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Normandy 1944

The 'Transportation Plan' to cut D-Day communications
Series: Air Campaign
Brief Description
Normandy 1944 is packed with illustrations and is the first book to focus on the 'Transportation Plan', the air campaign designed to isolate the D-Day beaches from German reinforcements. As the invasion of Europe grew closer, strategic thought was given to the utilisation of the Allies'... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$6999

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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.

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.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Normandy 1944 is packed with illustrations and is the first book to focus on the 'Transportation Plan', the air campaign designed to isolate the D-Day beaches from German reinforcements.

As the invasion of Europe grew closer, strategic thought was given to the utilisation of the Allies' substantial forces of heavy bombers in preparation. After much controversy, the plan eventually adopted was the β€˜Transportation Plan’. This plan targeted the railway and road networks of France and consequently the German logistical chain, 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 intensively attack bridges and road and rail traffic using fighter-bombers, mainly drawn from the US Ninth.

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

Series: Air Campaign

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472865809

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 June 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Osprey Publishing

Illustration: Illustrated throughout with 65 photos and 14 pages of colour illustrations

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Graham Turner

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 182.0mm

Height: 246.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 96

About the Author

Julian Hale read History at Lancaster University and completed an MA on the RFC and RAF in the Middle East during World War I. In 2012, he joined the RAF Museum and catalogued the Jack Bruce Collection. He was the Assistant Curator for the Museum’s Centenary Programme until June 2018, and is the author of The Blitz 1940-41 for Osprey.

Graham Turner is an award-winning historical painter and member of the Guild of Aviation Artists.

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