881 Squadron's work was usually the persistent daily work of fleet protection rather than a single celebrated strike. Carriers could patrol the Bay of Biscay and the North Sea while land-based aircraft covered the Channel, making it harder for German forces to approach the invasion. Escort carriers, battleships, and aggressive destroyer forces created a layered barrier against interference with the amphibious operation. This division of labour kept carriers out of the congested invasion lanes while still using their aircraft to control the wider maritime approaches.
Chapter · 5:35-8:55
Carrier patrols protect D-Day's sea approaches
Learn how escort carriers and fighter patrols helped keep German forces from interfering with the D-Day invasion without crowding the English Channel.