Download or read book The RAF s Road to D Day written by Greg Baughen and published by Air World. This book was released on 2023-07-31 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By the summer of 1943, the Third Reich’s fate seemed sealed. The combined might of Britain and the Commonwealth nations, the United States and the Soviet Union had made a Germany victory impossible. All that remained to decide was how the Allies should complete their victory. Would strategic bombing decide the outcome or would ground and air forces working together play the more significant role? Greg Baughen follows the air and land battles in Italy, France and Germany between 1943 and early 1944, as well as the equally bitter battles behind the scenes as army and air commanders debated and argued over how the war should be won. He charts the trials, tribulations, and successes of the bomber offensive and assesses whether, in the final analysis, the bomber strategy shortened or lengthened the war. He explains how army air support went backwards after the successes of the Desert Air Force, and how this led to a failure to support the troops landing on the D-Day beaches in Normandy. He also describes the subsequent revival of tactical air support and how it went on to play a key role in the subsequent campaigns but questions whether Eisenhower, Montgomery or Tedder ever fully understood how to make best use of the massive aerial forces available to them. Drawing on archive documents and accounts written at the time, the author tackles some fundamental defense issues. Was RAF independence a benefit or a hindrance to the Allied cause? To what extent was the War Office to blame for shortcomings in army air support? Did Britain understand the way the methods for waging war were evolving in the twentieth century? He takes a look at how the Air Ministry was interpreting the lessons being learned during the war. Were the defense policies of the twenties and thirties still valid? Had they ever been valid? This, then, is the story of the decisions and actions that the RAF followed in the months leading up to D-Day and the Normandy landings.
Download or read book The RAF s Road to D Day written by Greg Baughen and published by Air World. This book was released on 2023-07-31 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By the summer of 1943, the Third Reich’s fate seemed sealed. The combined might of Britain and the Commonwealth nations, the United States and the Soviet Union had made a Germany victory impossible. All that remained to decide was how the Allies should complete their victory. Would strategic bombing decide the outcome or would ground and air forces working together play the more significant role? Greg Baughen follows the air and land battles in Italy, France and Germany between 1943 and early 1944, as well as the equally bitter battles behind the scenes as army and air commanders debated and argued over how the war should be won. He charts the trials, tribulations, and successes of the bomber offensive and assesses whether, in the final analysis, the bomber strategy shortened or lengthened the war. He explains how army air support went backwards after the successes of the Desert Air Force, and how this led to a failure to support the troops landing on the D-Day beaches in Normandy. He also describes the subsequent revival of tactical air support and how it went on to play a key role in the subsequent campaigns but questions whether Eisenhower, Montgomery or Tedder ever fully understood how to make best use of the massive aerial forces available to them. Drawing on archive documents and accounts written at the time, the author tackles some fundamental defense issues. Was RAF independence a benefit or a hindrance to the Allied cause? To what extent was the War Office to blame for shortcomings in army air support? Did Britain understand the way the methods for waging war were evolving in the twentieth century? He takes a look at how the Air Ministry was interpreting the lessons being learned during the war. Were the defense policies of the twenties and thirties still valid? Had they ever been valid? This, then, is the story of the decisions and actions that the RAF followed in the months leading up to D-Day and the Normandy landings.
Download or read book D Day RAF written by Clive Rowley and published by . This book was released on 2019-02 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Forward Air Bases in Europe from D Day to the Baltic written by Trevor Stone and published by Air World. This book was released on 2024-01-18 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The largely sea-borne invasion of Northern France in June 1944, Operation Overlord, is acknowledged as one of the key actions which hastened the end of the Second World War. The RAF played a vital part in the landings. It then supported the subsequent advance of Montgomery’s 21st Army, and the Allies as a whole, through France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany. Following the breakout from the Normandy bridgehead in early August 1944, the RAF’s Second Tactical Air Force moved forward in support of the troops, occupying a number of temporary airfields as it went. The ground support for this operation was complex, a situation that was exacerbated by the fact that much of it had to be highly mobile. The advance, however, was rapid and soon ran into problems as the supply lines grew longer by the day. The planners had envisaged that capturing the Belgian port of Antwerp would eventually enable them to bring in vitally needed supplies much further north on the Continent. Although the city and its port were liberated in September 1944, the port’s route to the sea along the River Scheldt was still controlled by German forces. It took nearly three months until this was resolved, and the port opened for business. Until then, in the RAF’s equivalent of the US Army’s famed ‘Red Ball Express’, it was some 300 miles by road from Normandy with the Second Tactical Air Force largely reliant on the Army for transporting its needs. For an air force needing large volumes of fuel and ammunition, demand soon began to outpace supply. A number of emergency measures were put in place to keep the aircraft operational, which saw the RAF resorting to the use of its heavy bombers to fly in supplies. Even when Antwerp was up and running, supplying the Second Tactical Air Force remained a hand-to-mouth affair right through until the enemy’s surrender in May 1945. In Forward Air Bases in Europe from D-Day to the Baltic the author explores the challenges of supporting a mobile air force in those uncertain days as Hitler’s forces were retreating to their homeland. As the Allies found, things can go badly wrong when thinking loses touch with the art of the possible – logistics. In the end, miraculously, it worked, but it was a close-run thing.
Download or read book Airfields of the D Day Invasion Air Force written by Peter Jacobs and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2009-10-29 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As part of the Aviation Heritage Trail series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular area—in this case Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex and Greater London. The South east of England emerged from six years of war with a rich diversity of RAF bomber and fighter airfields used by the 2nd Tactical Air Force, both before and after the D-Day landings. Much of this proud legacy is now threatening to disappear. However, the tourist can combine visits to an abundance of disused and active airfields, country houses and museums with countless attractions, imaginative locations and broadland and coastal hideaways that have no equal.The airfields and other places of interest include Northolt, Manston, Sculthorp, Dunsfold, Swanton Morley, Hunsdon, Gravesend, Detling, Biggin Hill, Kenley, Redhill, Gatwick, Heston, Hornchurch, Chailey, Coolham, Horne, West Malling and Newchurch.This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today and explores the favourite local wartime haunts where aircrew and ground crew would have sought well-deserved entertainment and relaxation. Other museums and places that are relevant will also be described and general directions on how to get them included.
Download or read book D DAY RAF written by CLIVE. ROWLEY and published by . This book was released on 2024 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book D Day written by Rick Atkinson and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2014-05-06 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a young reader's adaptation of "The Guns at Last Light," tracing the Battle of Normandy and the Allied liberation of Western Europe through the end of World War II.
Download or read book D Day written by Richard Collier and published by Abbeville Press. This book was released on 1992 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Heavily illustrated volume describing the events of D-Day with words and memories of those who took part.
Download or read book Southern and West Country Airfields of the D Day Invasion Air Force written by Peter Jacobs and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2013-03-19 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "As part of the Aviation Heritage Trail series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular area in this case West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Cornwall. The South and South-west of England emerged from six years of war with a rich diversity of RAF bomber and fighter airfields used by the 2nd Tactical Air Force, both before and after the D-Day landings. Much of this proud legacy is now threatening to disappear. However, the tourist can combine visits to an abundance of disused and active airfields, country houses and museums with countless attractions, imaginative locations, broad land, and coastal hideaways that have no equal.The airfields and other places of interest include Hartford Bridge, Lasham, Westhamptonett, Merston, Odiham, Holmsley South, Funtington, Hurn, Ford, Tangmere, Ibsley, Perranporth, Thruxton, Thorney Island, Appledram, Selesy, Needs Oar Point, Zeals, Lee-on-Solent and Bognor Regis. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today and explores the favorite local wartime haunts where aircrew and ground crew would have sought well-deserved entertainment and relaxation. Other museums and places that are relevant will also be described and general directions on how to get them included."
Download or read book D Day Bombers written by Stephen Darlow and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2010-03-11 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eyewitness accounts of heavy bombers on D-Day Rarely told story of what happened above the beaches Detailed descriptions of various bombing runs In this vivid and dramatic look at World War II in the air, eight different aircrews--three American and five British--tell eye-opening and heart-racing stories of operations before, during, and after D-Day. These bombing missions helped pave the way for the success of the Allies' invasion of Normandy, disrupting German transportation, destroying various installations, and spreading fear and panic.
Download or read book D Day written by Peter Liddle and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2004-01-01 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing upon a new international archive of the Second World War, the support of veterans world-wide and from archives overseas, the author uses previously unpublished letters, diaries, photographs and reminiscences to tell the story of D Day in a way which brings the reader closer to the actual experience. from an aerial, naval and land perspective the events of D Day are captured superbly in wartime contemporary and retrospective documentation. Each of the beaches is fully represented. American, Canadian and British testimony is supported by new, compelling, German material. Appropriately the RAF and Merchant Navy experience appear as do the contemporary and retrospective reactions of women 'in the know' and those whom knew from 'unofficial sources' of the immediate imminence of the assault. The reader will share in each stage of the day from the experience of paratroops and glider-borne troops to crossing the Channel by sea and at the landings on each beach. The book is profusely illustrated with previously unpublished photographs ad facsimile documentation and provides a treasure-trove of evidence on the 60th anniversary of 6th June 1944
Download or read book The D Day Visitor s Handbook 80th Anniversary Edition written by Kevin Dennehy and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2023-10-17 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Updated for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. For families of the heroes who fought on the beaches of Normandy during World War II, for fans of Saving Private Ryan, or for traveler interested in history, here is the complete guide to visiting one of the world’s most historic battlefields. The D-Day Visitor’s Handbook includes everything you need to know to plan and make your visit to the site of the biggest seaborne invasion in history. This compact guidebook not only describes the most significant land invasion of World War II, but provides detailed battlefield maps and tours, identifies monuments and attractions, and locates museums and historical sites to make your planning easier and less stressful. This guide provides everything you need ahead of your visit, including: Easy-to-follow maps and tours Where to stay, dine, and shop Lists of the best D-Day museums How to find war relics still at the battlefield sites Historical context for each site, including a description of military action there A special bonus guide to World War II history and sites in Paris The D-Day Visitor’s Handbook contains a wealth of detailed information that is perfect for those considering travelling to France, anyone about to visit these sites, veterans, students of military history, and any others who wish to learn about the history of this legendary battle.
Download or read book Liberating Europe D Day to Victory in Europe 1944 1945 written by John Grehan and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-06-18 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despatches in this volume include the Despatch on air operations by the Allied Expeditionary Air Force in North West Europe between November 1943 and September 1944, the despatch on the assault phase of the Normandy landings June 1944, despatch on operations of Coastal Command, Royal Air Force in Operation Overlord the invasion of Europe 1944, the despatch on operations in North West Europe between 6 June 1944 and 5 May 1945, by Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Commander 21st Army Group, the despatch on the final stages of the naval war in North West Europe, and, as an addition, the despatch on the Dieppe Raid in 1942.This unique collection of original documents will prove to be an invaluable resource for historians, students and all those interested in what was one of the most significant periods in British military history.
Download or read book D day written by Ken Delve and published by Arms & Armour. This book was released on 1994 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the weeks and months leading up to D-Day, the RAF and USAAF waged a concerted campaign against German fighter bases, troop depots, road and rail junctions and ammunition and fuel dumps: any target that would impede the German forces' ability to repel the liberating army. This book - the product of detailed research in original documents - tells the story of the D-Day air campaign, with the aid of 200 archive photographs.'
Download or read book D Day Landings written by Mary Anne Evans and published by Bradt Travel Guides. This book was released on 2024-03-08 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the military mission that changed World War II, D-Day Landings: A Travel Guide to Normandy’s Beaches and Battlegrounds is Bradt’s new guidebook to visiting beaches, memorials, museums, battlefields and other sites associated with D-Day and the Battle of Normandy (Operation Overlord). A simple-to-follow, portable guide for independent travellers, it includes maps and driving instructions to help visitors go back in time to explore World War II history. Written by two experienced travel writers who, between them, are experts in France and military history, D-Day Landings is designed for visitors who want to see all or part of Normandy. Covering the ground from the D-Day landing beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah) up to Cherbourg and inland to Falaise, it encompasses every major site and a host of smaller, less well-known locations – venturing well beyond the coast to include sites associated with the capture of Caen and the closing of the Falaise Gap, which marked the end of the Overlord campaign. Although organised geographically – as befits a travel guide rather than history book – there’s plenty of information on the historical context, identifying where sites fit into the timeline of the Battle of Normandy and escorting readers through the invasion in a simple, practical format. D-Day Landings aims to enhance the visitor experience by alerting readers to unexpected features, such as a German tobruk with a gun turret around which Utah Beach Museum was constructed. Quirky snippets and human stories colour the text. Learn how Lord Lovat’s Commando piper Bill Millin saw himself as a ballerina or how the Utah Beach landings were accidentally more successful than planned. Whether you are a military-history enthusiast, have family who fought in Normandy or are simply visiting northern France on holiday, Bradt’s D-Day Landings is the guidebook to both plan your trip and take with you.
Download or read book D Day to Victory written by Sgt Trevor Greenwood and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-08-16 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'An arresting chronicle of the life of an ordinary soldier during the push to victory' Daily Express Tank Commander Sgt Trevor Greenwood of C Squadron, the 9th Royal Tank Regiment, sailed for France in June 1944 as part of the Allied invasion of Normandy. From D-Day until April 1945, he kept a daily diary of his experiences of the final push through France and into Germany, often writing in secret and in terrible conditions. Under fire, outgunned and facing a bitter winter, he never loses his moral compass or his sense of humour - finding time to brew tea and maintain morale with characterful British reserve. He writes candidly of his frustration and despair of seeing Bomber Command mistakenly bomb Allied lines near Caen (August 1944), the liberation of Le Havre (September 1944), the fighting around Roosendaal, Holland (October 1944), the reception of soldiers by the Dutch families on whom they were billeted (December 1944), and concludes with 'mopping up' operations in northern Germany (April 1945). His astonishing diary has left us a unique record of the war in Europe from the rarely-seen perspective of an ordinary soldier.An accompanying essay about the tank battles of Normandy by Duxford Museum's tank expert provide added value.
Download or read book Voices from D Day written by Jon E. Lewis and published by Robinson. This book was released on 2014-04-03 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The extraordinary and compelling story of the 6th of June, 1944, Operation Overlord and the Battle for Normandy is told here through first-hand testimonies from civilians and soldiers on both sides. It features classic accounts by soldiers such as Rommel and Bradley, together with frontline reports by some of the world’s finest authors and war correspondents, including Ernest Hemingway and Alan Melville. Highlights of this unique collection include the break-out from Omaha beach as told by the GI who led it, a French housewife’s story of what it was like to wake up to the invasion, German soldiers’ accounts of finding themselves facing the biggest seaborne invasion in history, a view from the command post by a member of Eisenhower’s staff, combat reports, diaries and letters of British veterans of all forces and services, and accounts of the follow-up battle for Normandy, one of the bloodiest struggles of the war. The Allied armada involved over 5,000 craft, which had by the end of ‘the longest day’ succeeded in landing 156,000 men, and in breaching Hitler’s much vaunted defensive wall. Dramatic and historic though the events of D-Day were, they were but the opening shots of a much larger and equally remarkable battle – the battle for Normandy. It took the Allies ten weeks of bloody fighting to get out of Normandy, during which the infantry casualty rate rivalled that of the Western Front in the First World War. This book is the story of that fateful day, the preparations which led up to it, and the ten weeks of fighting in Normandy which followed it, told by the men and women who were there, who witnessed it at first hand. It is compiled from interviews with scores of veterans, from diaries, memoirs and letters. Occasionally, exact chronology has been sacrificed in the interests of communicating better the experience of Normandy, for above all this is a book about how the invasion looked and felt to those who were there. It is often brutally honest, far removed from the comfortable romantic version of D-Day and the battle for Normandy. (For example, there are accounts here of crimes committed against German POWs by Allied soldiers.)
