Mission Completed by Simon Smith (AP) REG102 softening up the German defenses

softening up the German defenses to pave the way for the Allied landings along the beaches of northern France

3 guns were knocked out before they could be brought into action and two more were disabled soon afterwards

There is not much to beat the feeling of sitting in a hot air balloon basket as you float across the countryside

nonetheless

Mission Completed by Simon Smith (AP) REG102 softening up the German defensesDHM2210AP. Mission Completed by Simon Smith. Depicting the morning after a gruelling operation during the autumn of 1944. As day breaks a returning crew awaits the crew bus at their aircraft dispersal, grouped before their mighty bomber which shows fresh scars of battle from an arduous mission over occupied Europe. The exhausted men are clearly relieved and thankful to be safely home at their in Lincolnshire base. Signed by Group Captain William