Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 12, 1944)
Communiqué No. 73
German counterattacks were many and severe all along the Allied front on Tuesday, but they were held and we have made some gains.
There was an Allied advance on the road south from LA HAYE-DU-PUITS towards LESSAY and the bulge past SAINTENY was slightly enlarged.
Fighting in the vicinity of SAINT-LÔ has been heavy and we now have PONT-HÉBERT.
The strongest German counterblow was in the area COLOMBELLES–SAINTE-HONORINE.
During the day, our aircraft in support of ground forces destroyed 28 enemy tanks and damaged 16 others. Fighter-bombers destroyed or damaged 31 tanks in the LESSAY–SAINT-LÔ area while rocket-firing aircraft accounted for 13 near HOTTO and VIMONT.
Enemy artillery positions along the entire front were under air attack yesterday afternoon. Batteries in the PERRIERS–LESSAY sector were attacked and direct hits registered on camouflaged gun positions.
Our medium bombers attacked fuel dumps at FLERS, FORÊT D’ÉCOUVES, CHÂTEAU DE TERTU and FORÊT D’ANDAINE, and a railway bridge at BOURTH yesterday afternoon.
East of PARIS, aircraft on armed reconnaissance attacked transportation targets.
Communiqué No. 74
Steady Allied pressure in all the main areas of activity continues to force the enemy slowly back. Allied gains have been small but widespread, and the enemy has suffered considerable losses in abortive counterattacks.
The FORÊT DE MONT CASTRE is in our hands, and southwest of CARENTAN a further advance has been made down the road from SAINTENY. Allied troops also gained some ground south of the village of SAINT-ANDRÉ-DE-L’ÉPINE. Further east, fighting continued around the village of HOTTOT southwest of TILLY, and in the LOUVIGNY area near CAEN. More than 40 enemy tanks were claimed knocked out Tuesday by ground action.
From midnight until noon today, Allied aircraft ranged from BRUSSELS to BORDEAUX, attacking enemy transport and supply facilities and harassing troops.
During the night, light bombers patrolled the SEINE crossings and the ORLÉANS area, bombing power installation at BLOIS and the railyards at TOURS.
From first light, fighters and fighter-bombers gave close support to ground forces, attacking many targets indicated by Army Commanders. They also dive-bombed enemy troops and choke points at MANTES-GASSICOURT, ÉPERNON, CHARTRES and southwest of RAMBOUILLET. A railway bridge near CHERISY was attacked. Rail lines at TOURS, SAUMUR, LA FLECHE and CHERISY were cut.
In the SAINT-LÔ area, medium and light bombers destroyed a number of vehicles in a late morning attack on troop concentrations, fuel dumps and motor parks.
Coastal aircraft attacked enemy shipping off the coast, and bombs were seen to burst among enemy E- and R-boats.