Normandy 1944

The 'Transportation Plan' to cut D-Day communications

Normandy 1944 cover

Normandy 1944

The 'Transportation Plan' to cut D-Day communications

Description

Packed with illustrations, this is the first book to focus on the 'Transportation Plan', the air campaign to isolate the D-Day beaches from German reinforcements.

As the invasion of Europe grew closer, thought was given to how to use the Allies' substantial forces of heavy bombers in preparation. After much controversy, the plan eventually adopted was the 'Transportation Plan', in which the railway and road networks of France (and hence the German logistical chain) were targeted in order to slow German reinforcements 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 was fought. Running from April to July 1944, it would eventually involve heavy and medium bombers of both the RAF and USAAF, with a starring role for the fighter-bombers of the Ninth Air Force. Early attacks by strategic bombers on the French rail nodes were only partially successful at best. In mid-May, the decision was taken to attack bridges and road and rail traffic intensively using fighter-bombers, mainly drawn from the US Ninth.

Illustrated with carefully chosen photos, spectacular battlescene artwork and explanatory maps and 3D diagrams, this is the story of how Allied airpower paved the way for D-Day.

Table of Contents

(Subject to confirmation)
Introduction
Chronology
Attacker's Capabilities
Defender's Capabilities
Campaign Objectives
The Campaign
Aftermath and Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published Jun 19 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472865816
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Illustrated throughout with 65 photos and 14 pages of colour illustrations
Series Air Campaign
Short code ACM 54
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Julian Hale

Julian Hale read History at Lancaster University a…

Illustrator

Graham Turner

Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, spec…

Resources

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