G ▁f ighter ▁intercept ors ▁until ▁the ▁Luft wa ffe ▁was ▁driven ▁from ▁the ▁air field ▁in ▁mid ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁by ▁the ▁adv ancing ▁Al lied ▁ground ▁forces ▁in ▁the ▁Northern ▁France ▁campaign . ▁ ▁St - And ré ▁was ▁a ▁frequent ▁target ▁of ▁American ▁attacks , ▁being ▁bom bed ▁on ▁numerous ▁occasions ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁Also , ▁USA AF ▁N inth ▁Air ▁Force ▁B - 2 6 ▁Mar aud er ▁medium ▁bom bers ▁and ▁P - 4 7 ▁Th under bol ts ▁attacked ▁the ▁air field ▁mostly ▁with ▁ 5 0 0 - p ound ▁General - P ur pose ▁bomb s ; ▁un gu ided ▁rock ets ▁and ▁. 5 0 ▁cal iber ▁machine ▁gun ▁swe eps ▁to ▁attack ▁the ▁German ▁intercept ors ▁on ▁the ▁ground . ▁The ▁attacks ▁were ▁tim ed ▁to ▁have ▁the ▁maximum ▁effect ▁possible ▁on ▁the ▁j ets ▁to ▁keep ▁the ▁jet ▁intercept ors ▁p inned ▁down ▁on ▁the ▁ground ▁and ▁be ▁unable ▁to ▁attack ▁the ▁heavy ▁bom bers . ▁▁ ▁Also ▁the ▁P - 5 1 ▁Must ang ▁f ighter - esc ort ▁groups ▁of ▁E ighth ▁Air ▁Force ▁would ▁drop ▁down ▁on ▁their ▁return ▁to ▁England ▁and ▁attack ▁the ▁base ▁with ▁a ▁f ighter ▁swe ep ▁and ▁attack ▁any ▁target ▁of ▁opportunity ▁to ▁be ▁found ▁at ▁the ▁air field . ▁ ▁Al lied ▁use ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁With ▁German ▁army ▁units ▁driven ▁from ▁the ▁area , ▁the ▁USA AF ▁IX