Operation Smoke Screen

Air operations of the Normandy landings

An American B-26 Marauder aircraft over the Normandy coast as part of Operation Smoke Screens.
Photo: US National Archives

Operation Smoke Screen consists in the installation by several aircraft of a smoke screen hiding the Allied fleet heading towards the Norman coasts from the German observers.

This operation is carried out by Allied bombers flying at low altitude. One of the squadrons involved is the 342th Squadron Lorraine 1/20, made up of Free France Air Forces crews and six Douglas Boston bombers. It carries out its mission from the Pointe de Barfleur to the islands of Saint-Marcouf.

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