Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 14, 1944)
Communiqué No. 77
On a ten-mile front south of LA HAYE-DU-PUITS, Allied forces have made good progress in an attack which brought our troops astride the main road to within two miles of LESSAY. Units on the right advanced about 2,000 yards near BRETTEVILLE and, on the left, the attack has overrun the village of VESLY.
In the CARENTAN sector the earlier advance has continued up both banks of the river TAUTE. Our troops have reached the outskirts of the village of TRIBEHOU and have pushed on two miles to the south and east through the BOIS DU HOMMET reaching the road near LE HOMMET-D’ARTHENAY.
Air operations were limited by weather from noon to midnight yesterday but Allied fighters and fighter-bombers continued their widespread attacks on enemy communications and flew many missions in direct support of our ground forces.
Gun positions and enemy headquarters near LESSAY, machinery loaded on trains near NOYANT and a train loaded with armored vehicles in the LAVAL–ANGERS area were bombed and strafed with good results. Railway tracks were cut west and southeast of CHARTRES, and elsewhere deep behind the enemy lines. Successful attacks were made on locomotives, tanks, armored vehicles and loaded fuel and freight cars near TOURS and MANTES-GASSICOURT. Bridges at CHÂTEAUNEUF and SAINT-FLORENTIN and a bridge and dam southwest of MAYENNE were hit. Near MONTARGIS and MEAUX, a number of freight cars were destroyed. A rail center at NANTES was bombed.
Six enemy aircraft were destroyed during the day. Seven of our aircraft are missing.
Communiqué No. 78
The Allied advance towards the LESSAY–SAINT-LÔ road continued, and several small salients have been driven into the enemy’s defenses.
LAULINE, northeast of LESSAY, has been taken.
Between LA MARTINIÈRE and AUXAIS, we have made additional gains on both sides of the TAUTE River.
We are across the TRIBEHOU–LES CHAMPS-DE-LOSQUE road, southwest of BOIS DU HOMME.
On the west bank of the VIRE river, north of SAINT-LÔ, another thrust has taken us to the outskirts of the village of LE MESNIL-DURAND.
There is no change on the remainder of the front.
Our fighter bombers operated in small force in difficult weather this morning against transportation targets at MONTDIDIER and BEAUVAIS and in the LISIEUX–BERNAY area.
Supporting the land forces, NORMANDY-based aircraft dive-bombed and strafed defended localities near SAINT-LÔ.