuel, tanks, motor vehicles, radar

equipment, and ammunition were traceable, at least in part, to the

strategic bombing of the Eighth Air Force and the RAF Bomber

Command.During April and May 1944 continuation of attacks against strategic

objectives was necessary to prevent reconstruction and as a means of

holding the greater part of the GAF within Germany. At the same

time the first commitments directly associated with the impending

assault came into force. (There were also attacks against installa-

6

tions near the French coast when the weight of Eighth Air Forcebombing was required in addition to the continual operations bytactical air forces.) These initial commitments consisted of attacksagainst 20 marshalling yards in occupied territory and neutralizationof all active GAF operational bases within a 350-mile range of theinvasion beaches.

To avoid giving any clue as to the probable assault area, attacks onboth target categories were widespread, the marshalling yards beingkey points throughout the rail network of western Germany, Belgium,and northern and eastern France, and the airfield targets includingthe more important bases in northern Germany. The purpose ofthe Transportation Plan was primarily the destruction of repair andmaintenance facilities and only incidentally the tearing up of trackageand damage to locomotives and rolling stock. By these means itwas hoped to prevent the enemy from effecting rapid concentrationof men and materiel, cut the flow of supplies and reinforcements fromGermany, and force increasing reliance upon road transport, thuspromoting wastage of fuel and motor vehicles and offering targetsmost suitable for fighters and fighter-bombers. Pursuant to this plan,3,469 bombers dropped 9,520 tons on marshalling yards in Germany,France, and the Low Countries during the month of May. Theseattacks were so successful that the Eighth Air Force was able to bombadditional targets not assigned in the original list.

The Airfield Plan was designed to deprive the Luftwaffe of baseswithin effective striking range of the assault beaches by destruction ofpermanent installations for repair, maintenance, and servicing, andby cratering runways and landing grounds to an extent that fieldswould be unusable. Parked aircraft destroyed in these attacks wouldconstitute a further blow against the enemy's dwindling front-linestrength. It did not prove feasible to conduct operations against allsuch targets, but the most important were hit and a good percentagewas effectively neutralized. From D minus 30 and D minus 21,

respectively, the scope of the attacks against rail and airfield targetswas considerably narrowed, but special care was taken in the selectionof targets so as not to reveal the actual invasion area. Airfieldsattacked were confined to those within a 130-mile radius of Caen andin the Brest-Nantes region, to compel German fighters to operatefrom bases at least as far distant from the beachhead as those of theAllied tactical forces.

7

In addition, it was agrced with the Naval Chief of Staff that theEighth Air Forcc would ul(crtakc to attack bascs for suhmarimncs andlight naval vcssels if divcrsion of cffort from other co(mmitments wasfcasihlc. Only one such attack was undcrtakcn, and adverse weatherprcvcntlcd its succcssful complletion.

Throughout this prcliminary perilod, whcrcin the origilml commit-mcnt against strat egic (ol jeCtiv*,s wavs modified hv the Transportationand Airfield plans as well as by the occasio)nal attacks reqIuireld againstcoastal installations, the Eighth Air For-c, nominally unlcr the con-trol of SHAEF from 14 April i944, was allowed to retain freedomof decision in fulfilling its varied assignmcnts. This greatlv facili-

tatcd opcrations, as priorities could bc carefully halanccd againstwcather factors an ( other operaton Coll cunsideration s Iy those bestqualificd to cope with the problems of hlcavy-htolbcr operations. Notuntil June 1944 did conltrol undter the fixed schedule provided for inthe over-all air plan for the invasison pass to Headquarters, AIAF.

Immedliately prior to 1)-day (I) minus , through 1) minus IEighth Air Force operations wcrc to bc twoffl1d in nature, consistingof final attacks against rail junctions antI airfiel(ls as well as missionsagainst coastal installations. The ptostponlcnicn t of I)-dav brounghtinto effect a prcvoiously prcpar(cd schedule of targets in the salme c:ite-gorics. Thcir size am1 the idcntificatilon prolllems which they pre-sented made the probability of dircct hits wery small, amd, cvcn if hit,thc concrete cmplaccments wcrc of such thickness that little hi arm wasIlikchv to result. During this short pcriord prior to I)-dav, bomhebrforces wcre to bc c:arcfullv hushanded to nsurc that the necessarystrength for the c )mprenhclnvc i)-day prolgram was maintained.Thcrcforc, the opcrations for each dayv wcrc to cmploy only 50 percCntof the availahble strcng1h with one importrant cxce'ption: if visual coil-ditions prcvailcd over Germany on either I) minus 3 or I) minus 2,10o percent of the effort was to h) expended, 4o percenilt against theusual tactical targets and 6o peCrcCnt against strategic objectives withillGcrmans. The lattcr missitn was designed as a finml atctlept To Coll-tain cinemv fighter strength for (lefeilse (of GerimanIy until the lat1momcnt before the actual landings.

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8

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coastal strip included all assault beaches except an adjacent Americanbeach, designated as Utah, which was the responsibility of the U. S.Ninth Air Force.

Some 1,20o heavy bombers were to participate, flying in squadronsof six aircraft. Following a carefully devised system of predawnassembly aided by searchlights, navigation lights, Aldis lamps, buncherand splasher beacons, and Gee equipment, the aircraft were to flypredesignated courses to the target area, bombing in successive wavesuntil H-hour (or thereafter attacking secondary targets well inland).Assault craft were to remain iooo yards offshore until H-hour, and a5-minute interval was to elapse between the releases by the lastwave of bombers and the initial touchdown by the assault troops.These safety factors represented the final compromise between thedesire of the ground forces to exploit immediately the demoralizationresulting from the bombing at the risk of casualties and the inclinationof the air forces to impose considerably greater intervals to minimizethe dangers from possible bombing errors.

Demoralization of enemy front-line defenders and disruption ofcommunication lines for reserve forces were the sole aims of the pre-assault bombing. It was understood that only a small percentage ofthe actual targets would suffer direct hits and smaller still would bethe number seriously affected. Bomb loadings were established ofioo-lb. GP, 120-lb. fragmentation, 5oo-lb. GP, and i,ooo-lb. GP, thelast for installations well clear of the beaches. Fuzing was to beinstantaneous to avoid cratering the beaches except for targets awayfrom the landing areas, where i/io nose-i/ioo tail was permissible.

Alternative plans were provided for bombing through overcast,

since it had been agreed that, other factors being favorable, the groundassault would be initiated whether or not visual bombing was possibleand, if necessary, entirely without bomber cooperation, in which eventthe Eighth Air Force was to be in constant readiness. Minimumrequirements for visual attacks by heavy bombers were an 8,ooo-footceiling, 3-mile visibility, and sufficient breaks in any low cloud topermit ready target identification. Less favorable conditions would

demand the substitution of the plan involving overcast technique.Pinpointing of targets would be impossible, but since demoralizationand immobilization of enemy forces were the principal aim, it wasconsidered that area bombing of the sectors wherein lay the specificvisual targets would provide virtually the same effect.

9

- LE A RE

Squadrons were to fly six abreast and bomb on the release of aPathfinder aircraft in one of the center squadrons. By such anarrangement deflection errors were largely neutralized, but furthersafeguards against errors in range were deemed necessary. Accord-ingly, the interval between the final bombing and the initial touch-down was to be increased to 10 minutes. One other necessary changewas the instantaneous fuzing of all bombs, since the entire attack wasto be directed against the assault beaches, which must not be cratered.Since the Ninth Air Force aircraft were not equipped for overcastbombing, provision was needed to cover Utah beach in their stead,should it prove impossible for even the medium bombers to operatebeneath the cloud base.

Subsequent to the assault phase, additional missions were laid onin cooperation with the landing operations. Targets outlined in theover-all air plan consisted mainly of transportation choke-points,including several Normandy towns through which ran important

IO

lines of communication. Leaflet warnings were to be dropped to thepopulace of these towns before bombing.

Weather, photographic, and visual reconnaissance missions, specialsupply operations to the French Forces of the Interior, leaflet-droppingsorties, and radio countermeasure flights were to be undertaken inconjunction with the over-all ground and air activities.

No exact schedule of operations subsequent to D-day could beprepared in advance, since the progress of the ground forces and thenature of the enemy's reaction would be the determinants, but certaingeneral features of the program were decided upon. Detailed targetmaterial, covering virtually all known potential tactical objectives innorthern France, received the required distribution well in advanceof D-day. Attacks were to be continued against road and rail trans-port facilities, including bridges on the Brest peninsula and acrossthe Loire River; enemy airfields; concentrations of enemy reinforce-ments and supplies; and coastal defenses in the Pas de Calais sector.Blasting of robot-bomb launching sites was also contemplated if thesecurity of the British Isles called for such action.

Requests for specific attacks were to be forwarded from Head-quarters, AEAF, when the Eighth Air Force representative was inregular attendance. It was anticipated that a number of these mis-sions would have to be undertaken on very short notice. The intervalprior to a return to strategic bombing was dependent upon the degreeof success attained by the ground forces, and it was recognized thateven after the need of continual cooperation by heavy bombers hadpassed there would be periodic demands for tactical operations.

Fighters

No marked deviation from the normal escort tasks of EighthAir Force fighters was required until D-day. Early in 1944, follow-ing substantial increases in fighter strength, the policy had beeninaugurated of executing strafing attacks upon completion of escortduties. Such attacks became an accepted adjunct to high-altitudeescort and, due to the tremendous scale of activity, provided the bestpossible training for ground-cooperation missions. On days when noheavy-bomber operations were scheduled, it was often possible todispatch the fighters on independent bombing and strafing missions,some in the nature of experimental attacks against airfields and

I1

bridges. To a large degree, experience gleaned from these missionsequipped fighter pilots for the job ahead.

The first fighter commitment to become effective on D-day wasthe protection of Allied shipping during daylight hours. P-38's weredetailed to this task because of their readily identifiable lines and alsobecause this fighter, relatively less effective than the P- 47 and theP-5 i at high altitudes, can operate without handicap at 3,000/5,000feet, the altitude designated for these patrols. The four P- 38 groupsoperating under the direction of the Combined Control Center atUxbridge and in conjunction with Ninth Air Force P- 38 groups wereto work under the Type 16 ground control station at Ventnor; there-after, Fighter Direction Tender No. 13 would be stationed in mid-Channel and would assume control. Each of four sectors was to becovered by one P- 38 squadron, flying in 9o-minute patrols accordingto a predetermined schedule.

On D-day the other Eighth Air Force fighters, four P- 47 and sevenP- 5 i groups, were to support all American and British bombers oper-ating during daylight hours in the vicinity of the assault area by meansof continuous area patrols east, south, and west of the beachhead,patrols which would also serve to form a protective screen around

the ground forces. The cover area was bounded approximately bythe Seine on the east and the Loire on the south and, to avoid identifi-cation difficulties, excluded the actual assault locality where NinthAir Force and Second Tactical Air Force fighters would be operating.

These operations were to be conducted in accordance with threewell-formulated plans, two for the two peak periods of bomber effort,dawn and late afternoon, and one for the intervening period of lessactivity. To avoid continuous patrols the fighter groups were dividedinto two units, an "A" group of two squadrons to fly during the peakhours and a "B" group of one squadron for the in-between period.

An important secondary function, subordinate to bomber support,was the execution of strafing and bombing attacks at the end of areapatrols or on independently scheduled missions when the bombers

were not operating. It was expected that more emphasis would begiven to this type of operation subsequent to D-day. The principal

aim of such activities was the destruction of enemy road and rail trans-port and the interdiction of all types of enemy movement toward the

assault area. Target priorities were established as follows:

12

i. Enemy rail transportation2. Enemy road transportation3. Ammunition dumps4. Troop concentrations5. Airfields

Although direct control of the P-38's was to pass to the tacticalfighter forces' Combined Control Center, the operational and execu-tive control of the Eighth Air Force groups was to remain the responsi-bility of Eighth Air Force and VIII Fighter Command, which alsohad the task of preparing the detailed plans for implementing theover-all assignments.

Transition From a Strategic to a Tactical RoleHeavy-bomber operations in close cooperation with ground forces

involved a tactical concept differing greatly from familiar strategicbombing activities. Problems were posed in relation to assemblies,formations, routings, bomb loadings, fuzings, and overcast bombingtechniques; details of briefing and mission reporting had to be workedout; coordination with other air forces and with naval planners wasnecessary to a far greater degree than heretofore required; aircraftrecognition and delineation of prohibited bombing zones had to beconsidered. Most important, the requirements of the ground forcesmust be translated into a workable air cooperation program, and theground force commanders had to be thoroughly informed as to thecapabilities and the limitations of the heavy bombers. Differencesarose and were generally compromised, although a few were sub-mitted to SHAEF for final settlement. The over-all plan was ofsuch paramount importance that practice exercises were necessary tosettle many points, often on a large scale and sometimes integratedwith the execution of operational flights. Rehearsals of certain fea-tures of the program were undertaken to assure successful perform-ance at the critical time. The more important problems, and the stepstaken to solve them, were:

Predawn assembly

The initial D-day bomber program called for take-off and assemblyduring hours of darkness on an unprecedented scale. It was believedthat the use of radio aids, flares, and navigation lights would permit

631804-45-3 13

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BEACH SCENE. In this oblique view of one of the Normandy invaw

spread before the a

.7

beaches it is possible to see the blast damage resultant from the bomb carpetting ground forces.

successful accomplishment, but it was deemed wise to have a trialoperation. This was conducted on i May before a regular bombingmission. It involved nine groups of 21 aircraft each from each of thethree bombardment divisions, with aircraft assembling in specifiedareas during the hours of darkness and following designated routes tothe south coast and back to the base areas. The aircraft in each groupwere dispatched in three waves, the first composed of nine-planesquadrons and the second and third of six-plane squadrons. Theexercise was completely satisfactory, and on the basis of this test thesix-plane squadron was adopted for the D-day missions.

Routings

While the usual consideration of route planning prevailed, thenecessity of assuring recognition of aircraft by naval vessels employedon convoy operations resulted in placing restrictions on flights overthe shipping lanes. One of these forbade any aircraft except fighterson shipping patrol to fly over the convoy areas from the direction ofthe combat zones or the Pas de Calais. Because of this, and in con-

nection with the use of Pathfinder equipment, it was decided toprescribe a course for the initial D-day mission directly from thesouth coast of England to the Normandy beaches and returning southand west of the Channel Isles.

Loadings and fuzings

Extensive research was conducted to determine the types of bombsand fuzings to be used. An AEAF Weapons Committee, with fourrepresentatives of the Eighth Air Force, was established to considerthese questions, and several practice bombing missions were con-ducted, the most comprehensive being held on 26 April, in which T2

nine-plane flights were sent to the Studland Bay bombing range todetermine the effect of 100-, 250-, and 5oo-lb. bombs with variousfuzings. It was learned that fragmentation and ioo-lb. HE bombs

would be most effective against personnel, vehicles, wire entangle-ments, and gun positions not emplaced. Recommendations basedon these findings were incorporated in the over-all air plan.

Overcast bombing technique

The possibility of having to use Pathfinder instruments for initialD-day bombing missions was considered, and the relative merits ofboth H2X and GH were weighed. On the basis of operational expe-

16

rience and tests the former was selected. This decision resulted fromthe lower average range error to be expected from H2X as comparedwith GH when the former was operating against targets located insuch a manner that water and land appeared simultaneously on thescope at right angles to the line of approach, the definition in suchinstances being particularly clear. This factor was an important con-sideration in the selection of the north-south approach. Deflectionerrors did not constitute hazards on this axis of attack. The limitednumber of GH aircraft available was a further consideration, sinceaccuracy would be seriously impaired if a very large number of unitswas releasing on relatively few Pathfinders, and the possibility ofequipment failures on these few Pathfinders would have a propor-tionately large effect on results.

Visibility trials

Accurate determination of earliest and latest times practicable forvisual bombing was of vital import to the exact establishment ofH-hour. A visibility trial was conducted by aircraft of the EighthAir Force, the Ninth Air Force, and the 2d Tactical Air Force,operating against simulated targets in England (an infantry platoon,field artillery battery, coastal battery, small village, roads in open andwooded areas, railway lines, and coastal and inland towns). Resultsof this operation were forwarded to Headquarters, AEAF, on 24

May 1944 for use in the determination of H-hour.

Briefing and interrogation

The security aspect was a primary consideration of the briefing, andit was decided that efficiency would not be impaired if air crews werenot given the essential information prior to the normal pre-missionbriefing. Exception was made in the case of Pathfinder navigatorsand bombardiers, who were specially briefed some days in advance.At the briefing, stress was laid on the importance of avoiding prema-ture bomb releases because of the tremendous Allied assemblage off-shore. Normal time limits for interrogation and submitting missionreports were revised in the interest of expediting the flow of informa-tion regarding results and observations. A system of tactical report-ing was accordingly set up whereby preliminary reports were to reachEighth Air Force Headquarters within 45 minutes after first landingsand detailed intelligence reports within 2 hours. A comprehen-sive staff coordination trial was held involving the issuance of

'7

specimen field orders, briefing for three simulated D-day missions,fictitious take-off and landing times, and flash and intelligence reports.

Aircraft recognition and demarcation of friendly lines

The dangers inherent in the inability of Allied units-air, sea, andground-to ascertain without delay the hostile or friendly characterof combat aircraft were recognized and precautionary steps weretaken. Prohibited zones for certain types of aircraft were established,principally over the shipping lanes and assault area, thus allowing

naval and ground forces unrestricted freedom to fire at aircraft otherthan stated types or approaching from other than certain directions.

Another measure was the institution of distinctive markings foraircraft. Except the four-engine bombers, all planes were paintedwith wide alternate black and white stripes on wings and fuselage.The converse problem of defining areas for combat aircraft in orderto avoid bombing and strafing within friendly lines was largely over-come by the adoption of a bomb line. Beyond this line (one prede-termined for the 6 hours immediately after H-hour, another forthe remainder of D-day, and thereafter subject to daily changes asdecided by air and ground staffs) ground forces ventured at theirperil and targets could be attacked at will. Behind this line no bomb-ing or strafing was to be conducted without specific arrangement withthe ground forces, and the originator of such a request was to assumethe responsibility for clearing the region around the targets chosen forattack.

Ground force requirements

Certain adjustments in the bombing desired by Army planners werenecessary to conform to bomber capabilities. When requests fordestruction of fixed defenses, explosion of mine fields, cutting ofunderground cables, elimination of barbed-wire entanglements orantitank obstacles, demoralization of front-line troops, delay and dis-ruption of reserve elements, and the blocking of transport by bombingFrench towns-when such requests were submitted by Army com-manders it was necessary to point out the probable degree of successagainst each type of objective and then to secure priority ratings sothat the bomber strength could be apportioned as desired by theground forces.

In many instances the destructive effect necessary could be obtainedonly by use of heavy bombs with delayed fuzings, which would cause

x8

- - - - - - -- -

Wt B.D. TARGET AREA IN RELATICTO ALLIED LANDING BEACHE!

FIRST BOMBARDMENT DIVISIONTARGET AREA

6 JUNE 1944FIRST MISSION OfAH"A ------ qj0-001.0

4 L-ANDING b *-BRITISH LANDI NO~ SECTOR

OfCA1E

00

4 ~~NOTE: See 3&P 8.0. TRGETAREA char-t f.,- 2 taeeft ofq

B .D. on tAE

BAYEUX eexd

1 3/+)11 * 0 ROCKY SHOREI-= E3 BEA CH

The area shown on the large-scale map was the First Bombardment Division target on the first D-day mission.The same area is shown on therl-scale map by the diagonal shading..

IS3 B.D. TARGET AREA IN RELATIONTO ALLIED LANDING BEACHES

OMAHMA P OL O UN..J'v 5W01cD*A REA A4RFA AREA AREA.

~ Ik- BRITISH LANDING

efCA EN

. . .* . :2 :2:: 2**

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1NOTE: See 3&P A 9. TARGETIAREA chart w- 2 &vwts o0/lET

B. D o#&CAE I

A STRONO POINT7o GUNA POSITON4RA DAR* TOWN*ROCKY SHORE

8 EACH

Bombardment Division target on the first D-day mission.iall-scale map by the diagonal shading.

the cratering the Army wished to avoid. The probability was empha-sized that direct hits on gun emplacements would not be in excess of2 percent of the tonnage dropped and that in most instances littledamage would result. Nevertheless, the Army requested that theattempt be made to destroy those on the flanks of the beaches, believ-ing that some emplaced positions could be put out of action, at leasttemporarily, and that craters in this area would afford valuable pro-tection to assault troops sent to capture these strong points. Other-wise it was agreed that the air cooperation should aim primarily atthe demoralization of front-line troops, with a possible bonus in thedestruction of barbed wire and other hazards. No request was madefor the elimination of underwater mines or obstacles. The Armycommanders were informed of the possibility of gross errors causingcasualties among troops in assault craft and accepted them as anecessary risk.

Selection of targets

Certain categories of requested targets were not deemed by EighthAir Force to be satisfactory for heavy-bomber attack. In threeinstances the matter was submitted to SHAEF for determination.The first concerned marshalling yards in occupied territory, andobjection was based on the belief that medium bombers would beadequate, that the damage could be readily repaired and hence wouldnot justify the effort expended, and that the proximity to built-upareas would result in civilian casualties and property damage out-weighing the disruption of enemy communications. The second caseinvolved the bombing of bridges. It was considered that the natureof these targets would require a very great expenditure of effort inrelation to probable damage achieved and the erection of temporaryspans could largely nullify successes gained. In the third instance thematter concerned choke-points in French towns which the 21st ArmyGroup desired to have blocked by rubble in order to delay enemyreinforcements. The stand of the Eighth Air Force was based onthe risks to civilian lives and property. In all three cases SHAEF,motivated by military expediency, directed that the attacks be made.Arrangements were made to drop warning leaflets sufficiently inadvance of the last-mentioned type of attack to enable the civiliansto evacuate the threatened areas.

'9

Over-all Air Cooperation Plan

In order to envisage the scope of the Eighth Air Force role in theprojected over-all air effort, the commitments, as previously enumer-ated, may be compared with the following aims of the entire aerialprogram:

i. To attain and maintain an air situation whereby the GermanAir Force is rendered incapable of effective interference withAllied operation

2. To provide continuous reconnaissance of the enemy's disposi-tions and movements

3. To disrupt enemy communications and channels of supply byair attack

4. To support the landing and subsequent advance of the AlliedArmies

5. To deliver offensive strikes against enemy naval forces6. To provide air lift for airborne forces

20

2-- B. D.TARG ET AREA IN R

SECOND BOMBARDMENT __ALLIED LANDING BE

DIVISION TARGET AREA6 JUNE 1944

FIRST MISSION

A OMIAHA OOLD t~aRA *AREA A

A zo aoe. ,,.0o.

"oCollellille SU.-Jmer poF•etg Bm "

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0 PEFENDED POST4 ?+ 'z kZ4 0 o 0 DEFr'NDE'DLOCALITY

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(• ~631804--41

100

2t-- B.D.TARGET AREA IN RELATION TOALLIED LANDING BEACHESKJ

_ A A R AA E

~~~ "O DN6-, -----.---...- 1. 4 O ORITSHSECTOR 'A RI S"•EN

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631804-45 (•aee p. 20)

Delivering The Punch

S UCH careful planning as has been related in somedetail in this narrative merited gratifying results.

In the following section the operations of the Eighth AirForce from 2 June through 17 June are examined.

D-day was the day for which so many thousands ofground-force troops had been eagerly waiting. Thiswas their day to take over, which they did in magnificentfashion, adding new luster to proud regimental anddivisional names. How the Eighth Air Force teamedwith them is shown in the succeeding pages.

21

Operations 2-17 June 1944HIS discussion is divided into two sections, one dealing with

bombers and the other with fighters. The bomber assign-ment, separated into three time periods, was carried out as

follows:

D minus 4 to D minus 1 (2-5 June)

Within this period the job of the Eighth Air Force was to continueattacks against transportation and airfield targets in northern France,and to institute a series of blows against coastal defenses, a majoritysituated along the Pas de Calais coast. A final effort to contain Ger-man fighters within the Reich as late as possible by conducting a deep

penetration against strategic targets had been planned for this period,but adverse weather interfered.

This phase of the program was performed according to plan. Atotal of 3,386 bombers participated in the eight missions flown and9,387.45 tons were dropped for the loss of 14 bombers.

Substantial damage was inflicted upon airfield and rail transporttargets. Few of the coastal defenses were seriously affected in propor-tion to the effort put forth, but this had been anticipated, the more sosince Pathfinder technique was necessary in most instances. Sincedeception as to the actual landing area was the primary purpose ofthe attacks against this latter type of target, the operations may beregarded as successful, for, as far as can be ascertained, the landingsalong the Normandy coast had the advantage of complete tactical

surprise.

D-day (6 June)

The first mission was concerned primarily with neutralization ofcoastal defenses and demoralization of German front-line troops im-mediately prior to the landings. The other three missions were

22

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6 JUNEFIRST MI

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