Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (July 31, 1944)
Communiqué No. 111
An Allied armored column has entered AVRANCHES after an advance of more than 12 miles.
Another column moving south from BRÉHAL is within three miles of GRANVILLE.
Heavy fighting continues in the area of GAVRAY, PERCY and TESSY-SUR-VIRE.
In the CAUMONT sector, the Allied advance has made further progress and we have captured the high ground east of SAINT-MARTIN-DES-BESACES.
An enemy attack in the NOYERS area was beaten off yesterday evening after hard fighting.
Medium bombers attacked tactical targets in the CAUMONT area and fuel dumps near ARGENTAN and CHÂTEAUDUN.
Fighter-bombers and fighters attacked targets in close support of the ground forces, road transport behind the battle zone and rail targets in the region of BLOIS and ORLÉANS.
Six enemy aircraft were destroyed during the day. Eight of ours are missing.
Four enemy aircraft were shot down over FRANCE during the night.
Communiqué No. 112
Allied troops in the western sectors have entered the town of GRANVILLE and are mopping up the whole area between ARVANCHES, GRANVILLE and BRÉHAL. Other pockets of resistance are being cleared and heavy fighting continues northwest of TESSY and in the PERCY area.
The enemy has been driven from the ground immediately south of GAVRAY and Allied troops have also advanced on each side of TORIGNI-SUR-VIRE.
In the CAUMONT area, Allied progress continues and we have taken SAINT-GERMAIN-D’ECTOT, CAHAGNES and SAINT-MARTIN-DES-BESACES. Hill 309, east of SAINT-MARTIN, remains in our hands in spite of several enemy counterattacks.
Rail targets south of the battle area were attacked by escorted medium and light bombers. Rail bridges at FORGES, CHARTRES, south of DOMFRONT, and across the LOIRE, south of TOURS, were bombed with good results. Elsewhere, poor visibility prevented immediate assessment of results.
Fighter-bombers were active in close support of our ground troops.
Two airfields in northern FRANCE were attacked by small formations of heavy bombers shortly after noon.