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Operation
Overlord and Mobilization
On
the 6th of June, one million Allied troops stormed the
Atlantic Wall at 6 main strategic points on the beaches
on Normandy.
Tragic
losses occurred that day and the fighting was fierce.
Their
First Theatre of Operations:
The
40th landed on Area #4 at Omaha Beach on morning of the
6th of July 1944. As you can see by the map on your left,
the Allies weren't very far into France.
One
impression that I imagine a lot of people get is once
the beachhead had been secured in Normandy that troops
poured in and Naxi resistance was minimal. It took nearly
six more months to liberate France and the Low
Countries.
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The
Battalion moved to Vehicle Transit Area Number Four (4),
Omaha Beach, and proceeded to dewaterproof vehicles and
set up night bivouac. At approximately 1440 hours, 7 July
1944, the unit proceeded in motor convoy to bivouac area,
2 mile's west of Valognes, Normandy, France, Arriving
at about 1730 hours. The Battalion remained at this bivouac
sight, along with the attached company, the 257th Signal
Construction Company, until 9 July 1944.
During
this period, contact was made with the Signal Officer,
First United States Army, and the battalions initial job
in combat was outlined to the Commanding Officer, Major
Tilton D McNeal. The Battalion moved at 0750 hours, 9
July 1944, to bivouac area one-half mile east of St Come-du-Mont,
Normandy, France, in order to centrally locate the unit
for the job that they were about to begin.
On
the morning of 10 July 1944, the Battalion began work
on their first wire construction job under combat conditions.
The job was a two (20) arm twenty(20) pin open wire line
from St Chemin to St Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France, for
the purpose of connecting First United States Army to
First United States Army Rear, VIII Corps and VII Corps,
This line supplanted the existing line between St Come-du-Mont
and Carentan, along the railroad which was under enemy
fire.
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Closeup
of Troop Movements from Landing to First Operation
(Jul 7 - 10 1944)
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In
order that the line would in no place come within
range of enemy artillery fire, the new line was
to follow a northern route across the low-lands
between Carentan and the English Channel, a good
part of which was inundated marshland as a result
of German flooding on D-Day.
The
entire line was constructed well off the road right
of way in an attempt to keep the line out of any
trouble, which might result from heavy traffic or
enemy action directed at communication routes. To
do this, two river crossings were made, necessitating
spans of 250 foot and 400 foot respectively, Long
Span, Non-catenary, construction was used.
The
initial survey was made 9 July 1944, and the entire
line of thirteen and three tenths (15*5) miles was
completed and turned, over to the First Army Signal
Service on 14 July 1944.
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