Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 9, 1944)
Communiqué No. 68
The town of CAEN has been liberated. Many pockets of enemy resistance remain but these are being systematically dealt with.
Local gains have been made in the ODON bridgehead and in the CAUMONT-TILLY sector.
In the base of the CHERBOURG Peninsula, German resistance in LA HAYE-DU-PUITS was crushed after the town had been bypassed on both sides.
Some ground has also been gained towards SAINTENY although enemy resistance is intense in both this area and beyond SAINT-JEAN-DE-DAYE.
Heavy bombers attacked the airfield at CHÂTEAUDUN and bridges in the TOURS area this morning. Escorting fighters shot down one enemy aircraft, and bombed and strafed ground targets including locomotives, rolling stock and motor transport.
Medium bombers, one of which is missing, attacked a fuel dump at RENNES and a road bridge south of ORLÉANS. They were escorted by fighters which also bombed gun positions south of RENNES and near SAINT-MALO.
Naval patrols made contact with groups of enemy E-boats off the mouth of the SEINE early on Saturday morning. During the actions which followed, two enemy E-boats were severely damaged and one was set on fire before the enemy escaped into LE HAVRE.
Early this morning, destroyers on patrol sighted and chased a force of five armed trawlers off CAP FRÉHEL. The enemy force escaped inshore under shelter of shore batteries, but not before they had received serious punishment.