Bunyap

Thanks very much for checking this campaign out and thanks for all the great feedback so far. Current Status: All missions received a revamp to take advantage of new features in the DCS 2.5 open beta. The environment should be more 'alive' now with smoke visible at battle sites and other locations it was reported by aircrew, enhanced 88mm flak effects, and more visible tracers. The missions will continue to be updated as more features become available. Documentation: Just as a reminder, pdf documents with expanded briefings are available at /Mods/campaigns/Spitfire IX Epsom/Doc in your DCS: World installation folder. These include much more information on tactics and the ground battle that did not translate well to the in-game screen. Be sure to use these versions if you are preparing for your missions in detail. Kneeboards: Navigation can be extremely challenging without all our modern gadgets so each mission has 3-12 kneeboard pages built in. These can be accessed by using keyboard RShft-K and scrolling to the different pages using the [ and ] key. Gameplay Tips: A campaign introduction is also available with background information on the campaign and battle itself. It is available below as an attachment to this post if you would like to check it out. We tried to anticipate any questions you might have about the player's role and what you are intended to accomplish as well as provide as many tips as possible that occurred to us during testing. I will include those below and feel free to add your own. - Fuel management is critical and the entire route does not have to be flown at low level and at high speed. In fact, these will be very short missions if you do because you will quickly burn through your fuel. Engine RPM settings of 1800-2400 and boost settings of no more than +2 were the norm when out of combat and will allow you to stay in the air much longer. - The rest of the squadron is going to run out of fuel first and this is perfectly normal. Any speed, altitude, or course change you make along the way is amplified for the aircraft trying to stay in formation. Higher throttle and RPM settings are required in order to stay in position so it is important to keep this in mind while making course changes. Fly smoothly like any good flight lead and your squadron will be able to stay airborne much longer. - Your job is to navigate and make decisions. Your squadron’s job is to look out for targets and keep you informed. Be sure to set your radio up to receive their transmissions. Details are included in each briefing but be sure either button A, C, or D is selected on your radio panel. - Wingmen will sometimes reply with calls like ‘two, negative’ or ‘three, unable’ in response to your radio command to attack. Do not let that frustrate you. This is always one of two things: they either do not see a valid target or they do not have the proper weapons for that target type you are telling them to attack. The weather is terrible on some missions and this has the appropriate effect on the AI’s ability to spot targets. Always wait until they give the radio call ‘contact target’ or ‘tally bandits’ before giving the command. - Be specific when giving radio commands to your squadron and avoid the generic ‘Engage Ground Targets’ command if possible. Your flight will prioritize air defense targets and will not last long. You will want to use radio command ‘Engage Utility Vehicles’ in most cases. - Avoid more than one attack on the same target. It was common for German flak positions not to fire and give away their position until nearby units were attacked. Many targets you will encounter can be expected to behave in this way. - Spitfires and Mustangs will not engage armor with guns so avoid the ‘Engage Armor’ call. You can bet that other vehicle targets are around so send your squadron after those instead. - Use the ‘Engage Air Defenses’ command sparingly. Flak positions are everywhere and your squadron’s best chance of survival comes from avoiding defended locations. - Be careful when using the ‘cover me’ command. Your wingman will engage anything he sees as a threat to you including air defenses on the ground. - Listen closely to what your flight is reporting. For example, ‘Contact target, 2 o’clock for three.’ means ‘I see a vehicle or other suitable soft target, in front of me and to the right, three miles away’. This is your cue to start looking for the target yourself. Assuming your flight is flying in formation when the call is made, it should be a simple matter to scan the proper area and locate the target they have in sight. - Follow your wingman if you cannot spot the target yourself. Give the radio command to engage the target and fly in a position to provide support, watching for flak, and calling off the attack if needed. Once your squadron begins to attack, you can easily roll in on the right location. - There are many, many targets behind the front lines and it is very easy for your squadron to go after one you did not intend them to. When in doubt, give the command to ‘rejoin formation’. Better to reform and try again than to lose everybody on an attack you did not intend to happen. - Do not rush into air engagements. Use the sun or clouds to mask your approach and try to maneuver behind the enemy. The real WWII tactics described in the mission briefings work. It takes practice to get the timing right but you and your squadron can easily down several aircraft before they know you are there. - Don’t forget about the other squadrons. You can always turn and run for one of the standing patrols if you find yourself outnumbered. - Orders to the second section of four aircraft are given by selecting F10 (Other) from the communications menu then selecting the appropriate command. The command 'attack primary target' will ensure the second section attacks the planned target on mission 2 and 12. Applicable next patch: - Mission 2 and 12 task your squadron with destroying a specific target on the ground. The keyboard command LWin-R may be used to ensure the lead section attacks the planned target. The lead section will fly directly to the target and attack immediately when the command is given so only give the command when in position at the desired approach heading. The aircraft will not rejoin automatically so give the command to rejoin formation when the attack is complete through either the normal communications menu or keyboard LWin-Y. Please feel free to add your own tips below! Campaign Introduction.pdf

Here is some data from Youtube. The vast majority of views are from random Google or Youtube searches, the entire point is to rope in new players after all, but it should still be representative of who is here. The part that worries me is male vs female ratio. That is a big problem.

Very cool! FYI, I just added the full serial numbers for all aircraft so you will be able to get the right effect with the custom skins as you mentioned elsewhere. That should come along with the first update whenever that happens to be.

Oh, hey there. I'm still around. :) I'm not really into forums, reddit, or anything like that so it probably looks like I have completely disappeared when no videos are going up. There is really nothing new I want to record right now so I'm just taking a break to do the documentation side of a WWII campaign with Wags. Thanks for asking though, I appreciate it.

I have been working with them on the campaign built around Epsom and the choices seem very well tailored to what is needed. I would be confident with any campaign scenario ranging from May to mid-August based on what we have here. There is only one airfield that left me saying 'gosh I wish that one were there' but it is the job of the mission designer to make sure those cases do not affect a person's overall enjoyment of the experience. I am glad to put your mind at rest on anything specific if you want to shoot me a PM.

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.)

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!

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

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.

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

Thanks rjetster, I really appreciate that. :) My only criteria for doing these on a weekly basis is that I have something every couple of weeks, from any source at all, I can consider 'exclusive'. After all, that is how the series started out and is the only reason I would personally watch a series like this. I have done all I am willing to do on that front but have nothing new to share right now. I know lots of folks would be happy if I simply read from the ED newsletter and 3rd party facebook pages but, putting themselves in my position, I think they would see how little enjoyment there is in that. I will have to see how things look next year. Granted, Wags has always been very helpful but I refuse to keep nagging the same guy over and over for screenshots. That is not how these things work. Either way, thanks for checking up on me. :) Meanwhile, the Spitfire Investigations continue.

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

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.)

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.

This is a series covering background on the Normandy Campaigns in 1944 and digging into the history of Luftwaffe airfields in the area. It is not one of my usual gameplay series but I'm sure you will enjoy it if you are looking forward to the Normandy 1944 Map:

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

Part 3 of 3 is up...

This is a playtesting session for one of ten 1954 Fighter Gunnery and Weapons Meet missions in the DCS: F-86 Sabre. This series of missions will replicate the actual missions flown as closely as is possible within DCS: World. A competition will be held following the release of DCS: World 2.5 that will give us all the opportunity to compare our performance directly with pilots of the time using these missions.

Thanks Rudel_chw, but the window of opportunity where the number of interested viewers justifies the time and effort has passed. That opportunity really passes the second a module is released but preview opportunities are out of my control. I will get back to it eventually but only after all the features are complete and I feel like doing it just for fun. :) Two new videos are up:

Thanks. :) Latest edition:

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

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

Latest edition with a new DCS: Normandy 1944 shot from ED:

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