D-DAY "White Flag"

Introduction

Following the D-Day invasion and the great “Breakout” during Operation Cobra, the 9th USAAF was tasked to clear the way for the 3rd US Army to reach Paris. The 9th USAAF which was the mobile tactical arm of the US Army Air Force moved to France on July 16, 1944 to begin operations and clear the road of Wehrmacht equipment, panzers, and soldiers. As 3rd Army tank columns rolled towards Paris 9th USAAF fighter-bombers would fly ahead and spot potential ambushes and road blocks. These pilots communicated directly to the forward controller riding along in the tanks. This was a USAAF officer that received communications and gave instructions to aircraft on what needed to be targeted.

Level bombers got into the act by flying thousands of sorties to destroy troop movements, railroad junctions and sidings, bridges and radar and communications centers. By the time of this action, most of the 9th Air Force’s bombers were the Martin B-26B Marauder. Even though the aircraft was dubbed the widow maker, modifications to the airframe and changes in flight training reduced training accidents almost completely. By the end of the war the B-26 was the safest and most survivable bomber in the US Air Force inventory.

The Luftwaffe was beginning to see a serious reduction in strength due to constant combat from early 1943 through to D-Day, where only two Luftwaffe sorties were seen to have penetrated the massive fighter screen of the RAF and USAAF. Operation POINTBLANK which targeted the German Aircraft Industry, pounded away at Luftwaffe aerodromes and fighters in the low countries and France until the bases that JG 26 and JG 2 were stationed at were moved farther inland where Allied bombers and fighters faced greater risk to attack.

Event Challenge

This Aces High FSO event will focus on lower altitude Allied attacks against German infrastructure; Towns, Vehicle hangars, and Troop Barracks. The Allies will attack and the Axis will defend.

Side Split

Allies: 55%
Axis: 45%

Plane Set

Allied fighter pilots may choose their version of the aircraft assigned.