Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 7, 1944)
Communique No. 4
Allied troops have cleared all beaches of the enemy and have in some cases established links with flanking beachheads. Inland fighting generally is heavy.
An armoured counter-attack in the CAEN area in Tuesday evening was repulsed. Enemy resistance is stiffening as his reserves come into action. The landing of troops and sea-borne military supplies continues on all beaches despite the North Westerly wind which had persisted since the assault.
Shortly before dawn today, light coastal forces, while sweeping to the eastward, encountered a superior force of enemy craft. Action was immediately joined and damage was inflicted on the enemy before he could make good his escape.
Enemy coastal batteries which were still in action yesterday have been silenced by Allied Naval Forces. It is not yet known whether all have been finally reduced.
Today Allied aircraft have been directing the fire of the USS TEXAS (Capt. C. A. BAKER, USN) wearing the flag of RAdm. CARLETON F. BRYANT, USN and HMS GLASGOW (Capt. S. P. CLARKE, DSO RN) who, together with other Allied warships, have been engaging inland targets behind the beaches.
Allied aircraft of all types and in great strength have again closely supported our land and sea forces.
Early this morning airborne operations were resumed on a very large scale, supplies and tactical equipment being delivered to our ground forces.
In two operations this morning, medium and light bombers attacked large troop concentrations and military buildings close behind the enemy line as well as gun positions in the battle area and railway lines south of the battle area.
Road, rail and other targets, including armoured vehicles, troop concentrations, gun positions and ammunition dumps were also attacked during the morning by fighter bombers.
Heavy bombers, in medium strength, attacked focal points on the road system in the area south of CAEN early this afternoon. Fighters escorted the bombers and also strafed and bombed railway yards, locomotives, trains of oil tank cars, flak towers, radio installations and airfields over a forty-to-fifty-mile arc south and southeast of the battle area.
Continuous patrols were maintained over shipping, the beaches and the battle area. More enemy aircraft were encountered than on Tuesday and a number of them were shot down.