Battle Zone Normandy : Operation Cobra

Operation Cobra, launched at the end of July 1944, was designed to open a decisive gap in the German defences facing the American forces in Normandy. General Omar Bradley, commanding the First US Army, decided to use aerial saturation bombing to destroy the German defences and create a breach. An initial attempt on 24th July proved disastrous, as the bombers dropped some of their payload on the American front lines, killing or wounding 150 men. Despite this, the bombing continued the next day. For three hours, 1,500 B-17 and B-24 bombers pummelled the target, supported by medium bombers and fighter bombers attacking with napalm. The few, shell-shocked German survivors either surrendered without a fight or fled. Even so, fierce fighting continued as the Americans strove to open up a passage for the armoured vehicles. On 26 July, VII US Corps advanced ten kilometres after crossing the Coutances-Saint-Lo road. Cracks started to appear in the German front and it collapsed the next day. The American armoured divisions swept southwards and westwards. Entire German units were encircled, while others simply fell apart. On 30 July, 6th US Armored Division captured Avranches.

Christopher Pugsley
Hardcover, 192pp, 2004