British Military Aviation in 1944 - Part 1

Part 2

11 January
Operation Overlord: the beginning of the air operations designed to support the Allied invasion of France.

21-22 January
The Luftwaffe launch Operation Steinbock, a bomber offensive against targets in the United Kingdom, primarily London, in retaliation for RAF Bomber Command attacks on Berlin. Although attacks on the capital continued until the night of 20/21 April 1944, the results of this 'Baby Blitz' were poor and Luftwaffe losses at the hands of RAF Fighter Command's nightfighters were heavy.

From late April, German attacks switched to the ports of southern England, in which shipping for the forthcoming Allied invasion of north west Europe was already massing. However, once again the offensive yielded little tangible results for the Luftwaffe, at a high cost in men and machines.

22 January
Operation Shingle: Allied amphibious landings take place at Anzio in Italy, in an effort to outflank the strong German defensive line known as the Gustav Line. Allied air forces made heavy attacks on airfields and communications, dropping 12,500 tons of bombs in three weeks. However, the Allied ground forces failed to grasp the initiative and made little progress.

15 February
United States Army Air Force (USAAF) bombing of the ancient monastery at Monte Cassino in central Italy fails to dislodge the defenders but causes severe damage to the monastery. The battle at Monte Cassino waged on until 18 May when exhausted Germans evacuated the stronghold and Allied forces moved in. At least 20,000 soldiers were killed in the course battle.

18 February
Operation Jericho: de Havilland Mosquitoes of Nos. 21, 464 and 487 Squadrons led by Group Captain P.C. Pickard attack Amiens Prison in a bid to release French Resistance workers held by the Germans. The raid was successful, releasing 258 of the 700 prisoners held in the prison - although a further 102 were killed by the bombing. Two Mosquitoes were shot down during the attack, including the aircraft flown by Group Captain Pickard and his navigator, Flight Lieutenant J.A. Broadley. Both men lost their lives.

5-6 March
Operation Thursday commences: Royal Air Force (RAF) and Unites States Army Air Force (USAAF) transport aircraft fly in the leading elements of two Long Range Penetration 'Chindit' brigades, under the command of Major General Orde Wingate, to landing zones deep behind the Japanese lines in Burma. The initial fly-in of the Chindits was completed on 11 March, by which time 9,000 men, 1,350 animals and 250 tons of supplies had been landed behind Japanese lines.

Such a large assault was only possible due to the high degree of air superiority established by the RAF and USAAF over Burma. Subsequently, as Wingate's troops, under the command of Brigadier Lentaigne following Wingate's death in an air crash on 24 March, established blocking positions across the Japanese lines of communication.

RAF transport squadrons assisted Wingate's own 'private air force', the USAAF's 5318 Air Force Unit, generally known as the 'Air Commando', in supplying the Chindit force. The Chindits were withdrawn from April 1944.

6-7 March
RAF Bomber Command commences a series of attacks on French rail centres, in preparation for the invasion, with a raid by 261 Handley Page Halifaxes and six de Havilland Mosquitoes on the marshalling yard at Trappes. Railway tracks, rolling stock and buildings were all heavily damaged, with no aircraft lost.

Part 2