Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 11, 1944)
Communiqué No. 71
Fighting has been particularly severe in the front of the ODON bridgehead where our advance to the high ground overlooking the river ORNE was hotly contested.
South of the VIRE bridgehead, Allied troops pushed forward towards PONT-HÉBERT, in the direction of SAINT-LÔ.
Further west, on the road to PÉRIERS an advance of more than a mile was made in the face of determined resistance.
South of LA HAYE-DU-PUITS, local gains were made. The enemy has not repeated his counterattacks in this area.
Yesterday fighter-bombers and rocket-firing fighters attacked targets south of CAEN, including tank and troop concentrations and motor transport. One aircraft is missing from these operations.
Last night, light bombers attacked enemy transport facilities in northeastern FRANCE.
Communiqué No. 72
The enemy south of LA HAYE-DU-PUITS is being pushed steadily southward. He is taking advantage of the close country to delay our advance toward LESSAY.
Allied thrusts southwest of CARENTAN and west from SAINT-JEAN-DE-DAYE are converging on SAINT-ANDRÉ-DE-BOHON.
In the ODON bridgehead area, fierce fighting has been going on. North of ESQUAY, Hill 112 has changed hands several times.
An enemy counterattack from MALTOT towards ÉTERVILLE was repulsed. A number of enemy tanks were destroyed.
East of the ORNE, Allied troops from the SAINTE-HONORINE area have advanced toward COLOMBELLES in the face of intense opposition.
In the area south of TILLY, heavy fighting near HOTTO has resulted in local Allied gains.
During the forenoon today, fighters and fighter-bombers operating from bases in NORMANDY attacked targets in close support of the ground forces.
Allied troops, including French, of the Special Air Service Regiments, have been operating well behind the enemy lines against communications and other military targets. Considerable success has attended their operations and a number of prisoners have been taken. These are being held pending transmission to this country.