page_title: American logistics in the Normandy campaign
section_title: Planning and preparations
hierarchical_section_title: American logistics in the Normandy campaign / Planning and preparations
caption_attribution_description: English: General Depot at Ashchurch stocked with supplies for Operation Overlord
context_page_description: American logistics in the Normandy campaign played a key role in the success of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of northwest Europe during World War II that commenced on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The Services of Supply was formed in May 1942 under the command of Major General John C. H. Lee to provide logistical support. From February 1944 on, SOS was increasingly referred to as the Communications Zone. Between May 1942 and May 1944, Operation Bolero, the buildup of American troops and supplies in the UK, proceeded fitfully, and by June 1944 1,526,965 US troops were in the UK, of whom 459,511 were part of the COMZ.
  The Overlord plan called for the early capture of Cherbourg, and a rapid American advance to secure the Brittany ports and Quiberon Bay. Crucially, the logistical plan called for a one-month pause at the Seine River, which was expected to be reached by D plus 90, before advancing further. The expectation of an advance at a proscribed rate, while necessary for planning purposes, built inflexibility into a logistics plan that already had little margin for error. Staff studies confirmed that Overlord could be supported if everything went according to plan.
caption: General Depot at Ashchurch, north of Cheltenham. Originally developed as a British automotive depot, this was handed over to SOS in 1942. It consisted of 158 buildings, including 10 hangars and three warehouses. About 5,000 US personnel worked there.[15]
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