Hale, Julian/Turner, Graham Normandy 1944. The "Transportation Plan" to cut D-Day communications

As the invasion of Europe drew ever closer, thought was given to how the Allies' extensive heavy bomber programme could be deployed in preparation. After much controversy, the 'Transport Plan' was finally decided upon, targeting the French rail and road network (and thus the German logistics chain) to slow down German supplies to the Normandy beachhead both before and during the Allied invasion. In this book, aviation researcher Julian Hale draws on new archive research to explain how this crucial, dangerous and often spectacular campaign unfolded. The campaign, which lasted from April to July 1944, involved heavy and medium bombers from the RAF and the USAAF, with the fighter-bombers of the US 9th Air Fleet playing the main role. The first attacks by strategic bombers on the French railway junctions were at best partially successful. In mid-May 1944, it was decided to intensively attack bridges as well as road and rail traffic with fighter-bombers, which were mainly deployed by the US 9th Air Fleet. Illustrated with carefully selected photographs, spectacular battle scenes and explanatory maps and 3D diagrams, this book tells the story of how the Allied air forces paved the way for D-Day.