It was a small, but hardened, group of RAF, Royal Canadian Air Force and US Army Air Forces Mustang squadrons that geared up for the long-awaited invasion of 'Fortress Europe'. In the event, their handful of ageing aircraft provided much of the information that Allied commanders needed to secure the beach-head and push inland. Only a few RAF and RCAF units were still flying the Allison-engined Mustang on army co-operation missions by the time of the invasion, three British and two Canadian, though another two squadrons would partially re-equip with the fighter later on and one more would briefly operate the Mustang I for the first time. Nos 2 and 268 Squadrons, RAF were incorporated into No 84 Group, No 35 Reconnaissance Wing, while No 168 Squadron, RAF and Nos 414 and 430 Squadrons, RCAF became part of No 83 Group, No 39 Reconnaissance Wing. As 1944 went on, the remaining Mustang units took on an increasing number of sorties concerned with preparations for invading Europe. From February onwards, several of them undertook a series of missions to photograph targets in France.
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