The U.S. Army Air Forces in the D-Day Invasion

The U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) played a crucial role in Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Their contributions were instrumental in securing air superiority, supporting ground operations, and disrupting German defenses and reinforcements.

Pre-Invasion Operations

In the months leading up to D-Day, the USAAF conducted strategic bombing campaigns. The Eighth Air Force based in England and the Fifteenth Air Force from Italy targeted German aircraft production facilities and airfields. This significantly degraded the Luftwaffe's capabilities prior to the invasion. They also targeted railroads and bridges all along the French coast stretching inland many miles. This would help in isolating the battlefield, keeping the Germans from reinforcing their units with troops and materiel. Care was taken to ensure that many targets were selected not in the Normandy region to mask the true target of the landings.

D-Day Air Operations

Bombardment Groups

The USAAF deployed several bombardment groups for D-Day operations:

The Eighth Air Force committed its heavy bomber force, including:
- The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bombardment Divisions
- Notable groups included the 91st, 92nd, 303rd, 305th, 306th, 351st, 379th, and 384th Bombardment Groups (Heavy) flying B-17 Flying Fortresses
- The 2nd Bombardment Division's B-24 Liberator groups included the 44th, 93rd, 389th, 445th, and 453rd
The Ninth Air Force provided medium bomber support with:
- The 97th, 322nd, 323rd, 386th, 387th, and 391st Bombardment Groups (Medium) flying B-26 Marauders
- The 409th, 410th, and 416th Bombardment Groups (Light) flying A-20 Havocs

These bomber groups attacked coastal fortifications, gun batteries, and transportation nodes. Weather conditions on D-Day forced many bombers to drop their loads through cloud cover using radar guidance, reducing their effectiveness against beach defenses. The B-24s and B-17s of the 8th Air Force concentrated on targets further inland attacking rail and transportation centers and bridges. The medium bombers of the 9th attacked targets closer to the coastline.

Fighter Groups

Fighter support was critical to the invasion's success:

Eighth Air Force fighters included:
- The 4th, 56th, and 78th Fighter Groups flying P-47 Thunderbolts
- The 20th, 55th, and 364th Fighter Groups flying P-38 Lightnings
- The 339th, 352nd, 355th, and 359th Fighter Groups flying P-51 Mustangs
Ninth Air Force fighters included:
- The 48th, 50th, 366th, and 368th Fighter Groups (P-47s)
- The 354th, 357th, and 363rd Fighter Groups (P-51s)
- The 367th and 370th Fighter Groups (P-38s)

These fighters provided air cover for the invasion forces, attacked ground targets, and flew continuous combat air patrols to counter Luftwaffe threats. Fighter-bombers conducted countless armed reconnaissance missions, attacking targets of opportunity behind enemy lines.

Troop Carrier Groups

The IX Troop Carrier Command, under the Ninth Air Force, handled the airborne operations:

The 50th, 52nd, and 53rd Troop Carrier Wings consisted of the 61st, 313th, 314th, 315th, 316th, 434th, 435th, 436th, 437th, and 438th Troop Carrier Groups

These units, flying C-47 Skytrains (the military version of the DC-3), transported and dropped over 13,000 paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions behind enemy lines in the early hours of June 6. They also towed hundreds of gliders carrying troops, equipment, and light vehicles.

Post-Landing Support

After the initial landings, USAAF aircraft continued to provide critical support:

Medium and fighter-bombers struck at German reinforcements and counterattacks
Transport aircraft delivered supplies and evacuated wounded
Reconnaissance aircraft monitored German troop movements
Heavy bombers continued to target strategic objectives deeper in France

Significance

The USAAF's contribution to D-Day was vital to the operation's success. By June 6, 1944, the Allied air forces had achieved near-complete air superiority over Normandy.