Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 8, 1944)
Communiqué No. 65
In the CARENTAN sector, our troops advancing from the east have extended the bridgehead over the River VIRE. Further north other Allied units have pushed down the road from CARENTAN towards SAINT-JEAN-DE-DAYE. These two converging forces are now within two miles of the town.
Our air forces were active in close support of the land fighting yesterday afternoon and evening. Machine-gun nests and road junctions were under intermittent dive-bombing attacks throughout the period.
A strong force of heavy bombers effectively attacked a concentration of troops, tanks, guns, and strongpoints north of CAEN before darkness last night. Two thousand three hundred tons of explosives hit the target area.
Further damage was inflicted on the enemy’s transport system from SAINTES and ANGOULÊME, 200 miles south of NORMANDY, to MEAUX, east of PARIS. The TOURS LA RICHE railway bridge over the LOIRE was attacked by medium bombers, and fighter-bombers struck at railway yards, tracks, and motor convoys. An ammunition trains on the NIORT–SAUMUR Line exploded after a dive attack.
Early this morning, heavy night bombers attacked railway yards at VAIRES in the eastern outskirts of PARIS.