The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Chapter Chapter 4 4 - - Air Air Air P PPower
P ower Goes Goes Goes to to W WWar
W ar
The The The The The Normandy Normandy Normandy Normandy Normandy Invasion Invasion Invasion Invasion Invasion
On June 6,1944, the Allies landed in Normandy, France, starting the invasion of Europe. Both the
tactical and strategic air arms of the US Army Air Forces and the Royal Air Force supported the
invasion. The preinvasion air strikes went on for 2 months before the landings. These strikes were
made against the Luftwaffe, railroad centers, coastal batteries and all airfields within a 130-mile radius
of the landing beaches.
With air superiority obtained, the Normandy Invasion was almost completely unopposed by the
Luftwaffe. Air superiority saved countless lives and pieces of equipment and hastened the defeat of
Germany.
The strategic bombing of Germany continued after the Normandy Invasion with priority given to
aircraft factories, oil refineries and transportation facilities. By 1945, the Luftwaffe had been beaten
and was no longer a serious threat to the British and American bombers.
The Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces were now built up to the point that it was not unusual for 1,000
to 1,500 bombers to be in the air every day. On April 15, the strategic bombing of Germany ended
because there were no targets left to bomb.
On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered and the war in Europe ended. During the air war in Europe,
British and American planes dropped nearly two and one-half million tons of bombs. The Army Air
Forces and the RAF lost approximately 8,000 bombers and 7,000 fighters. Luftwaffe losses were
nearly 33,000 aircraft destroyed.
B-17 aircrew praying prior to takeoff from England.
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