Air Operations

In cooperation with the swiftly moving ground forces, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces continued to operate in accordance with the Phase IV plan. With the battle proving so easy and opposition so weak, Strategic Air Force was entirely withdrawn. The Mediterranean coast being virtually cleared of the enemy, Coastal Air Force's participation likewise was slight, totaling only 614 sorties for the seven-day period of 22 through 28 August. Virtually the whole burden of the air operation thus came to rest upon Tactical Air Force, which flew 3,299 effective sorties and dropped 1,907 tons of bombs. Fighters accounted for 2,356 of the sorties, but the medium bombers dropped 1,470 tons of the bombs. The weight of the attack was approximately evenly divided between lines of communication and enemy concentrations, the former receiving 851 tons of bombs, the latter 953.

German Air Force

Allied domination of the air was so complete that during the first week of the invasion, probably by 19 August, the few German Air Force units in southern had decided to evacuate. The fighters which had moved in from north Italy returned to their former area, while the bomber and recce units apparently went all the way back to Germany. As a result, during the second week of the invasion there was no German air action southern France whatsoever, except for an occasional solitary reconnaissance plane.

Interdiction

As the battle wore into its second week it became apparent, to quote MAAF Intelligence Weekly Status Report of Interdiction, that:

Any further widespread destruction of rail and road communications might well be a greater disadvantage to our own swiftly advancing forces than to the retreating and partly disorganized enemy * * *. The aim of our attack on communications changed to the blocking of enemy escape routes rather than the cutting of lines of supply.

This meant chiefly that the pattern of attack switched from medium bombers hitting major bridges to fighter-bombers attacking minor road and rail bridges immediately ahead of the fleeing German forces.

Movement to France

As the front rapidly moved away from the beachhead area it became increasingly difficult throughout the week, with aircraft based in Corsica, to keep pace with the Allied advance. Allied plans for the speedy development of operational fields in France were therefore pushed hard. By week's end six fields, some of them nothing but fresh landing strips scraped from the vineyards, were operational, and substantial elements had made the shift from Corsica to the mainland. These included 3 U.S. P-47 groups, 11 RAF Spitfire squadrons, 1 RAF Spitfire TR squadron, and 1 U.S. P-51 observation squadron.

Anti-radar attacks

A preliminary estimate by the Enemy Radar Intelligence Bureau, Headquarters, MAAF of the success of the air attack against German radar stations in southern France in the period directly preceding D-day indicates that of the 22 radar sites attacked between 11 and 14 August only 5 were rendered unserviceable, with 4 more probably knocked out of commission. Notes the report: "Although this does not appear to be very satisfactory, the greatest measure of success was achieved in the most important area, from Cap Blanc to Cap d'Antibes."

Troop Carrier

The success of the assault made unnecessary the original plan to drop fresh paratroops in the Maquis area on or about D plus 4. Instead, on D plus 4 orders were issued for the immediate return to the United Kingdom of the two troop carriers borrowed from the Ninth Air Force for the invasion.

The fourth stinging body blow had been delivered. Jerry was disorganized, desperate, confusedly retreating from a foe steadily gaining strength. Still far from beaten, never more dangerous than when cornered, he was nonetheless badly hurt.

In all humility, and with admiration for all arms which took part in the operation, it can be said that the U.S. Army Air Forces contributed in large measure to the overall success. From General Arnold came a message of warm commendation to all AAF units which had had a hand in the proceedings.

The Commanding General's unstinted praise is to be shared by all components of the MAAF, air and ground, of whatever nationality, for their work during the 6 months preceding the invasion and during those fateful days of crashing into France from the south.