Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 17, 1944)
Communiqué No. 83
Allied forces have made progress in the south of LE-HOMMET-D’ARTHENAY and PONT-HÉBERT. Our troops have established and widened a bridgehead across the LOZON River. Other small gains have been made against heavy enemy resistance. Allied pressure north and east of SAINT-LÔ continues.
The village of CAHIER in the TILLY–ÉVRECY sector has been taken. About three miles west of CAHIER, our forces have advanced southward, against fierce enemy resistance, to the vicinity of NOYERS on the CAEN–VILLERS-BOCAGE railroad.
Communications were principal targets for the Allied air forces from noon yesterday until dawn.
Medium bombers severed the steel rail bridge at NANTES and fired a fuel dump in the forest of GUERCHES, south of RENNES.
Bridges at SAINT-HILAIRE-DU-HARCOUËT and at L’AIGLE were attacked by light bombers.
Rail facilities in the PARIS area were hit by fighter-bombers which inflicted considerable damage to rolling stock and tracks.
Communiqué No. 84
Pressure by the Allied Forces has led to further minor penetrations in the enemy positions in NORMANDY.
Some of our patrols are across the flooded basin of the AY River near LESSAY, and to the east, just north of PÉRIERS, LES MILLERIES has been taken after a short advance.
We are threatening the lateral road PÉRIERS–SAINT-LÔ in the vicinity of LE MESNIL-VIGOT after taking REMILLY-SUR-LOZON. Our patrols are now east and southeast of ÉVRECY, although we have not occupied the town.
Strong forces of heavy bombers this morning attacked railway yards at BELFORT and more than a dozen river bridges in a wide circle around PARIS, including bridges over the LOIRE, YONNE, AILETTE and SOMME Rivers. Fighters which escorted the heavy bombers also attacked locomotives, railway cars and motor transport.
Medium bombers, one of which is missing, bombed a fuel dump at RENNES while fighters and fighter bombers attacked rail facilities in the ALENÇON, ARGENTAN, DOMFRONT, and NONANT areas and troops behind the enemy lines.