Photos of aerial warfare during the Battle of Normandy in 1944

Aerial warfare in 1944

Battle of Normandy

All photos of the Battle of Normandy classified according to their location

Photos of air operations (parachuting, bombing, reconnaissance) carried out during the Normandy landings and the Battle of Normandy in 1944.

Click on the images below to enlarge them and access the captions.

Last briefing for Douglas Boston crews from No. 137 Wing RAF at Hartford Bridge prior to departure on June 6, 1944. Photo: IWM

Pilots and crew of a Dakota C-47 prepare for their mission. Photo: US National Archives

Bomber crew members take their meals before boarding for their mission. Photo: US National Archives

Two B-26 Marauder bombers from the 9th Air Force fly over the Allied Armada in June 1944. Photo: US National Archives

Major William E. Smith aboard a B-26 B Marauder during a bombing mission in 1944. Photo: US National Archives

25 avril 1944 : bombardement des défenses côtières et de la base de lancement de fusées V1 dans le secteur de Dieppe par le 9th Bomber Command de la 9th Air Force. Photo : US National Archives

Un bombardier Glen Martin B-26 B Marauder appartenant au 555th Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group Squadron, 99th Combat Bomb Wing, 9th Bomber Command après le bombardement d'Argentan. Photo : US National Archives

Un B-26 Marauder appartenant au 453rd Bomber Squadron du 323rd Bomber Group, IX Bomber Command de la 9th Air Force lors d’une mission de bombardement dans le secteur de Vauville. Photo : US National Archives

12 juin 1944 : un B-26 Marauder du 454th Bomber Squadron du 323rd Bomber Group largue ses bombes dans le secteur de Torigni-sur-Vire. Photo : US National Archives

12 juin 1944 : un B-26 Marauder du 454th Bomber Squadron du 323rd Bomber Group largue ses bombes dans le secteur de Torigni-sur-Vire. Photo : US National Archives

12 juin 1944 : un B-26 Marauder du 454th Bomber Squadron du 323rd Bomber Group largue ses bombes dans le secteur de Torigni-sur-Vire. Photo : US National Archives

Un bombardier B-26 Marauder au-dessus de Cherbourg. Photo : US National Archives

Des B-26 Marauder attaquent la batterie d’Auderville. Photo : US National Archives

7 juin 1944 : un appareil Marauder B-26C au dessus de la forêt de Balleroy après un bombardement. Photo : US National Archives

North American Mitchell Mk II bombers from No. 226 Squadron RAF fly over the Allied Armada. Photo: IWM

North American Mitchell Mk II No. 226 Squadron RAF based at Hartford Bridge, drop their bombs over the Grimbosq Forest south of Caen on the evening of June 12, 1944. Photo: IWM

22 juin 1944 : photo infrarouge d’un North American Mitchell Mk II, FV970 ‘NO-K’ du No. 320 Squadron (hollandais) de la RAF lors d’un bombardement de l’usine métallurgique. Photo : IWM

The crew of the "Q for Queenie", 297th Squadron, opening their first bottle of liberation in front of the Lancaster bomber. From left to right: Brian Easton, Vic Clements, Roy Shortman, George Jenkins and Jim Peppit. Photo: IWM

On an airfield in Normandy, near a Lancaster bomber, a crew of the Royal Air Force tries the smell of Norman cheeses. Photo: IWM

July 18, 1944: Lancaster and Halifax bombers under fire from the German Flak east of Caen (Operation Goodwood). Photo: IWM

July 18, 1944: Four Avro Lancaster of No. 514 Squadron RAF over cloud cover during an air strike east of Caen (Operation Goodwood). Photo: IWM

Un bombardier anglais Handley Page Halifax appartenant au No. 4 Group survole la périphérie de Caen durant un raid massif diurne lancé à l'occasion de l'opération Charnwood, du 7 au 9 juillet 1944. Photo : IWM CL 347

Stirling Mk 4 bombers tow Horsa gliders during Operation Mallard on June 6, 1944 shortly before 9:00 pm. The Sword Beach area is visible in the background. Photo: IWM

Stirling Mk 4 bombers tow Horsa gliders during Operation Mallard on June 6, 1944 shortly before 9:00 pm. The Sword Beach area is visible in the background. Photo: IWM

Staff of the Airborne Forces Tactical Development Unit in front of a Halifax bomber. Photo: IWM

12 juin 1944 : un bombardier Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress,sur l'aérodrome E-1 situé sur le plateau de Saint Laurent-sur-Mer surplombant la plage d'Omaha. L'appareil est piloté par les généraux américains Arnold Spaatz et Brereton, il transporte également les généraux Royce, Quesada et Kuter. dans le cadre d'une visite d'autorités. Photo : US National Archives

7 juin 1944 : un appareil Douglas A-20 G Havoc vient de bombarder le secteur du Molay-Littry, visant l’état-major de la 352. Infanterie-Division. Photo : US National Archives

7 août 1944 : le bombardier Boeing B17 immatriculé GH 33716 du 305th BG du 40th Combat Wing de la 8th Air Force s'est écrasé dans le secteur de La Chapelle-Cécelin. Photo : US National Archives

12 juin 1944 : bombardement de Torigni-sur-Vire vers 11h15 par des B-24 Liberator.

14 juin 1944 : bombardement de la gare de Domfront par des Douglas Havoc A-20 G du 671st Bombardment Squadron, 416th Bombardment Group, 97th Combat Bombardment Wing, 9th Bomber, 9th Air Force. Photo : US National Archives

July 27, 1944: Robert Griffith, Canadian pilot of a Mosquito crashed at sea the night before, was collected by an Allied ship in the English Channel. Photo: US National Archives

13 juin 1944 : photo de reconnaissance du quartier de Saint-Jean de Caen, prise par le Flight Officer Reeves à bord d'un Spitfire à une altitude de 24 000 pieds (7 315 mètres). Ce cliché montre la violence des bombardements aériens qui ont frappé ce secteur, notamment ceux réalisés par le No. 5 Group (Bomber Command, Royal Air Force) durant les nuits du 6 au 7 juin puis du 12 au 13 juin 1944. Photo : IWM HU 92977

9th (US) Air Force mechanics install 12.7mm ammunition in the wings of a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter. Photo: US National Archives

Bombardment of La Sauvagère area Champsecret on June 25, 1944. Photo: US National Archives

Bombardement de la Pointe du Hoc en mai 1944. Photo : US National Archives

Above England, C-47s in formation flight shortly before Operation Neptune. The devices already carry the "D-Day stripes", white bands used for the recognition of anti-aircraft units. Photo: US National Archives

The end of a wing of Douglas C-47 torn off by a container dropped by another aircraft in the early hours of June 6, 1944, above the Cotentin. Photo: US National Archives

The end of a wing of Douglas C-47 torn off by a container dropped by another aircraft in the early hours of June 6, 1944, above the Cotentin. Photo: US National Archives

Chief Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory aboard a Douglas C-47 on June 14, 1944. Photo: IWM

Aerial view of an airfield in England with C-47s and Waco gliders. Photo: US National Archives

View of C-47s and cable towing gliders. Photo: US National Archives

US soldiers inspect the damage caused by the landing of this horsa glider in Normandy. Photo: US National Archives

The wreck of an Horsa glider in Normandy after hitting a hedge on landing. Photo: US National Archives

Takeoff of a C-47 towing an Horsa glider. Photo: US National Archives

Belgian Colonel Raymond Lallemant nicknamed "Cheval" (horse, in French). Photo: IWM

English mechanics and crews refit a Spitfire on a Normandy airfield. Photo: IWM

An American fighter-bomber P-38 Lightning F-5 during a bombing mission during the Battle of Normandy. Photo: US National Archives

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