FRANCE: The very first Allied forces to land in Normandy arrived by six Horsa gliders. These were the men of the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Their job was to secure the Caen Canal and Orne River bridges before the Germans could destroy them. AS THOUSANDS of brave soldiers stormed the Normandy Beaches under a hail of gunfire 75 years ago, incredible photos show how the Allied air forces kept German reinforcements at bay, destroyed Nazi weapon and munitions factories, and conducted devastating bombing runs on Hitler???s defensive strongholds in a powerful new book. Striking shots from 1944 ??" including the build up to the D-Day Landings, the invasion itself, and its deadly aftermath - include US bombers striking a Nazi bunker on the French coast; an allied aircraft wreaking havoc at a German oil refinery; and RAF Typhoon emblazoned with ???D-Day Stripes???, a black and white paint scheme which helped identify allied aircraft and reduce the chances of getting shot down by friendly fire. Another poignant shot shows visibly relieved American GIs looking to the skies after spotting their airborne guardian angels during Operation Overlord, the epic allied assault to liberate German-occupied Europe. Mediadrumimages/AnthonyTucker-Jones/PenAndSwordBooks