Resources for Mission Designers

This is a list of documents mission designers may find useful when designing missions in the Normandy area. There are thousands of books on air operations in WWII so no list like this can be ever be complete. I include only free sources wherever possible and only those that cover what I understand the scope of the Normandy map to be: tactical operations flown from and within the geographic region of Normandy. I limit the timeframe to around mid-June through September 1944 but many documents will fall outside that scope, especially if they include items of particular interest to a designer such as OOB, basing information, or radio procedures.

It is possible that a small portion of the UK will be added allowing earlier missions to be flown. Information on the campaigns leading up to the landings as well as information on the landings themselves can usually be found in the same documents listed here. If not, the same source locations will have all the documents you need.

The list is broken down by nation and source location. Most academic work I did on WWII long, long ago focused on the USAAF. That section is naturally more diverse as a result. The RAF section is a bit sparse on narrative history but the ease of access to operational record books more than makes up for it. (I suspect that digital copies of the “United Kingdom in the Second World War” official histories can be found through the UK National Archives or HMSO but I am unable to locate a specific source.) The Luftwaffe section is sparse as well but that is the nature of WWII research. Most freely available English language documents on GAF operations are already in the USAAF section.

Maps, Photographs, and Overhead Imagery:

(added 16 Nov 2016)

National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP): http://ncap.org.uk

(Database containing "tens of millions" of aerial photographs including an enormous number of WWII images. The database includes exact location, date, and orientation. It is even broken down by individual reconnaissance sortie. High resolution products are available for a fee.)

Map Based Search:

http://ncap.org.uk/browse/map#zoom=1&lat=3737541.20636&lon=-2389065.59639&layers=BT

"Normandy" search results:

http://ncap.org.uk/search/keywords/Normandy?free-text=yes#free-text=yes&zoom=3&lat=6649606.17289&lon=-110232.88455&layers=BT

Fold3 Website: https://www.fold3.com/

USAAF Photos:

(A huge number of USAAF photos are available here for free. The entire collection is very well indexed and can be searched by unit and location. Photos of operations in France can give a very good feel for how to lay out static aircraft and equipment at the ALGs. )

https://www.fold3.com/browse/251/hbSH1CZcR

(added 21 Nov 2016)

Eighth Air Force Historical Society: http://www.8thafhs.com/photos.php

(Collection of strike photos including targets within the expected boundaries of the Normandy map.)

(added 21 Nov 2016)

McMaster University WWII Map Collection: http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A66649

1:250,000, U.S. Army Map Service Series M561 (1943/44), with Army/Air Overlay

(Primary navigation map used at the time. Friendly locations (“bomb line”), Flak concentrations, airfields, and other useful items would be updated prior to each mission. Instructions for giving and interpreting grid references are on the right of the map.)

France Index:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A48084

NW Europe Index:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A19795

Cherbourg and Caen:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A8474

Rouen - Paris:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A24790

Havre - Amiens:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A24747

1:100,000 GSGS Series 4249 (1943/44)

(These 1:100,000 or 1:50,000 maps would be used for pre-planned targets where more detail was needed for identification. An index of 1:100,000 maps in France is listed below although I know of no good source for 1:50,000 maps from the period. Grid reference instructions are on the right.)

France Index:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A8286

1:1,000,000 USAAF Aeronautical Charts (1943/44)

Index:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A75555

Strait of Dover:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A76619

(added 06 Sept 2016)

University of Texas at Austin Map Library: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe.html

(As above but lower resolution. Links maintained as a backup.)

1:250,000, U.S. Army Map Service Series M561 (1943/44), with Army/Air Overlay

(Primary navigation map used at the time. Friendly locations (“bomb line”), Flak concentrations, airfields, and other useful items would be updated prior to each mission. Instructions for giving and interpreting grid references are on the right of the map.)

France Index:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/france_250k/

3A & 8 - Cherbourg and Caen:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/france_250k/txu-pclmaps-oclc-6621442-cherbourg-and-caen-3a-8.jpg

1:100,000, U.S. Army Map Service Series M661 (1943/44)

(These 1:100,000 or 1:50,000 maps would be used for pre-planned targets where more detail was needed for identification. An index of 1:100,000 maps in France is listed below although I know of no good source for 1:50,000 maps from the period. Grid reference instructions are on the right.)

France Index:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/france_100k/

(added 20 Feb 2017)

Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/

Twelfth Army Group Situation Maps, 06 June 1944 - 26 July 1945

(Collection of maps updated daily with overlays showing current Allied and German forces.)

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701sm.gct00021/?sp=1&st=gallery/

USAAF Operations:

Air Force Historical Research Agency: http://www.afhra.af.mil/

The Army Air Forces in World War II: Combat Chronology, 1941-1945, by Kit C. Carter and Robert Mueller (1976). 991 pages.

(Daily operations summaries broken down by Numbered Air Force. A great resource for sketching out the general outline of a campaign.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/101-150/AFD-090529-036.pdf

Ninth Air Force, April to November 1944, by Robert H. George (1945). 375 pages.

(Very good resource for capturing the overall feel of Normandy operations. Includes a detailed narrative for Jun-Nov 1944. OOB and basing info is at the back. Very poor scan in places.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/1-50/AFD-090602-084.pdf

Tactical Operations of the Eighth Air Force, 6 June 1944-8 May 1945, Juliette Hennessy (1952). 285 pages.

(Narrative of 8 AF operations from the UK and beyond the scope of this terrain other than for AI operations running in the background. Includes discussion of the interdiction campaign and use of bombers in support of the Caen/St Lo breakout.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-060.pdf

The Employment of Strategic Bombers in a Tactical Role, 1941-1951, by Robert W. Ackerman (1953). 183 pages.

(Briefly touches on Normandy operations starting at p76.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-128.pdf

The AFHRA also has huge number of holdings that can be searched here:

http://airforcehistoryindex.org/

The process for requesting info on microfilm or CD is explained on their website: http://www.afhra.af.mil/

Air Force Historical Support Division: http://www.afhso.af.mil/index.asp

USAAF in World War II (Official Histories):

All seven volumes are available here under the WWII heading: https://www.afhistory.af.mil/Books/Conflicts-Wars/

Normandy operations are covered in vol 3:

Volume 3 - Europe: Argument to V-E Day: Jan 1944-May 1945

(General narrative of Normandy operations starts at p185. Includes information from the German perspective where available.)

https://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329888/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-007.pdf

Tactical Operations: WWII and Korean War

(Normandy operations are touched on briefly starting at p45.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110321-048.pdf

Air-Ground Teamwork on the Western Front

(Great overview of tactical air operations, tactics, and techniques followed by a day-by-day recap of XIX TAC ops in August.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100922-021.pdf

Condensed Analysis of the 9th AF in the European Theater of Operations

(Narrative of operations followed by very detailed analysis and recommendations.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100924-018.pdf

D-Day 1944: Air Power over the Normandy Beaches and Beyond

(Another great narrative of Normandy tactical air operations. This was written at a later date than most others here and has a slightly different take on things.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100924-019.pdf

Sunday Punch in Normandy

(Another look at 8 AF heavy bombers in a tactical role, probably beyond the scope of Normandy mission design other than as AI operating in the background.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100929-060.pdf

Aerial Interdiction: Air Power and the Land Battle in Three American Wars

(Interdiction campaign in Normandy described starting at p211. Some of this is possibly beyond the scope of operations depending on how much of Normandy is included.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100921-022.pdf

Case Studies in the Development of Close Air Support

(Detailed look at the development of direct air support of ground troops. Discussion of CAS in Normandy starts at p237.)

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100924-035.pdf

Army Air Forces Newsletters:

(These are really quite good reads no matter what subject you are looking for. Items applicable to Normandy are found scattered throughout.)

All volumes:

http://www.afhso.af.mil/aircorpsnewsletter/index.asp

July-Sept 1944:

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110420-029.pdf

Oct-Dec 1944:

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110420-030.pdf

Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Holdings: http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p4013coll8

Air cooperation with troops in Normandy: 9th Air Force operations, 1-30 June, 1944, with special study of close support in the assault on Cherbourg.

(Self explanatory)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/4109

T.A.L.O. notes.

(A collections of memorandums and standing orders for Tactical Air Liaison Officers, a very early prototype of the modern JTAC. Mission designers will find these especially useful when setting up communications with ground forces. These date from well after the campaign in Normandy but most of the procedures outlined within were first developed here, particularly just after the St Lo breakout.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/4133

Effectiveness of Third Phase tactical air operations in the European Theater, 5 May 1944 -- 8 May 1945.

(This is the best summary and analysis of tactical air operations in Normandy I know of. Unfortunately, it comes in 23 parts so see the links on the right side of the screen to download them all.)

(Part 1-11)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p4013coll8/id/1488

(Part 12-23)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p4013coll8/id/1380

Offensive fighter aviation in the TAF.

(Summary of mission planning considerations and tactics used for different mission types. Includes practical examples.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/4171

Twelve thousand fighter-bomber sorties: XIX Tactical Air Command's first month operations in support of Third US Army in France.

(Narrative of XIX TAC’s support of Third Army. Patton and Third Army leave the Normandy map very quickly after the St Lo breakout but the initial phases of the breakout in July should fit nicely.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/356

Mission control and liaison.

(This dates from before the Normandy Campaign but gives good background on air-ground communication and coordination.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/4162

Comparative look at air-ground support doctrine and practice in World War II: with an appendix on current Soviet close air support doctrine.

(Overview of USAAF, RAF, German, Japanese, and Soviet systems.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/358

Flak facts: a brief history of flak and flak intelligence in the Ninth Air Force.

(Great background on various German Flak systems. Info could be useful for determining placement and intensity when setting up missions.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p4013coll8/id/2965

Effect of strategic & tactical air power on mil opns, ETO – WD.

(Responses to questionnaires concerning air power in Normandy and the ETO in general. Responses are hit and miss but usually very detailed. It takes some digging but you can get a very good sense of how airpower was viewed by the ground forces.)

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/4041

US Army Center of Military History: http://www.history.army.mil/

US Army in WWII (Green Books):

http://www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/usaww2.html

(These are very detailed narratives and contain more than enough detail to accurately place ground units on both the Allied and German side. These are best read while referencing the maps in the back. These two volumes cover operations in Normandy.)

Cross Channel Attack

http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/007/7-4-1/index.html

Breakout and Pursuit

http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/007/7-5-1/index.html

American Forces in Action Series:

http://www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/afia.html

(Another official history series but focusing on specific actions. These three apply to the Normandy area.)

Omaha Beachhead:

http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-11/index.html

Utah Beach to Cherbourg

http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-12/index.html

St-Lo

http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/100/100-13/index.html

RAF Operations:

National Archives: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Royal Air Force Operations Record Books 1939-1945

(This includes a day by day, mission by mission history of each squadron in the RAF. They include a narrative recap of everything that happened as well as a detailed breakdown of acft, pilot, times, areas patrolled, targets hit, etc. for each mission. You will want to at least look at a few of these to get a feel for types of missions being flown even if it is not your intention to replicate the activities of a particular squadron. You can search by squadron and year at this page. Examples of what they look like are at the bottom. Each reel comes as a pdf file and costs £3.40.)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/raf-operations-record-books-1939-1945/

South Africa Air Force: Operations Record Books

(Same as above except this dataset is free.)

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2109

Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books

(Same as above and free.)

http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_135766

(added 10 Mar 2017)

(An index to this set has been compiled by Bill Walker at this link.)

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showpost.php?p=208933&postcount=53

UK Official Histories:

The United Kingdom in the Second World War

(I do not know of any free digitized copies other than those at this site.)

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/index.html

The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945, Volume 3: Fight is Won, Saunders, Hilary St George. London: HMSO, 1954

(Narrative history of RAF operations. Normandy operations are within chapters 5 and 6.)

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-RAF-III/index.html

Victory in the West, Volume 1: Battle of Normandy, Ellis, L.F. et al., London: HMSO, 1962

(I know of no free source for the ground forces volume covering the European Theatre but a Kindle edition of part 1 can be had for $1.00)

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-West-Normandy-Military-Official/dp/1845740580

(added 11 Mar 2017)

Canadian Official Histories: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/index-eng.asp

Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume III, The Victory Campaign

(Narrative history covering Canadian ground operations from D-Day through VE day.)

http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/Victory_e.pdf

The RCAF Overseas: The Fifth Year

(Narrative history covering Canadian units in the RAF. See chapter IX (pg 245) for fighter operations in Normandy.)

http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/RCAF_Overseas_vol2_e.pdf

Other sources:

2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 1-4:

(DEFINITELY not free but it is the best history of 2 TAF available anywhere. The end of vol 1 and beginning of vol 2 cover operations in Normandy and are presented as a day-by-day narrative. The appendixes in Vol 4 are quite good. They include info on weapons, tactics, aircraft markings, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/2nd-Tactical-Air-Force-Vol/dp/1903223407

https://www.amazon.com/2nd-Tactical-Air-Force-Vol/dp/1903223415

https://www.amazon.com/2nd-Tactical-Air-Force-Vol/dp/1903223601

https://www.amazon.com/2nd-Tactical-Airforce-Squadrons-Camouflage/dp/1906537011

(added 29 Nov 2016)

Four Months in the Life of a Spitfire IX Wing:

(This is a day-by-day look at 144 Wg RCAF during their time in Normandy. It gives details on the types of missions flown and how they were executed. It is intended to be helpful to mission designers but please coordinate with me before starting work on a campaign based on these specific missions.)

(added 03 Dec 2016)

AVM J.E. 'Johnnie' Johnson Oral History:

(Recording of AVM 'Johnnie' Johnson, Commander of No. 144 Wing over Normandy, recalling experiences from WWII. This is from 1988 at age 63. You will definitely want to listen if you are following my 'Four Months in the Life of a Spitfire IX Wing' series. © IWM)

AVM Johnnie Johnson Oral History - Part 1

AVM Johnnie Johnson Oral History - Part 2

AVM Johnnie Johnson Oral History - Part 3

(added 20 Feb 2017)

UK Met Office Archives:

(Daily weather reports for the UK with an overview of observations for the northern hemisphere.)

Daily Weather Reports 1860-2003

Luftwaffe Operations:

Air Force Historical Research Agency: http://www.afhra.af.mil/

The German Air Force versus the Allies in the West, The German Air Defense, by Josef Schmid (1954).

Multiple volumes but only a few apply directly to Normandy operations:

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Information/Studies/Numbered-USAF-Historical-Studies-151-200/

Vol 4, 06 Jun 1944– 01 Jul 1944:

(Narrative covering GAF operations in June.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/151-200/AFD-090519-012.pdf

Impact of Allied Air Attacks on German Divisions and Other Army Forces in Zones of Combat, by Wolfgang Pickett (1958).

(Self explanatory. Discussion of Normandy campaign starts on p56.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/151-200/AFD-090521-062.pdf

The Effect of the Allied Air Attacks on the Ground Echelon of the Luftwaffe in Western Europe on 1944, by Karl Gundelach (1956).

(Includes descriptions of specific attacks and impact on operations at German held airfields.)

http://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/151-200/AFD-090521-063.pdf

(added 20 Feb 2017)

Wetterkarten der Zentralen Wetterdienstgruppe 1939-1945:

(Daily weather reports for German held locations with an overview of observations for the northern hemisphere. Maps can be viewed at the German Meteorological Library in Offenbach / Main. The plan as I understand it is for the entire set to be available online at a later date.)

ZWG Daily Weather Reports 1939-1945

(added 14 Nov 2016)

Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-1945: http://www.ww2.dk/lwairfields.html

This is an extremely helpful compilation of information of Luftwaffe airfields in WWII. Sources are cited at the end of each entry.)

(added 16 Nov 2016)

Luftwaffe Airfields in Normandy Video Series:

(This is a look at airfields in Normandy as described in the document above. I also cover a lot of background material on the Normandy Campaign itself.)

The Google Earth file generated during this session is available here. Please credit the author of the source document, Henry L. deZeng IV, if you share this file anywhere else. Also, be a good sport and share a link to the video series that documents this file's creation:

Luftwaffe Airfields in Normandy (16-Nov-2016).zip

Thank you for the sources. I don't plan on mission building but I will likely be looking through some of these to get a better idea of what the air campaign looked like during that time.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Great work Bunyap. This looks like enough to keep people going for a few years:D

Thanks a lot.

I just updated the list with some very good map sources at the very top.

Hi,

:thumbup: Thanks

Including your Normandy - DCS: World Research Sessions

"The Google Earth files you see me working on will be made available as soon as they are complete."

############## Edit :

Daily maps with Front Line and Major Ground Forces

Evreux behind the Front Line - August, 27th

HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map : [battle of the Bulge--France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany]

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701sm.gct00021/?sp=1&st=gallery

-

Aerial photos of Normandy,

http://ncap.org.uk/search/keywords/Normandy?free-text=yes#free-text=yes&zoom=3&lat=6649606.17289&lon=-110232.88455&layers=BT

Blech, Plumetot,

http://ncap.org.uk/search/keywords/Plumetot?free-text=yes#free-text=yes&zoom=7&lat=6322200.36321&lon=-39703.18398&layers=BT

Thanks for the links! I didn't know about the NCAP site until yesterday. I have barely left the house since. :)

+1......thanks Bunyap.....:thumbup:....;-)

More aerial photos Bunyap.

http://www.8thafhs.com/photos.php

Sweet, thanks MiloMorai. It is added it above.

I also added the McMaster University WWII Map Collection: http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A66649 These are about 4x the resolution of the UofT versions and it is much easier to find what you are looking for here.

Added above:

Four Months in the Life of a Spitfire IX Wing:

(This is a day-by-day look at 144 Wg RCAF during their time in Normandy. It gives details on the types of missions flown and how they were executed. It is intended to be helpful to mission designers but please coordinate with me before starting work on a campaign based on these specific missions.)

Thanks brother. :)

Added today:

AVM J.E. 'Johnnie' Johnson Oral History:

(Recording of AVM 'Johnnie' Johnson, Commander of No. 144 Wing over Normandy, recalling experiences from WWII. This is from 1988 at age 63. You will definitely want to listen if you are following my 'Four Months in the Life of a Spitfire IX Wing' series. © IWM[/b])

AVM Johnnie Johnson Oral History - Part 1

AVM Johnnie Johnson Oral History - Part 2

AVM Johnnie Johnson Oral History - Part 3

A very interesting man. Thanks for these recordings Bunyap, a great supplement to your series!

Wow Great work. They are the best documentaries I've seen on D-day. rep ib

Thanks Buyap, I am waiting for some peace in the house to watch the 13 june video. I wait eagerly for the next instalment and set it to buffer in HD while I wait the opportunity to watch it:)

Really looking forward to the Johnnie Johnson tapes:thumbup:

Three more items added today:

Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/

Twelfth Army Group Situation Maps, 06 June 1944 - 26 July 1945

(Collection of maps updated daily with overlays showing current Allied and German forces.)

https://www.loc.gov/collections/world-war-ii-maps-military-situation-maps-from-1944-to-1945/

UK Met Office Archives:

(Daily weather reports for the UK with an overview of observations for the northern hemisphere.)

Daily Weather Reports 1860-2003

Wetterkarten der Zentralen Wetterdienstgruppe 1939-1945:

(Daily weather reports for German held locations with an overview of observations for the northern hemisphere. Maps can be viewed at the German Meteorological Library in Offenbach / Main. The plan as I understand it is for the entire set to be available online at a later date.)

ZWG Daily Weather Reports 1939-1945

Added today:

Royal Canadian Air Force Operations Record Books

(Same as above and free.)

http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_135766

(An index to this set has been compiled by Bill Walker at this link.)

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showpost.php?p=208933&postcount=53

The ORBs were already listed here but it was a LOT of work to find what you need without the index.

I added these to the top post today although I have been using them already in the 'four month in the life' series. Adding them here had apparently escaped my mind.

'The RCAF Overseas' volumes were written very shortly after the fact and capture a lot of the jargon used at the time. They are a much more lively read than most other official histories. Highly recommended...

Canadian Official Histories: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/index-eng.asp

Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume III, The Victory Campaign

(Narrative history covering Canadian ground operations from D-Day through VE day.)

http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/Victory_e.pdf

The RCAF Overseas: The Fifth Year

(Narrative history covering Canadian units in the RAF. See chapter IX (pg 245) for fighter operations in Normandy.)

http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/RCAF_Overseas_vol2_e.pdf

Hi,

 

############## Edit :

 

Daily maps with Front Line and Major Ground Forces

Evreux behind the Front Line - August, 27th

 

HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map : [battle of the Bulge--France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany]

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701sm.gct00021/?sp=1&st=gallery

 

 

-

Blech, I had completely missed your edit that included the 12 AG situation maps. They are added to the main list and you have my (late) thanks!

Wow, would be great to put all this great research toward a Spitfire campaign in Normandy ;)

You mean a set of missions designed based on actual squadron daily records, with AI flights carrying out missions just as they really happened, with flak batteries located based on both aircrew reports and actual reconnaissance photos, and with a ground battle based on the units’ own war diaries taking place below? Yeah, somebody should definitely get going on that. :)

To all:

(In all seriousness though, that sounds like a lot of details to track down but it really isn't that difficult. It just takes a lot of time and a high tolerance for tedium. If anybody is committed to doing something like that and needs a hint on where to find something specific I can nudge you in the right direction if needed. Just let me know here or via PM.)

I had already made a decision to use some of your notes/video's for some SP scenario's when the map is available I am nowhere near competent to do a campaign but the amount of detail that you have provided along with some stuff I have in book form will enable me to fly in the footsteps of some of the bravest pilots to have ever flown. I can't begin to imagine the work involved to populate the AO but I believe the earlier sweeps from Ford and the early bomber escorts will be fairly straightforward:)

Keep up the good work pal:thumbup:

Hi,

Interesting - if we will get placeable airfields in the Mission Editor (?)

IX Engineer Command - ETO Airfields

( General Construction Information / Runway Information )

http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/index.php

Army Air Forces Collection - Historical Documents from World War II

http://aafcollection.info/index.html

Some interesting manuals/knowledge and a touch of the spirit of that time

e.g.

http://aafcollection.info/items/documents/view.php?file=000442-01-00.pdf

Very pleased to hear about Wags and Bunyaps collaboration on a Spitfire campaign after all the stuff presented here in astonoshing detail. Instant buy for me.