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Behind the Wings ®
The Podcast – S5, Episode 46

National Museum of WWII Aviation Curator Gene Pfeffer discusses why winning the air war was pivotal to D-Day’s success.

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In this episode, we’ll dive into the planning and execution of air operations, the aircraft that supported the massive assault, the continued aerial support for troops after Operation Overlord, and its lasting legacy and impact on aviation. June 6, 2024, marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and gave us the opportunity to learn more about one of the most important battles of WWII. This one is going to be cool!

World War II Aircraft in combat on D-Day
Key Takeaways:
  • Gene takes us through the evolution of aircraft spurred by World War II, from biplanes to jets.
  • Although America hadn’t yet entered the war, planning for D-Day began in 1940, outlining what exactly would be required for the invasion.
  • In 1943, it was decided that the Allies could not win the invasion without air superiority. Leading up to D-Day, the Allies focused heavily on eliminating the German Air Force as a factor, and on June 6, the German Air Force had 300 sorties while the Allies had 13,000.
  • The day before Operation Overlord, the Allies painted invasion stripes on their airplanes under the cover of darkness. Due to the massive amount of aircraft, the paint scheme helped mitigate friendly fire.
  • Multiple kinds of aircraft participated in the invasion and each had specific roles. To name a few, the C-47s towed gliders or dropped paratroopers, B-17s, 24s, and 26s dropped bombs, P-47s acted as flying artillery, and P-38s flew cover over the ships.
  • After D-Day, the Allies used their air power to aid troops with strategic bombings like Operation Cobra, targeting German oil and V-2 centers, and providing medical aid.
  • Gene encourages anyone interested in aerospace to visit your local museum and get involved.
Resources:
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