The Fighter Command War Diaries: July 1944 to May 1945 v. 5 (Air Research)

This, the fifth and last volume of the series, begins with the Allied forces firmly established in France, with a reinforced beachhead and with units of Second Tactical Air Force operating from landing grounds on French soil.The American daylight offensive against Germany had forced the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe to withdraw almost all operational fighter units into Germany proper. It did not take the Luftwaffe long to recover but the Allies, having won total air supremacy, maintained a level of superiority that was never to be seriously challenged again.The V-1 Diver threat remained, but the worst was over and, as the ground forces advanced, the German retreat would put the flying-bomb launch sites out of range of the UK.Back in the continent, the Typhoon units were to achieve a fearsome reputation as true 'flying artillery', culminating in the bloody killing ground of the Falaise pocket.Later, when the Spitfire XIV and Tempest units were released from their anti-Diver duties, these two types were to demonstrate their air combat capabilities on many occasions. However, the Germans, ever tough, imaginitive and resourceful, were to deal the RAF some heavy blows and were still capable of springing surprises...