U. S. GUN CREW FIRING A 3-INCH ANTITANK GUN M5 at a house in which enemy troops are holding out (top). In the advance of the Allies from Utah Beach toward Cherbourg the enemy was often cut off in small groups and surrounded. The enemy groups in many cases would refuse to surrender, even though they were cut off from their own forces, and had to be eliminated one group at a time. A 90-mm. gun M1 of an antiaircraft battery firing near Vierville (bottom). Though enemy air attacks were not a serious threat to the Allies and very little opposition was encountered, antiaircraft batteries were always on the alert.] [Illustration] [Illustration: FRANCE MULTIPLE GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M16 with its four .50-caliber machine guns firing at the enemy in support of an infantry advance (top). This vehicle was a weapon of an antiaircraft artillery unit, but the lack of enemy air activity in Normandy made possible its use in other roles. U. S. artillerymen emplacing a 155-mm. howitzer M1 in a camouflaged position (bottom).] [Illustration] [Illustration: FRANCE FORMATION OF DOUGLAS A-20’s over France. The infantry and armored attacks were, when possible, preceded by concentrated air attacks. Employing carpet bombing methods, thousands of tons of bombs were dropped. Fragmentation bombs were used to break enemy resistance without causing extensive cratering which would hinder the advance of tanks. Although these attacks were temporary in effect, the results greatly aided the initial ground attack. Casualties to the enemy were few, but he was stunned by the weight of the bombing and considerable confusion ensued.] [Illustration: FRANCE ENGINEERS LAYING WIRE MATTING in the construction of a landing strip near Sainte-Mère-Eglise (top). A Republic P-47 Thunderbolt bursting into flames after crash landing on the strip; still attached to underside of the wing are rockets which were not fired (bottom). An important factor in insuring the success of the Allied close-support operations lay in the establishment of landing strips in Normandy, from which fighter planes could operate. Work began as soon as a footing was obtained on shore and by 9 June planes were operating from these strips.] [Illustration] [Illustration: FRANCE A QUARRY NEAR OMAHA BEACH used by engineer units to supply rock and stone for the construction of roads. The tremendous amount of traffic on the roads in Normandy, as men and supplies were brought into France over the beaches required the services of many engineer units to keep the roads in good repair. Most of the roads leading to the beaches were not hard surfaced but were constructed of rock and gravel.] [Illustration: FRANCE