Why were Panther tanks vulnerable to Allied aircraft in Normandy?

The Panther tank (Pz. V) was a formidable vehicle during the Normandy campaign, proving highly effective against Allied tanks like the Sherman and Cromwell. However, these tanks remained vulnerable to attack by Allied aircraft throughout the conflict.1

This vulnerability was a direct consequence of the overwhelming air supremacy established by the Allies in the skies over France. Allied air forces utilized their dominance to conduct constant strafing runs against German ground forces, including panzer units, as they attempted to move toward the battle zone. This persistent aerial harassment caused significant delays and attrition, preventing German reserves from effectively massing or maneuvering against the invasion forces. By the time of the D-Day invasion, Allied mastery of the air was so absolute that Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower noted that the success of the landings would have been impossible without it.234