Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 21, 1944)
Communiqué No. 31
Allied troops advancing on CHERBOURG have reached prepared positions defending the deep-water port.
VALOGNES, LES PIEUX, COUVILLE and RAUVILLE-LA-BIGOT have been liberated.
In the TILLY area, three German attacks have been held.
There has been active patrolling on all other sectors of the front.
Flying-bomb sites in the PAS-DE-CALAIS, a coastal battery at HOULGATE and gun positions in the CHERBOURG PENINSULA were targets for medium and fighter-bombers yesterday afternoon and evening.
Other fighter-bombers struck at locomotives, troop trains and railway installations in widespread areas of northern FRANCE. Preliminary reports show that 11 enemy aircraft were destroyed, while four of ours are missing.
Last night, light bombers attacked railway centers at MÉZIDON and CHARTRES and other enemy communications. Night fighters destroyed two enemy aircraft.
Communiqué No. 32
Allied forces have made further progress in the battle for CHERBOURG and the area held by the enemy is steadily diminishing.
Our advance up the entire peninsula has been rapid. On the east, we have driven forward astride the main road north from VALOGNES. To the west a broad thrust has taken us to within five miles of the sea, liberating the villages of TEURTHÉVILLE-HAGUE and ACQUEVILLE.
Heavy fighting continues in the TILLY-CAEN area, where attacks and counterattacks have left the front generally unchanged.
In other sectors, there has been patrol activity.
Dense cloud over the battle area limited air operations this morning. Five flying-bomb sites between CALAIS and AMIENS were attacked by medium and light bombers.