Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 19, 1944)
Communiqué No. 87
Fierce fighting is going on in FAUBOURG-DE-VAUCELLES and in the plain south and east of CAEN. Enemy armored formations have been thrown in in an attempt to block the breach made in the German positions in this area.
In the JUVIGNY area, south of TILLY, our troops have advanced about half a mile and the enemy is fighting desperately to retain his hold on NOYERS.
SAINT-LÔ was finally cleared of the enemy during yesterday evening.
The road from SAINT-LÔ to PÉRIERS has been cut between the TAUTE and VIRE Rivers south of the village of AMIGNY, which is in our hands.
Allied aircraft, in great strength, continued their support of our ground forces throughout yesterday afternoon.
Bridges across the rivers SEINE and EURE and railway lines in the ROUEN area were attacked during the afternoon by medium and light bombers. Fighters and fighter-bombers, in great force, attacked enemy batteries mortar positions, strongpoints and troop concentrations near the battle zone. Farther afield they struck at communications, airfields, supply dumps and transport from AMIENS in northeastern FRANCE to the west coast of the COTENTIN PENINSULA.
During the day, first reports show 15 enemy aircraft were shot down and a number destroyed on the ground. Twenty-four of our aircraft are missing.
In the evening the railyards at VAIRES, on the eastern outskirts of PARIS, were successfully attacked by escorted heavy bombers. Two bombers are missing.
During the night, heavy bombers, 29 of which are missing, attacked the railway junction at REVIGNY, about 100 miles due east of PARIS, and AULNOYE, about 20 miles west of the FRANCO-BELGIAN frontier. Preliminary reports indicated that both attacks were well concentrated.
Two enemy aircraft were destroyed over the battle area and one by our intruders over Germany during the night.
Early Tuesday morning, light coastal forces fought three brief gun actions close to the enemy coast between CAP GRIS-NEZ and the mouth of the river AUTHIE. The enemy received considerable punishment. Two of his craft were last seen on fire.
Communiqué No. 88
Fierce armored and infantry fighting continued this morning in the area south and east of CAEN.
FAUBOURG-DE-VAUCELLES is now entirely in our hands, and the enemy has been cleared from the villages of LOUVIGNY on the west bank and FLEURY on the east bank of the river ORNE.
The breach in the enemy defenses has been widened and Allied troops have occupied the villages of TOUFFRÉVILLE, DÉMOUVILLE and GIBERVILLE. Pockets of enemy resistance which had been bypassed have been eliminated. Progress continues in spite of stubborn enemy opposition.
Throughout yesterday and today, Allied warships and landing craft have been engaging enemy batteries on the eastern flank in support of the Army. Allied aircraft based in NORMANDY maintained their patrols and close support of our troops this morning.
One thousand two hundred and fifty prisoners were taken yesterday in the CAEN area, and the total taken since the beginning of the campaign is now over 60,000.
Allied troops have made local advances in the HOTTOT area and north of REMILLY-SUR-LOZON.