Hawker Typhoon rocket attack

An RAF Hawker Typhoon pulls up and breaks right after firing a 'ripple' salvo of four pairs of rockets with 60lb warheads at a German troop position in the Normandy fields after D-Day in June 1944.

The Typhoon had a fearsome reputation as a ground attack aircraft – although the rockets were an imprecise weapon system, lacking any form of guidance beyond pointing the entire airframe in the right direction. As a result, debate still continues about the effectiveness of this kind of close air support of ground forces. There is no doubting the bravery of the pilots who did it, however.