June 1944

Western Front

In the US 1st Army's VII Corps area, the 39th Infantry of the 9th Division, attached to the 4th Division, is given part of the 22nd Infantry's sector along the coast and takes Crisbecq, from which the Germans have withdrawn, as well as Danguevile and Fontenay-sur-Mer, forcing the Germans back to their main line of resistance on the Quinéville ridge. With strong fire support, including naval gunfire, the 22nd Infantry makes a concerted assault on Ozeville and captures it. The 12th Infantry moves forward again to Les Fieffes Dancel, at the west end of Quinéville ridge. The 8th Infantry makes a limited attack on Montebourg, but finds it strongly held and pulls back. West of the Merderet, the 90th Division commits the 359th Infantry, which is returned to it by the 4th Division, between the 357th and the 358th, but is still unable to make much progress. A night attack on Pont l'Abbé by the 368th overruns the town, which has been leveled by artillery and aerial bombardment. The 508th Parachute Infantry of the 82nd Airborn Division, reinforced and organized as a TF, crosses the Douve at Beuzeville-la-Bastille during the night in an effort to make contact with the 101st Airborne Division at Baupte.

The 101st Airborne develops and captures Carentan. Brig-Ben Anthony McAuliffe coordinates the final assault, which is made by the 506th Parachute Infantry, replacing the 502nd, on the right, and the 327th Glider Infantry and to its east the 501st Parachute Infantry, on the left. After the 501st and 506th Regiments close the circle about Carentan, elements of the latter and the 327th Glider Infantry drive rapidly into town and eliminate any stragglers. To secure the approaches to Carentan, the 506th and 501st Regiments push toward Baupte and Périers, respectively, but are soon held up. The 327th Glider Infantry moves southeastward to the Montmartin-en-Graignes region and makes contact with elements of the V Corps.

In the V Corps area, a 29th Division TF (2 companies of the 115th Infantry) crosses the Vire to reconnoiter in the Montmartin-en-Graignes region. To meet an expected counterattack in a weak sector between the VII and V Corps, elements of the 2nd Armored Division are ordered to the Montmartin-en-Grainges area. The V Corps begins to attack toward St. Lô and is vigorously opposed on the right. The 115th Infantry, 29th Division, makes a futile attempt to cross he Elle River southeast of St Marguerite-d'Elle. The 3rd Battalion crosses but is driven back with severe casualties. The 116th Infantry attacks through the 115th in the evening and succeeds in crossing. The 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, attempts to reach Hill 192, which commands the approaches to St. Lô from the north and east, but is stopped at the Elle River. The 9th Infantry, on the division's left, against lighter resistance, advances in conjunction with 1st Division and takes Litteau ridge. On the left flank of the V Corps, the 1st Division, with the 18th Infantry on the right and 26th on the left, move to the edge of Caumont.

In the British 2nd Army's XXX Corps area, the 50th Division maintains pressure on the enemy near Tilly-sur-Seulles. The 7th Armored Division begins a flanking attack on the right flank of the corps and pushes through Livry to positions east of Caumont.