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FRANCQUETOT
(castle)
Manche
- 4 km north of Saint-Jores
The capture of Cherbourg, a bitter victory
The south front line in the Cotentin was almost quiet during June
1944. The VIIth Corps concentrated all available forces to cut off
the Cotentin peninsula, then to capture Cherbourg harbor. On 12 June,
the 508th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division spanned the river
Douve near Beuzeville-la-Bastille. The junction with parachutists
of the 101st Airborne Division was carried out in the south, near
Baupte. The front line was continuous, from Pont-l'Abbé it
drew on the west bank of the river Douve to Baupte. On 15 June, the
VIIIth American Corps became operational, the 90th Infantry Division
was subordinated on 23. Several attacks were launched in order to
prepare the departure bases of the next offensives. On 20 June, parachutists
of the 82nd Division gained a few kilometers toward Prétot,
they liberated the area of Francquetot castle. But General von Choltitz,
Commander of the LXXXIVth Armee Korps, used this delay to reinforce
enormously his defense display. The Americans had been losing many
troops to come out from the Norman hedgerows hell.
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A 14 airfield plaque
