Close Air Support

Discussions on WW2 in Western Europe & the Atlantic.
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EKB
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Joined: 20 Jul 2005, 18:21
Location: United States

Re: Close Air Support

#16

Post by EKB » 03 May 2015, 06:08

Delta Tank wrote:A question to all,

I am watching the American Heroes Channel (AHC) today and the subject/title of the show is D-Day to Victory. They interview a bunch of former soldiers, airman and sailors about their experiences and one former British soldier stated that their biggest problem was the RAF,
"they bombed and strafed us everyday"
or words to that effect. I do know that this did happen both US and RAF hit friendly units, but everyday?? There must be a study somewhere were the incidents of accidental air attacks has been compiled and studied.

It could not of been every day, so how bad was it?

Mike
“ On 20 August 1944 in Normandy First Canadian Army produced a report listing 52 separate instances of attacks by fighter bombers — Spitfires, Typhoons, Mustangs, and USAAF Lightnings — against its forward troops that occurred between 16 and 18 August and which had killed 72 and wounded 191 officers and men and destroyed or damaged twelve vehicles. Some of these attacks had been made despite yellow smoke being released, and in one case despite an Air Observation Post (AOP) artillery spotter plane attempting to ward off the offending Typhoons. Not surpringly, First Canadian Army called for all possible steps to be taken to reduce such occurences, warning that otherwise the provision of air support would soon become a deterrent to ground operations rather than the stimulant of which it was potentially capable of being.” 38

38. First Canadian Army Report, Attacks by Allied A/C on Own Tps -18 and 19 Aug. 1944 (20 August 1944) PRO WO 205/232.

Reference from Ian Gooderson. Air Power at the Battlefront.

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