OUR AIRMEN PROMINENT IN INVASION, The Argus (Victoria), 10 June 1944, p.4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11817467
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OUR AIRMEN PROMINENT IN INVASION.
Big D Day Role.
In every air operation on D day Australia, was represented either by formations from Australian fighter, fighter-bomber, or bomber squadrons, or by RAAF men who fly with RAP squadrons, states a London despatch received yesterday by Mr Drakeford, Air Minister.
All Australian squadrons added offensive power to the D day assault. The special target for RAAF Lancaster and Halifax night bomber squadrons on the night before the actual landing was the coastal batteries along the invasion strip. On Tuesday night they went with a thousand "heavies" of Bomber Command to targets just beyond the invasion area. Next night Australian manned Halifaxes attacked railway yards in France, and our Lancasters pounded troop and motor transport concentrations.
Since dawn on invasion day Australian Sunderland and Beaufighter squadrons of Coastal Command have been safeguarding Allied shipping from air, surface, or under-water attack. They reported little or no opposition on D day.
RAAF night fighter Mosquitoes on the first night acted as intruders in Normandy, and shot down, four of eight German aircraft, five of them troop carriers shot down that night. The same squadron scored three more kills on Wednesday night.
