The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-29

General MarshaPs report on the
 winning of World War II.
 XI
 D-DAY
 It was not merely overwhelming numbers of planes which gave our air assault it's great effectiveness. There were important, almost rev olutoinary, Improvements in tech niques and equipment. To reduce excessive aircraft losses in long, round trip bombing flights eX- posed to constant enemy intercep- tion, a system of shuttle bombing betweet bases in the United King dom and North Africa was initi- ated in mid-August 1943. The Shuttle-bombing run was short ened as the advance in Italy con- tinued. ASlluttle system between Italy and the U. S. s. R. was in- augurated with a heavy raid on rail communications in Central Europe on 2 June 1944. Soon thereafter, shuttle-flights were made between the United King dom and the new Ukranian bases.
 Radar bombing technique, first employed in the fall of 1943, i'm proved constantly. Allweather bombing approached reality; our bombers used the cover of dark ness and inclement weather to achieve surprise, yet still hit their target with precision.
 In the spring of 1944, three months before D-Day, the Allied air forces, while still hammering at their strategic targets, began directly to prepare the way for the invasion. Through destructive attacks on key bridges and rail centers, the invasion coast" was effectively isolated As a result of this preparatory bombing. the ability of the enemy to shift re- serves to the critical area was severely restricted Since the out come of an amplibious operation hinges on its relative ability of the opposing forces to build up strength in the critical areas, this air preparation was decisive factor in the success of OVER LORD.
 The Assault
 The beaches of Normandy were chosen for the assault after long Study of the strength of German costal defenses and the disposi- tion of German divisions. The absence of large ports in the area was serious obstacle, but it was offset in some measure by the relative weakness of the German defenses and elaborate construc- ton in Britain of two artificial harbors to be emplaced off the beaches
 The selection of target dates and hours for the assault re- quired an accurate forecast of the optimum combination of favor able weather, tide, and light con- ditions. Moonlight was desirable for the airborne operations. D-day was scheduled for 5 June; this GRte was changed to June be- cause of unfavorable but clearing weather. Hundreds of craft, en route from distant ports on the west coast of England, were al- Heady approaching the invasion area; they had to backtrack or Heek shelter in the overcrowded harbors on the south coast. The final forecast for the attack day predicted high winds; the sea was still rough, but rather than &C., cept delay of several weeks un- til tide and moon provided an- other favorable moment, General Eisenhower made the fateful de- EiSion to go ahead.
 At 020O hours on June 1914, the American 82d and 101st Air borne Divisions, as well as British mirborne troops, were dropped in vital areas in the rear of German coastal defenses guarding the Nor mandy beeches from Cherbourg to Caen.
 The seaborne assault under the overall command of Field Mar G11al Montgomery was made on a broad front; British and Canadian Rorces commended by It. Gen. Sir Miles c. Dempsey and American forces commanded by It. Gen. Omar N. Bradley deployed against 50 miles of coast line. Aerial bombardment of beach defenSes along the coast began at O314, preliminary naval bombardment at O550. shortly after sunrise. At D630 the first waves of assault Afantry and tanks lander on the hnvasion beaches.
 German defenses on all beaches were formidable: they consisted nrst of bands of underwater ob- etacles designed to break up for nations of landing craft; mines Were freely used to make these obstacles more lethal. The beaches Themselves were heavily mined mnd strung with wire. Concrete pi1boxes and gun supplements were sited to deliver whitening erossfire along the beaches. All Rxits leading inland from the beaches were blocked by anti kaz1k walls and ditches, mine Elelds, and borbed wire. Further Inland, mortors and artillery were Nited to deliver indirect fire on Hhe beaches. Open fields were Blocked against glider landings by patterns of heavy stakes, but con- hlete intelligence gathered up to mhe moment of assault provided Aetailed knowledge of enemy dis positions and enabled the troops 10 breach the defenseS.