Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 11, 1944)
Communique No. 11
As the result of an armored thrust, British troops have reached TILLY-SUR-SEULLES. Naval guns yesterday lent effective support to our advance in this sector.
Further west, U.S. forward troops are everywhere south of the flooded areas in the lower AURE Valley. High ground between ISIGNY and CARENTAN has also been taken by U.S. forces.
In the vicinity of CAEN, the enemy has made no progress against our positions despite continuous and vigorous attacks.
To the northwest of CARENTAN, we have crossed the MERDERET River and, overcoming enemy resistance, have made further progress.
Allied aircraft pounded road and rail targets and airfields yesterday and last night in support of ground forces.
Heavy day bombers attacked airfields and inflicted considerable damage to rolling stock, bridges and armored vehicles. Thirteen enemy aircraft were destroyed. After escorting the bombers, formations of fighters attacked road and rail traffic, destroying an ammunition train. From these operations, 23 fighters are missing.
Medium bombers, sometimes flying at 200 feet in the absence of enemy aircraft opposition, bombed and strafed field guns and armored vehicles. Considerable damage was inflicted in the FALAISE and ST. LÔ area.
Fighter-bombers and fighters attacked railyards at LAVAL and LE MANS at ground level. At AVRANCHES, armored vehicles and a train were targets. In these operations, 15 enemy fighters were destroyed.
Last night, heavy bombers attacked rail centers at ORLÉANS, DREUX, ACHÈRES and VERSAILLES. There was strong opposition and six German aircraft were destroyed. Twenty bombers are missing.
Our night fighters were active, and six German bombers were destroyed, five of them over the battle area.