Hawker Typhoon
The rocket-firing nemesis of every German tank column in Normandy.
The Typhoon was troubled at first — unreliable Sabre engine, structural failures in the rear fuselage — but once these problems were solved, the "Tiffy" became the RAF's premier ground-attack aircraft. In the Normandy campaign, Typhoon wings hunted German armour with rockets and cannon to devastating effect.
01Intended as an interceptor successor to the Hurricane, but its performance above 20,000 ft disappointed. The aircraft found its true role at low level, where its speed and firepower were unmatched.
02During the breakout from the Normandy beachhead, Typhoon squadrons under the 2nd Tactical Air Force operated in "cab rank" — circling overhead until called down onto targets by forward air controllers. The Falaise Pocket in August 1944 became a graveyard of German vehicles under their guns.
03Its RP-3 60-lb rockets were inaccurate individually but terrifying in salvos. Post-war analysis showed actual tank kills were fewer than claimed — but the psychological effect on German ground troops was immense; surrendering crews often cited "Jabos" as the reason.
Theatres of operation
- ·Western Europe
Principal operators
- ·RAF
- ·2nd Tactical Air Force
Others in the same fight.
Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.I — Mk.24
Hawker Hurricane
Mk.I — Mk.IV
Avro Lancaster
B.I / B.III / B.X
de Havilland Mosquito
Mk.I — Mk.41