2nd Tactical Air Force

Author: Christopher Shores
Publisher: Ospery Pub Great Britain
Edition: First
Cover: Hardcover w/Dust Cover
Published: 1970
History
Expanded account of this important command's vital contribution to the Invasion of Normandy and the defeat of the forces of the Third Reich in Western Europe

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Synopsis: Christopher Shores' comprehensive history of the Royal Air Force's 2nd Tactical Air Force provides definitive coverage of the Allied air campaign that supported ground operations from D-Day through the final defeat of Nazi Germany. This meticulously researched work reveals how tactical air power evolved from close support operations to strategic interdiction campaigns that proved decisive in achieving Allied victory in Western Europe. Shores' extensive use of operational records, pilot memoirs, and unit histories creates a complete narrative of how air-ground cooperation reached unprecedented levels of effectiveness during 1944-1945. The book begins with the formation and training of 2nd TAF as a specialized tactical air force designed to support the planned invasion of Western Europe through direct cooperation with ground forces and interdiction of enemy supply lines. Shores demonstrates how lessons learned from earlier campaigns in North Africa and Italy influenced organizational structure and tactical doctrine that emphasized flexibility and responsiveness to ground commander requirements. The author reveals how integration of different aircraft types and operational roles created a balanced force capable of executing multiple mission types simultaneously while maintaining close coordination with advancing ground forces. Through detailed examination of pre-invasion preparations, Shores shows how 2nd TAF developed innovative techniques for air-ground cooperation that would prove decisive during subsequent operations in France and Germany. The work extensively covers the air campaign supporting D-Day operations, revealing how tactical aircraft achieved air superiority over the invasion beaches while providing direct support to assaulting forces and interdicting German reinforcements attempting to reach the battle area. Shores' analysis of these operations demonstrates how effective air-ground coordination multiplied the combat effectiveness of both services while enabling rapid exploitation of initial landing successes. The book provides detailed coverage of the campaign to establish and expand the Normandy beachhead, showing how tactical air power proved crucial in preventing German counterattacks while enabling Allied forces to build up strength for breakout operations. Through examination of specific missions and pilot experiences, Shores reveals how tactical aircraft adapted quickly to changing battlefield conditions while maintaining pressure on German defensive positions and supply lines. The author's analysis of the breakout campaign demonstrates how tactical air power enabled rapid exploitation of German defensive collapse through immediate response to ground commander requests and aggressive interdiction of enemy retreat routes. The work extensively covers operations during the advance across France and the Low Countries, showing how 2nd TAF adapted to supporting highly mobile ground operations while maintaining pressure on German forces attempting to establish new defensive positions. Shores' examination of the final campaigns in Germany reveals how tactical air power continued evolving to meet changing operational requirements as Allied forces penetrated into the heart of Nazi Germany. The book includes detailed analysis of aircraft types and their specialized roles within the tactical air force structure, showing how different capabilities combined to create unprecedented air-ground cooperation effectiveness. Through statistical analysis and operational assessments, Shores demonstrates how tactical air power achieved decisive strategic impact through systematic destruction of German transportation networks and direct support of ground operations. For students of air power and military operations, this work provides essential insights into how tactical air forces can achieve strategic objectives through effective integration with ground operations and systematic application of air power against enemy vulnerabilities.

2nd Tactical Air Force, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.