Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 28, 1944)
Communiqué No. 45
In the battle southeast of TILLY-SUR-SEULLES, Allied armor succeeded in widening the breach created by the infantry on Monday. Advancing on a four-mile front, our forces have driven across the main VILLERS-BOCAGE–CAEN road after particularly heavy fighting on the left in the area of TOURVILLE. The enemy is resisting stubbornly but the advance continues to make good progress.
In the vicinity of CHERBOURG, Allied forces made progress in cleaning out enemy remnants hemmed in the horns of the peninsula.
After a two-day lull enforced by weather, the Allied Air Forces yesterday operated over a widespread area in northwest FRANCE, ranging from CHERBOURG and LA ROCHE-SUR-YON in the west to ORLÉANS, PARIS and beyond in the east.
Operations in support of our ground forces were largely carried out by fighters and fighter-bombers. Attacks were concentrated on enemy reinforcements moving northward along several routes.
Successful attacks were made on numerous trains carrying troops and equipment between PARIS and ORLÉANS. Other targets included marshalling yards at ARTENAY and TOURY, and road and rail traffic and focal points near RENNES, CHARTRES, SAINT-NAZAIRE, LAVAL, NANTES, PARENNES, FLERS and east of PARIS.
The attacks were continued into the night by our light bombers. An enemy headquarters south of the battle area and a telephone center in the BREST PENINSULA were bombed with good results.
Other fighter-bombers attacked airfields at VILLENEUVE-VERTUS, CONNANTRE and COULOMMIERS.
Last night, our heavy bombers struck at rail centers in VITRY-LE-FRANÇOIS, and VAIRES east of PARIS. Others were over military installations at PAS-DE-CALAIS, following up two daylight attacks on similar objectives. A small force of heavy day bombers attacked an aircraft at CREIL.
Twenty-three enemy aircraft were destroyed during the course of these operations. Thirteen of our bombers and eight of our fighters are missing.
Communiqué No. 46
The Allied attack southwest of CAEN is making steady progress in spite of more bad weather and intense opposition.
The enemy was drive out of RAURAY, southwest of FONTENAY, where resistance had been most stubborn. After further heavy fighting in GRANVILLE and TOURVILLE, our armor and infantry crossed the river ODON south of TOURVILLE, on a front of about two miles.
Our advance continues towards the high ground south of the ODON.
In the CHERBOURG PENINSULA, enemy strongpoints east and west of the city are being steadily cleaned up.
Early this morning, two destroyers HMCS HURON and HMS ESKIMO encountered three armed enemy trawlers near the Channel Islands. Action was joined and two of the enemy ships were destroyed by gunfire. The third which made off during the action was believed to be damaged.
Adverse weather this morning restricted air operations over the battle area to a limited number of patrols.
In the LAON District, where better weather prevailed, our heavy bombers attacked airfields at COUVRON, ATHIES and JUVINCOURT. They also hit the railway yards at SAARBRÜCKEN across the German frontier. Escorting fighters strafed and dive-bombed locomotives, railroad cars and trucks.