Which operation conducted from February 20-25, 1944, was responsible for the destruction of over 500 Luftwaffe fighters?

The operation that took place from February 20-25, 1944, and resulted in the destruction of over 500 Luftwaffe fighters was Operation Argument. This operation was part of a series of coordinated Allied air raids aimed at crippling the German Luftwaffe's ability to defend against air attacks. The success of Operation Argument was significant because it not only achieved the goal of reducing the enemy's air power but also allowed the Allies to gain air superiority as they prepared for future operations in Europe, including the eventual invasion of Normandy.

In contrast, Operation Overlord refers to the D-Day invasion of Normandy, which occurred in June 1944, while Operation Market Garden involved an attempt to secure key bridges in the Netherlands in September 1944. Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, which began in June 1941, and is not related to the events or objectives of the air operations in early 1944. Therefore, the context and timing of Operation Argument align directly with the destruction of Luftwaffe fighters as described in the question.