Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 8, 1944)
Communique No. 6
British and Canadian troops are continuing to make progress. Repeated enemy attacks against the 6th Airborne Division have been held. The American bridgeheads are being gradually enlarged.
The enemy is fighting fiercely. His reserves have now been in action along the whole front.
With the safe and timely arrival of merchant convoys and improvement in the weather, unloading of supplies is proceeding at a satisfactory rate. Development of the Allied beachheads continues. The supply by air of arms to our airborne troops early this morning was completely successful.
Last night, enemy E-boats operating in four groups entered the assault area and attempted to interfere with our lines of communication. A series of running fights ensued and the attacks were successfully beaten off. Three of the enemy were seen to be repeatedly hit before they escaped. During the early hours of today, E-boats were attacked off the French and Belgian coasts by coastal aircraft. One E-boat was sunk and three others sunk or severely damaged.
Our air assault in support of the land and naval forces against a wide variety of tactical targets has continued uninterruptedly and in vary great strength. The enemy air effort is as yet on a limited scale but some opposition from flak has been encountered.
Ceaseless patrols were maintained over the immediate battle positions by our fighters and fighter bombers. As targets presented themselves, small units broke off from the main patrolling force to dive-bomb and strafe armored columns, troop movements, and gun positions. Other fighters covered shipping against air and sea attack.
Behind the combat zone, other fighter bombers ranged over the country in a deep belt many miles south and southeast of the battle area, attacking armored vehicles, motor transport and troop concentrations. Other targets included railways, fuel dumps, airfields, and canal locks on the river Seine. Rocket-firing planes attacked a tank concentration west of CAEN.
Our heavy bombers in very strong force struck at railway focal points, railway yards, and airfields well beyond the battle area. This morning, medium and light bombers took advantage of the improved weather and made many sorties in the Normandy area against rail and road targets.
Our aircraft have flown approximately 27,000 individual missions in the period from dawn June 6 to midday today. One hundred and seventy-six enemy aircraft have been destroyed in the air. In the same period, our losses were 289 aircraft.