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As part of Fliegerkorps X, III./KG 100 was not covered by the above report but Allied listeners commented that the Do 217s crossing out over St. Malo (see above) were the first to operate in the Channel area since 19 July. Between 2105 and 0107, aircraft B, C, H, J and N were heard homing on Toulouse-Blagnac from the North, as were two using factory markings. Three more with factory codes were in contact with Cognac from 2156–2249. There is no hint in any of this of the Gruppe’s use of its guided weapons which the interrogation of prisoners would later confirm. An article commemorating Pontorson’s liberation remarked of the bridge that “miraculously, the structure survived the Allied and German bombing while the town was 60% destroyed”. In Pontaubault it was much the same: by the time of its liberation on 31 July, 70% of the town was in ruins and the road bridge, although damaged, could support one-way traffic. The III./KG 100 proved unable to hit it, despite repeated attempts. Over the Seine Bay, no shipping targets were recognisable thanks to low-lying patches of haze (or possibly smokescreens), so most bombs had been dropped on the beach head with only slight effect.

The Kriegsmarine deployed 58 Marder (Marten) one-man submersibles and 32 Linse (Lentil) motor boats, 12 of them control boats and the remainder carrying explosives. Just 17 of the Marder “riders” got back, 10 of them reporting no success while none of the 10 committed to destroying an enemy ship regardless of cost had returned. Even so, the Germans believed that they had sunk two destroyers, two corvettes and two freighters (of 10,000 and 3,000 GRT respectively). The Linsen claimed sinkings of a transport vessel, a freighter with a lattice mast and an LCT. The 10 returning control boats reported that seven of the explosive-carriers had either been destroyed by hostile fire on the run-in or suffered technical faults. Observers on land had reported seven explosions between 0030 and 0400, some accompanied by stabs of flame and pillars of smoke. As reported by Fliegerkorps IX early on 3 August:

Observation of effect of special ops Navy: at 0053 hours [9.5 km N Ouistreham], two blinding white detonations observed. Impossible to judge whether flash from ships’ artillery or hit on ship by special weapons. At 0040 and 0045 in same square, similar phenomena observed. Ships not discerned owing to very heavy haze. No Flak defence, isolated searchlights.

The British Admiralty noted that between 0050 and daybreak there had been attacks by E-boats, explosive motor boats, human torpedoes and low-flying aircraft. A destroyer, HMS Quorn, had been sunk at 0051 (it was later established that she broke apart after a Linse hit her amidships; 130 of her crew were killed). Landing Craft Gun (Large) 764 also fell victim to an explosive motor boat while a Marder sank HMT Gairsay (31 dead). The same weapons severely damaged the merchantmen Samlong and Fort Lac La Ronge: the former was towed to the UK, the latter beached and her cargo discharged. A number of other vessels suffered lesser damage while “at least 20 Explosive MBs and 30 Human Torpedoes” were claimed by the Allied defenders, including two Marder caught in defensive nets. Another six Marder were claimed by Spitfires after daybreak and some 31 prisoners were taken, telling their captors that they had been told to look out for ships’ AA fire to lead them to the Allied anchorage. The air attacks had been complimentary to the naval operation. The Germans concluded next day that only a “mass operation” by Linsen could succeed.

Luftflotte 3 recorded a concentrated attack on Avranches and St. Ponts while in addition reconnaissance operations had been carried out and shipping targets attacked off the Orne Estuary. The Kriegsmarine’s summary was that ,”Overnight 185 of our bombers operated against land targets in the beach head and 9 against shipping off the Orne Estuary.”

At 1705, Bletchley Park was able to issue a warning that six Do 217 would attack the Pontaubault and Pontorson bridges that night. This number was later amended to six and the timing to from 2010–2020, followed by three more from 2130–2140. The Fw 190s and Me 410s were to attack the Avranches–Pontaubault area at 2035 before going on to strafe road traffic. In addition II./KG 51’s “long-range night fighting elements” were to operate but the Gruppe queried whether it was still expected to attempt both tasks as it had only 5 serviceable Me 410 and another four for which there was no ammunition.

The heavy units were to bomb Anglo-Canadian artillery positions near Colombelles at 2230. KG 54 was to go for shipping off the mouth of the Orne, heading out to sea over Le Havre at 2220 and back in over Deauville 10 minutes later ((not for the first time on the invasion front, KG 54 was to employ LT 350 torpedoes although it is not clear how far the Geschwader had Ju 88s adapted or crews trained for that role). Target marking was again to be by I./KG 66, dropping clusters of red flares from 800 m while KG 54 would provide illumination. Plans for Fliegerdivision 2 to operate from its southern French bases against ships in the Channel were aborted by the weather. Seven Ju 88 S of I./KG 30 took off from Le Culot between 2111 and 2119 and 12 of the II./Gruppe left Chièvres from 2122–2139. At 2248, one of 2./KG 30’s aircraft crashed and burst into flames out at Bonnebosq, about 30 km east of Caen. Three of the crew (Uffz. Garlipp, Gefr. Hermann and Obgefr. Eiselt) appear to have survived but Obgefr. Erich Schmiedchen died on 4 August.

Signals Intelligence on the night’s operations was limited with only I./KG 66 identified (a single machine in contact with Melsbroek). Air Defence of Great Britain had plotted nine aircraft off the beach head between 2232 and 2255, claiming two Ju 88 shot down. As for the attack on the Pontaubault and Pontorson bridges, “Operation apparently took place, 4 a/c of III./KG 100 being associated with Toulouse-Blagnac [2323–0031] and a further a/c working Cognac [2247–2258]”. The Allies also noted that overnight, “for the first time, night-fighters were used against lorry columns and concentrations in the area Avranches-Rennes … These unusual operations were held to be necessary due to the gravity of the situation”.

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PART SEVEN OF TEN

NOTE: All times in this article are GMT.

© Nick Beale 2022–25