Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (42-225845 R3-G) of the US 410th Fighter Squadron in flight over Normandy, 26 August 1944

A Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of USAAF 410th Fighter Squadron soars over Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, 26 August 1944, having been part of the tactical air support provided to the Allied Armies in Europe by the US Ninth Air Airforce.

During the battle for Normandy that followed the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, the Allies relied on air power to help support their advance. Unlike the US 8th Air Force, which was mostly based in the UK, the majority of the Ninth was moved to France to provide rapid and continuous support from Advanced Landing Grounds. Aircraft such as P-47s were used as fighter-bombers in a ground attack role. They struck railroads, hangars, boxcars, warehouses and other objectives to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the front, and later attacked German forces trapped in the Falaise Pocket. This enabled the Allies to achieve a decisive victory, opening the way to advance on and then liberate Paris on 25 August 1944.