Transportation Plan

Part of Strategic bombing campaigns in Europe

Date	6 March 1944 - Late August 1944
Location	European Theatre of World War II
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

United States

United Kingdom

Nazi Germany

Commanders and leaders

USAAF: Carl Spaatz

RAF Bomber Command: Arthur Harris

USAAF: Carl Spaatz

The Transportation Plan was a plan for strategic bombing during World War II against bridges, rail centres, including marshalling yards and repair shops in France with the goal of limiting the German military response to the invasion of France in June 1944.

The plan was based those of Air Marshal Tedder and the "Overlord air plan" of Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory, The plan was devised by Professor Solly Zuckerman, an advisor to the Air Ministry, to destroy transportation in Occupied France during the "preparatory period" for Operation Overlord so Germany would be unable to respond effectively to the invasion.

The air campaign, carried out by the bombers of the RAF and USAAF crippled the German rail networks in France and played a crucial role in disrupting German logistics and reinforcements to the invasion area.

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) RAF Bomber Command Marshal Arthur Harris did not want to divert his bomber for ce away from their strategic campaign against German industry (known to the Germans as the Defence of the Reich campaign). However, he resigned himself early on to supporting Overlord as early as 17 February 1944 while his force was engaged in the bombing campaign against Berlin. On 6 March 1944, Charles Portal ordered attacks on the marshalling yards at Trappes, Aulnoye, Le Mans, Amiens, Lougeau, Courtrai and Laon. Control of all air operations was transferred to Eisenhower on 14 April at noon.

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