Communique Number 127 – 13 August 1944
South of Caen contact has been made by Allied forces converging between the Orne and the Laize Rivers. A thrust from Bretteville-sur-Laize through Barbery reached Moulines, while another advance from the Orne bridgehead captured Bois Halbout (Cesny). Fighting continued all day in the St-Silvain area where a number of counter-attacks were beaten off and local advances were made. West of the Orne fighting continued around Hill 229, which remains in our hand. An Allied advance down the Condé road made some progress beyond St-Pierre-la-Vieille. East of Vire an advance of a mile was made in the face of heavy resistance. Forces advancing southeastward in the Vire area are experiencing decreasing enemy resistance. Progress has been made to a position east of Maisoncelles. Patrols have penetrated as far as Souderval in the sector between Vire and Mortain. Mortain has been reoccupied by our troops, but the enemy is still offering strong resistance in the vicinity of the town.
In Brittany, our forces are attacking the citadel at St Malo, where remnants of the enemy garrison are still resisting. Heavy fighting continues in Dinard. In the area of Brest a local enemy counter-attack was repulsed north of the city. The situation at Lorient remains unchanged. In the Loire River Valley, mopping up is proceeding in Angers, which is now in our hands. A large area north, east and south of Paris was swept continuously yesterday by our long-range fighters which reported great destruction of enemy rolling stock, ammunition trains and lorries, barges, marshalling yards and bridges. There was some air opposition and six enemy fighters were shot down.
U-Boat shelters at Brest, La Pallice and Bordeaux, a petrol dump at Forêt de Montrichard, rail yards at Metz and nine airfields were attacked by heavy bombers. At Oissel the only usable Seine River bridge north of Paris was successfully attacked by our medium bombers, which also operated against road junctions and other targets near Argentan. Normandy-based aircraft operated throughout the day, giving immediate support to ground forces. Enemy shipping off the west coast of France was attacked by coastal aircraft which reported setting fire to a medium-sized vessel and blowing up a mine sweeper. Last night, enemy troop concentrations in the Falaise area were attacked by our heavy bombers.
Communique Number 128 – 14 August 1944
Further progress was made west of the Orne River, where Allied troops entered Tizon and Donnay. South of St-Pierre-la-Vieille the advance continued along the high ground on each side of the road to Condé. Southeast of Vire ground was gained in heavy fighting. Further south, toward Mortain, our forces, following up the German withdrawal, encountered mines and long-range artillery fire. In Brittany, the Allied attack on Dinard continues to meet strong resistance and remnants of the German garrison at St Malo still hold out in the citadel. Slight advances have been made by our units in the vicinity of Brest. There has been no change in the situation at Lorient. Highways and road junctions on both sides of the Seine from Paris to the sea, and westwards to Lisieux and Rugles, were attacked by heavy and medium bombers. Medium bombers also attacked rail bridges at Péronne, Beautor, Doullens and Chérisy, rail facilities at Corbeil, and enemy gun positions in the Falaise area.
A railway bridge over the Seine at Le Manoir (Alizay), U-Boats shelters at Brest, an oil storage depot for U-Boats at Bordeaux and gun positions at St Malo and on the Ile de Cézembre were other targets for heavy bombers. From these operations, fourteen heavy and two medium bombers are missing. Fighters, fighter bombers and rocket-firing fighters provided cover for the ground forces and bombed and strafed tanks, motor transport, strong points and troop concentrations in the battle zone. Fighters also ranged over northeastern and central France, attacking locomotives, railway cars, motor transport and canal barges, while other fighters provided escort for bombing missions. Light bombers last night continued their attack on transport targets behind the enemy’s lines.
Communique Number 129 – 15 August 1944
Advances were made yesterday on both sides of the Falaise-Argentan gap. Allied troops attacking towards Falaise from the north quickly gained their first objectives and, having crossed the Le Laizon River, are now firmly established within 7000 yards of the town. On the other side of the gap, the thrust northward from Le Mans and Alençon has reached the vicinity of Argentan. Pockets of resistance left behind in this advance are being mopped up near Alençon. Inside the Normandy pocket advances were made. Between the Laize and the Orne and advance of some 5000 yards brought our forward elements to the vicinity of the village of Bonnœil. In the Orne River Valley, Thury-Harcourt was cleared of enemy.
North of Condé, the village of Proussy was taken and our troops are approaching St-Denis-de-Méré. Further west, Allied troops advanced to within a mile of Vassy, and southeast of Vire an advance of a mile has brought us to a point about one mile from Tinchebray. Other units advancing south of Vire are moving along the Gathemo-Tinchebray road against moderate resistance. Troops pushing eastward from Mortain have reached Ger. Along the southern boundary of the pocket our columns moving from the Barenton area are approaching Domfront and units which reached Rânes are encountering increasing resistance.
In Brittany, fighting is still in progress at St Malo, where the situation remains unchanged, and at Dinard, where we have made advances towards the port. At Brest and Lorient there is nothing new to report. Throughout the third consecutive day of clear weather, massive formations of all types of Allied aircraft hammered at German forces in the Normandy pocket and attacked airfields, bridges and communications targets from western Germany to Bordeaux, virtually without opposition. Seven enemy strong points massing tanks, guns, and troops north of Falaise were attacked by more than 700 escorted heavy bombers in a concentrated bombardment preceding an advance of our ground forces. Three other strong points south of Médizon were hit by medium bombers in a precision operation only 3000 yards in advance of our troops.
Six highway bridges over the Touques River, north and south of Lisieux were attacked by more than 250 medium bombers which also pounded bridges and railway junctions at Nogent-le-Roi, Les Foulons, Épône-Mézières, Frévent, St-Martin and Pontoise. Escorted heavy bombers struck shipping and harbor installations at Brest in two attacks, and others ranged from eastern France to the Bordeaux area, hitting three airfields near Dijon and the Angoulème and Saintes railway yards with good results. The day-by-day fighter bomber and fighter onslaught against enemy communications entered its second week with widespread attacks on road and rail targets in areas on both sides of the Seine. At least 750 railway cars and hundreds of motor vehicles were destroyed and damaged in the areas of Falaise, L’Aigle, Domfront, Evreux, Chartres, St-André and east of the Seine. Light bombers harried enemy movements during the night, causing large fires and explosions at several points near Falaise and south of Paris. Twenty-nine enemy aircraft were destroyed. Twenty-four of ours are missing. A heavy battery on the island of Alderney has been subjected to naval bombardment.
Communique Number 130 – 16 August 1944
Allied troops are in the outskirts of Falaise and dominate the communications in this area. All along the northern flank of the enemy pocket our forces are driving steadily forward in spite of attempts to delay us with mines and booby traps. The villages of Cossesseville and Tréprel between the Orne and the Laize Rivers were taken. Condé was by-passed by a thrust across the Noireau River a few miles east of the town. Tinchebray has been captured. Our troops along the western and southern flanks of the pocket have also advanced generally. Domfront, Ger and La Ferté-Macé have been freed. Our forces have entered Yvrandes, three miles south of Tinchebray. Further east, other units are pushing northward beyond Rânes, where strong enemy opposition is being met. Southeast of Rânes and in the vicinity of Alençon, mopping-up operations are proceeding against enemy groups cut off by the advance northward. In Argentan, we hold a portion of the city and enemy resistance is stubborn.
In Brittany, the citadel at St Malo continues to hold out. Organized resistance has ceased at Dinard. There are no changes to report from Brest or Lorient. A massive force of Allied heavy bombers was thrown against key German Luftwaffe stations in western Germany and in Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg yesterday. Twenty-one main Luftwaffe headquarters, control stations and airfields were attacked by 1900 four-engined bombers, with fighter escort in great strength. Key installations bombed were at Koln-Ostheim, Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, all in the Rhine River Valley; Luftwaffe stations at Wittmund, Bad Zwischenahn, Vechta, Handorf, Hopsten and Lünne in northwest Germany; Florennes in Belgium, Twente-Enschede and Venlo in Holland. Other targets attacked were at Culot, St Trond, Tirlemont, and Bruxelles-Melsbroek in Belgium and Gilze en Rijen, Deelen, Soesterberg, Volkel, and Eindhoven in Holland.
Communications targets and an ammunition dump in northern France, and defenses in the St Malo area were attacked by medium bombers. Heavy damage resulted from a medium bomber mission against a fuel dump in the Forêt de Chantilly, twenty miles north of Paris. Fighter bombers and rocket-firing aircraft continued to seek out targets in the Normandy pocket. Eighteen tanks and more than 175 vehicles, including half-tracks, were destroyed, and an equal number damaged in the area. Thirty locomotives were put out of commission in a fighter bomber sweep against the rail yard at Braine-le-Comte, in Belgium. Thirty-seven enemy planes were destroyed in the air. From all of these operations, 20 bombers and 16 fighters are missing.
Periodical Communique Number 5 – 16 August 1944
In Brittany, the FFI Forces have operated in close cooperation with other Allied forces. Resistance forces have entered the towns of Sizun, Brasparts, Pleyben, Châteauneuf, Coray, Milizac, and taken by storm the towns of Quimperlé, Bannalec, Châteaulin, and Douarnenez. Several hundred prisoners have been taken in the neighborhood of Paimpol, where 1500 Germans are encircled by resistance forces. Numerous prisoners and a considerable amount of war material have been captured at Quimper. Further east the German garrison at Moutiers, southeast of Rennes, has been annihilated in fierce fighting.
Throughout central and southern France, resistance action has quickened. Many minor harassing actions have been fought with the enemy, who is suffering increasingly severe casualties. Cuts have been maintained on the railways, completely disorganising lines of communications. In the Savoie, the German garrison occupying the Tarantaise has been driven back by resistance forces towards Italy. The retreating enemy is now coming into contact with Italian and French Maquisards groups and surrendering. At Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the enemy garrison has been wiped out. FFI in the neighborhood of Gex have brought down thei sixth German aircraft. In the north of France, the FFIs forces have burnt 400.000 gallons of petrol.
Communique Number 131 – 17 August 1944
Allied troops have made further gains in the Normandy pocket. Our forces are clearing the last enemy from the town of Falaise. East of the town heavy fighting continues. Most of the road from Falaise to Condé is in our hands and the town of Condé has been captured. Forward elements advancing from the west and northwest have reached Flers. To the east, enemy opposition was bitter and the Allied advance was made more difficult by the enemy’s large-scale use of mines, booby-traps, and demolitions. Further west advances have been made east of Tinchebray, which has been freed, and east from Ger. Mopping-up has been completed in the vicinity of Juvigny and in the Forêt d’Andaine, east of Domfront. North of La Ferté-Macé and northeast of Domfront gains of up to six miles have been made against resistance which varies from light to moderate.
North of Rânes, which has been by-passed, our units are encountering heavy opposition. In Brittany, the port of Dinard has been completely occupied. The German garrison at St Malo is maintaining stubborn defense in the citadel. Bad weather limited the Allied air effort over northern France yesterday. Five bridges over the Risle River, which flows parallel to the Seine on the western side, were attacked by our medium bombers, and an ammunition dump near Rouen was bombed by light bombers. Last night, crossing points on the Seine and road transport near Dijon, were successfully attacked by our light bombers. Night fighters destroyed seven enemy aircraft over the battle area.
Communique Number 132 – 17 August 1944
Allied forces driving east have liberated Dreux, Chartres, Châteaudun, and Orléans. East of Chartres, the Aunay River has been crossed and at Dreux a bridgehead has been established over the Eure River. St Calais and Authon, both in the path of the eastward drive, have also been liberated. In the Normandy pocket, heavy opposition is being encountered north of Rânes. Fromentel, northwest of Rânes, has been freed. Our troops north of La Ferté-Macé, have advanced 3000 yards against light and scattered resistance. American patrols have made contact with British forces along the line north and northeast of Domfront.
Allied troops advancing from the Flers area have taken Athis and crossed the Rouvre River east of La Carneille. East of the Orne, our forces pushing to Rapilly and to the vicinity of St-Philbert, further compressed the area still occupied by the enemy. Falaise was cleared of enemy yesterday morning and our troops are established on the high ground south of the town, while to the southeast they advanced down the railway from Damblainville to take Fresné-la-Mère. After capturing Barou and Norrey-en-Auge, our forces drove on to the area of Trun and Chambois. St-Pierre-sur-Dives and Mézidon are in our hands and we are pushing eastward along the whole of our northern sector. North of Mézidon, our troops have reached the line of the Dives River as far as Bures, and we have taken Troarn and Bavent.
In Brittany, the citadel at St Malo has fallen. At Dinard which has now been liberated, the German commander and his staff were captured. Numerous enemy pockets, which were isolated in the drive through the peninsula, are being mopped-up along the north and south coast with the aid of the French resistance forces. Heavy bombers attacked shipping at Brest yesterday afternoon. Sixteen bridges spanning the Risle River from Foulbec near its mouth to La Ferrière-sur-Risle 35 miles upstream, were attacked by medium and light bombers in two operations during the day. A fuel dump near La Mailleraye-sur-Seine was the target for other medium bombers. Rail lines from Belgium to France were systematically patrolled by fighters as far as the Seine River. They successfully attacked locomotives, tunnels, bridges, and large numbers of railway cars. Enemy road transport, particularly in eastern Normandy, was heavily attacked by fighters, which also hit tanks, strong points, troop concentrations and barges on the Seine. During the night, light bombers attacked transportation targets in Normandy and southeast of Paris.
Communique Number 133 – 19 August 1944
The net around the German forces in Normandy was drawn tighter yesterday. American and British troops established contact near Briouze. From the west an advance was made to approximately the line of the Orne River. Advances were also made towards the escape route of the German troops streaming eastwards in an attempt to avoid complete encirclement. Our forces, moving from the south, made progress east and west of Argentan against enemy opposition. A thrust down the Argentan road from the north took us to Pierrefitte. Our hold on Trun and the area near Chambois was extended eastward to Champeaux. Further north, the advance continued and our troops have crossed both, the Dives River and the Vie River near Notre-Dame-d’Estrées. St-Julien-le-Faucon has been taken and in the coastal area we have reached Dozulé and the outskirts of Cabourg and Dives-sur-Mer.
In the Dreux area, our troops have widened their bridgeheads across the Eure River north and south of the city. Farther south, Vendôme has been freed. The last enemy resistance on the north coast of Brittany has been overcome with the elimination of a German pocket in the Lannion-Paimpol area. Around-the-clock, attacks by Allied aircraft against enemy troops and transport, airfields, communications systems, and supply centers has been maintained from Thursday midnight. The first attacks began with medium and light bombers harassing enemy movements on both sides of the upper Seine. From first light Friday, fighter bombers and fighters repeatedly swept the area from the immediate battle front to the east of the Seine and deep into Belgium and Holland. They destroyed or damaged many hundreds of railway cars and motor vehicles, at least 10 tanks and numerous locomotives and armored vehicles, especially at the mouth of the Normandy pocket. A convoy of nearly 500 vehicles was successfully attacked by rocket-firing fighters northeast of Trun, and a large number were destroyed or damaged. On the Seine, two river steamers and many barges were sunk.
At least 51 enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat or on the ground by fighters which had escorted heavy bombers to attack five key airfields at Metz, Nancy-Essey, Roye-Amy, St-Dizier and Rommily-sur-Seine. Sixteen other enemy planes were shot down in a single engagement near Beauvais. Other heavy bomber targets included ships and oil storage tanks at Bordeaux submarine shelters at La Pallice and fuel depots near Ghent (Belgium), Nancy, Pacy-sur-Armançon, the railway center of Connantre and bridges over the Meuse River at Maastricht (Holland), Namur and Huy (Belgium). Heavy and medium bombers made three coordinated attacks on an important ammunition dump in the forest of L’Isle-Adam north of Paris. Rail embankments at Verberie, Gournay-en-Bray and Rivecourt as well as a fuel dump at Valenton were attacked by other medium and light bombers. Last night, light bombers and fighters, working in close support of our troops, dropped flares on enemy forces retreating eastward from the Falaise Gap area and continued to harass them. From all of these operations, 39 of our aircraft are missing.
Communique Number 134 – 20 August 1944
Allied forces have advanced to the vicinity of the Seine River and have closed the enemy escape corridor south of Falaise. Leading elements moving north and northeast from Dreux have reached a point 18 miles beyond the city to the vicinity of Mamtes-Gassicourt. Allied forces from north and south have met in Chambois, sealing the exit south of the Falaise Gap. The area of the enemy pocket has again been reduced substantially by advances from all directions, particularly southwards towards Montabard and north to Écouché, where heavy fighting has taken place. West of Argentan, in the area southeast of Putanges, we have completed the mopping up of enemy groups behind the southern edge of the pocket.
Further north, in the area east of the St-Pierre-sur-Dives, our troops have continued to thrust eastwards and have established three bridgeheads over the Vie River at Livarot, Coupsarte and Granchamp. No changes are reported in the areas of Chartres and Orléans, or in the Brittany Peninsula. Our Normandy-based planes continued their heavy attacks on tanks and motor vehicles of all types retreating eastward, and against river barges on the Seine. They also provided close support for our advancing columns. Roads in the escape corridor in the vicinity of Orbec are strewn with knocked-out vehicles, often making it difficult for our pilots to select active targets. More than 800 motor trucks were destroyed and 600 damaged yesterday from the line Falaise-Argentan northeastward to the Seine, in addition to 40 tanks destroyed and many others damaged. Twenty-six large river barges on the Seine were sunk by fighter bombers during the day. Fifty-nine were destroyed the previous day.
Direct hits were registered during an attack by coastal aircraft on small groups of enemy E-Boats in the eastern Channel early yesterday. A small force of heavy bombers attacked the La Pallice oil storage depot yesterday morning. Other operations by aircraft based in England were curtailed by weather. A force of enemy E and R-Boats was intercepted off Cap de la Heve by light coastal forces early Saturday. After a short engagement, during which damage was inflicted in the enemy, our force withdrew leaving the enemy aircraft firing upon each other in some confusion. An armed trawler and an M-class minesweeper were also attacked by light coastal forces off the entrance to the harbor of Le Havre despite the fire of the shore batteries, which prevented observation of results.
Communique Number 135 – 21 August 1944
Further progress in the Allied drive toward Lisieux has been made. A thrust northeast of Grandchamp brought us to within five miles of the town. Gains were made on the right bank of the Vie River against determined opposition. The town of Livarot was taken and a successful attack was made south of Dozule. Falaise, where several strenuous attempts by enemy armor to break out were frustrated. Argentan is in our hands. Allied troops occupying Chambois have held an enemy counter-attack toward the town from the northwest. Enemy forces caught in the trap, including elements of at least 14 divisions, are being subjected to heavy artillery fire.
Allied units are on the Seine in the vicinity of Mantes-Gassicourt. To the south, our forces in the Dreux area are mopping-up pocket of resistance. The elimination of isolated German units around Orléans has been completed. Heavy rainstorms and low clouds limited our air operations. Nevertheless, Normandy-based fighters and fighter bombers continued to harass the enemy withdrawal in the Bernay area. There was some enemy air reaction and we shot down 12 enemy aircraft. Concentrations of troops waiting to cross the Seine near Rouen were attacked by our medium bombers.
Last night, Seine ferry crossings at four points between Elbeuf and the coast were attacked by our light bombers. Several barges were hit. Considerable damage was done to road transport in the Bernay area where bombing by flares was carried out. On Saturday and Sunday, enemy batteries at Houlgate and Benerville, which had been interfering with our advance on the northern flank were engaged and neutralized by the HMS Erebus. Early Sunday morning, a coastal patrol of six R-Boats was intercepted by light coastal forces. The enemy brought to action under cover of his shore defenses off Le Havre and considerable damage was inflicted upon his craft before our patrols withdrew to seaward.
Communique Number 136 – 22 August 1944
Good progress has been made between Lisieux and the sea, where Allied troops have captured Dozule and Dives-sur-Mer and advanced to Annebault and Bonnebosq. West of Lisieux we have taken Cambremer, while an advance north of St-Martin-de-la-Lieue has brought our troops within a mile of Lisieux itself. Fighting is going on in the vicinity of Vimoutiers. Further south, an advance has been made east of Chambois, and Gacé is in our hands. Determined enemy efforts to break out of the encirclement were again checked effectively. Mopping-up continues. There is nothing further to report from the remainder of the front. Weather severely restricted air operations yesterday, but during the evening, coastal aircraft attacked enemy shipping near the mouth of the Gironde River.
Communique Number 137 – 23 August 1944
Allied forces have liberated Sens, on the east bank of the Yonne River. Pithiviers and Étampes are also in our hand. North of Dreux, other units are moving northward between the Seine and the Eure Rivers. A drive northward between Dreux and Verneuil has liberated Nonancourt, and the advance has carried to a point north of St-André-de-l’Eure. To the west, considerable advances have been made along the whole Allied front between L’Aigle and the sea. In the center of this wide sweep our forces are fighting in Lisieux. North of the town, our forces have surged forward all along the line, captured Cabourg, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer and Deauville along the coast and have reached Trouville, Pont-l’Évêque and the line of the Touques River further south. South of Lisieux, our troops have established a broad bridgehead extending for several miles further east across the Obec River. Other troops have advanced across the Vie River through Vimoutiers, crossed the Touques River and have reached the area of the town of Orbec. Continuing the advance from Gacé our troops have captures L’Aigle.
The Falaise Gap has been eliminated. Allied fighter bombers and fighters continued to pound the enemy at the Seine crossings, destroying more than 200 vehicles, 15 boats and barges and six tanks. These attacks, made through rain and cold, were often delivered at 200 feet despite heavy anti-aircraft fire and strong air opposition. More than 150 railway cars were destroyed or damaged by other formations operating to the east and southeast of Paris. Marshalling yards at Dijon and Chagny were attacked with good results. At least 31 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air and six on the ground. Preliminary reports show two of ours are missing. During a gun action fought Monday morning south of the Cap-d’Antifer between light and coastal forces of the Royal Navy and an enemy patrol of armed trawlers and R-Boats, one trawler was severely damaged and an R-Boat destroyed. Two other R-Boats received serious damage.
Communique Number 138 – 24 August 1944
Southeast of Paris, Allied forces have reached the vicinity of Corbeil and Melun, and reconnaissance elements are 15 miles east of Sens. Farther south, units are east of Montargis, after crossing the Loing River. The Allied envelope drives toward the lower Seine continue. Units advancing northward have liberated Evreux and are now several miles beyond the city. Other units have reached Conches after freeing Verneuil. A thrust northeast from Monnai progressed about five miles and a drive northeastwards from Oobec reached the village of La Thiboutière.
Several bridgeheads have been made across the Touques River. Fighting continued in the area of Lisieux where the enemy had taken up strong positions dominating the eastern exit from the town. In the Pont-l’Évêque area, enemy resistance was stubborn and between there and Lisieux heavy mortar fire was brought down on our troops crossing the river. The enemy’s dwindling road, rail and water transport systems were attacked by our aircraft yesterday. Fighter bombers destroyed more than 500 motor transport in the woods and on the roads in the Elbeuf-Louviers area, and sank 15 river barges at Tournedos-sur-Seine. Both Flak and enemy air opposition were encountered along the river, and as far east as Sens where our fighters gave support to the ground forces. Seventeen enemy planes were destroyed in the air in this sector and 12 others damaged. Fifteen of our aircraft are missing. In the Cambrai-Lille area, rail yards and canal barges were attacked effectively and without loss. Fires resulted from attack be a small force of medium bombers on a fuel dump near Rouen.
Communique Number 139 – 25 August 1944
After overcoming considerable enemy opposition, elements of the 2nd French Armored Division, under Gen Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, have entered the outskirts of Paris. South and southeast of the capital, Allied troops have crossed the Seine near Melun and in the Fontainbleau area. Further up the river, we have occupied Montereau. East of Montargis, now in our hands, American units have made further gains. Our forces now closing in towards the Seine estuary have made further advances. A thrust from the south has brought us to the southern outskirts of Elbeuf and to Gaillon, southeast of Louviers. The advance from the west gained fresh impetus yesterday after the last enemy resistance at Lisieux and Pont-l’Évêque had been overcome.
Allied forces moving northeast from Monnai have reached the area of Broglie. In a rapid thrust from the Orbec area, our troops have captured Thiberville and advanced several miles to the banks of the Risle River, east of Bernay, which is in our hands. Other troops from Lisieux have reached the Risle, near Brionne. Southeast of Pont-l’Évêque, our forces, after seizing the high ground at Blangy, have advanced to the line of the Calonne River from the area of Moyaux, on the right, to Les Authieux, on the left. Further north, we have captured the Forêt de St-Gatien and have reached the main road south of Beuzeville. On the coast we have captured Trouville and are approaching Honfleur.
Enemy escape lines in the Seine area were attacked yesterday by fighters and fighter bombers, as weather permitted. The attacks were continued last night by light bombers which also struck at motor transport in the Dieppe-Beauvais area and bombed railways in Belgium and northeast France. E-Boat and R-Boat pens at IJmuiden in Holland and shipping at Brest were attacked with good results in daylight yesterday by heavy bombers.
Communique Number 140 – 26 August 1944
More Allied armor and infantry are in Paris, following the entrance of the 2nd French Armored Division Friday morning, and all resistance in the southern and southwestern outskirts has been overcome. By noon yesterday, one armored column had crossed the bridge (Pont de Sèvres) over the Seine and another column had progressed into the southern part of the city. Infantry followed the armor and advanced to the Cathedral Notre-Dame. South of Paris, the enemy holds to the east edge of the Seine between Villeneuve-St-Georges and Corbeil. Between Corbeil and Melun, reconnaissance elements have crossed the river. No changes have been reported from the areas of Montereau, or Montargis, both of which are in our hands. The enemy is withdrawing northeast from Montargis and we have patrols as far east as Troyes.
Elbeuf had been liberated and Allied troops between there and the sea are rapidly approaching the Seine. The Risle River has been crossed at many places and our troops hold both banks as far north as Montfort-sur-Risle. We have taken Honfleur and Beuzeville. Further to the southeast, Épaignes and St-Georges-du-Vièvre are in our hands, and British and Canadian forces have made contact with American troops.
Brest was subjected to attack by land, air and sea. Enemy strong points, including the arsenal, were attacked by medium and heavy bombers yesterday afternoon and last night. Coastal batteries and selected targets were bombarded from the sea. A fuel dump at Clermont, east of Beauvais, was attacked by medium bombers during the afternoon. Fighters and fighter bombers attacked tanks, motor vehicles and barges, particularly in the lower Seine and eastward from the river. Medium bombers also hit concentrations of motor vehicles near Rouen. There was more opposition in the air, and 51 enemy aircraft were shot down, and others were destroyed on the ground. Twenty-one of our aircraft are missing. Motor transport and trains in northeastern France were attacked during the night by our light bombers.
