Operations in which R.A.F. beach units were involved
The following is a list of Second World War Combined Operations (i.e. amphibious assault operations) in which R.A.F. beach units were involved. The list is in chronological order and each entry provides a link to further information, where available.
| Codename | D-Day | Location |
|---|---|---|
| HUSKY | 10th July 1943 | Sicily |
| BAYTOWN | 3rd September 1943 | Reggio, Italy |
| AVALANCHE | 9th September 1943 | Salerno, Italy |
| OVERLORD | 6th June 1944 | Normandy, France |
| DRAGOON (ANVIL) | 15th August 1944 | South of France |
| TALON | 3rd January 1945 | Akyab, Burma |
| MATADOR | 21st January 1945 | Ramree Island, Burma |
| DRACULA | 2nd May 1945 | Rangoon, Burma |
| ZIPPER | 9th September 1945 | Malaya |
Some notes about major combined operations in which RAF beach units did not take part.
Operation TORCH, D-Day 8th November 1942, NW Africa
Though other RAF units were landed to support the establishment of RAF operational bases, RAF beach units did not exist at this time – they were not formed until 1943.
Operation SHINGLE, D-Day 22nd January1944, Anzio, Italy
RAF beach units were not required as no landing grounds were needed in the beachhead. However, RAF balloon personnel did take part.
Allied day fighters could fly to and from Anzio over or near land at fairly short range, while the front to be covered was fairly short*. It followed that it was not essential to establish day fighters in the beachhead.
*The bringing into use of airfields at Castel Volturno, Lago and Marcianise (all between Capua and the coast) eased the problem of concentration of aircraft in the Naples area, and greatly shortened the range at which some of the fighters would otherwise have had to operate.
Molony, C. J. C. “The Mediterranean and Middle East Vol. 5, The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and the Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944”, 1973, p632-3