Normandy Operations, June–August 1944

The operations mentioned in my Normandy DUKE tour report, in order of their start dates, with the American Operation Cobra for context.

Timeline

BritishCanadianAmerican

JuneJulyAugust

TongaJune 5–6June 5–6

DeadstickJune 6June 6

PerchJune 7–14June 7–14

MartletJune 25–30June 25–30

EpsomJune 26–30June 26–30

MittenJune 27–28June 27–28

WindsorJuly 4–5July 4–5

CharnwoodJuly 8–9July 8–9

JupiterJuly 10–11July 10–11

GreenlineJuly 15–17July 15–17

GoodwoodJuly 18–20July 18–20

AtlanticJuly 18–21July 18–21

SpringJuly 25–27July 25–27

CobraJuly 25–31July 25–31

BluecoatJuly 30–August 7July 30–August 7

TotalizeAugust 8–11August 8–11

TractableAugust 14–21August 14–21

BlackwaterAugust 15–17August 15–17

PaddleAugust 17–21August 17–21

Operations

Operation	Dates	Formation	Objective
Tonga	June 5–6, 1944	British 6th Airborne Division (I Corps).	Seize the Orne bridges and Merville battery to protect the eastern flank.
Deadstick	June 6	D Company, 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (6th Airborne Division).	Glider coup de main to seize Pegasus Bridge and Horsa Bridge intact, just after midnight.
Perch	June 7–14	British XXX Corps (7th Armoured Division).	Outflank Caen from the south; halted at Villers-Bocage.
Martlet (Dauntless)	June 25–30	British XXX Corps (49th Division).	Seize the Rauray spur to cover Epsom’s western flank.
Epsom	June 26–30	British VIII Corps.	Cross the Odon, take Hill 112, and outflank Caen from the west.
Mitten	June 27–28	British 3rd Division (I Corps), including the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.	Capture the fortified Château de la Londe north of Caen.
Windsor	July 4–5	3rd Canadian Division (I Corps).	Capture Carpiquet village and airfield.
Charnwood	July 8–9	British I Corps.	Capture northern Caen with heavy bomber support.
Jupiter	July 10–11	British VIII Corps (43rd Division).	Capture Hill 112 and Éterville.
Greenline	July 15–17	British XII Corps with VIII Corps.	Attack west of Caen to hold German armor before Goodwood.
Goodwood	July 18–20	British VIII Corps.	Armored breakout east of Caen to fix German panzers.
Atlantic	July 18–21	II Canadian Corps.	Take southern Caen and push toward Verrières Ridge.
Spring	July 25–27	II Canadian Corps.	Assault Verrières Ridge to pin German armor while Cobra began.
Cobra	July 25–31	American First Army (VII and VIII Corps, joined by XIX Corps).	Break through the German line near Saint-Lô and exploit toward Avranches and Brittany.
Bluecoat	July 30–August 7	British VIII and XXX Corps.	Advance toward Vire and Mont Pinçon to support the American breakout.
Totalize	August 8–11	II Canadian Corps (First Canadian Army).	Break through toward Falaise.
Tractable	August 14–21	II Canadian Corps (First Canadian Army).	Capture Falaise and close the pocket with the Americans.
Blackwater	August 15–17	British XXX Corps (43rd Division, with 8th Armoured Brigade, including the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry).	Cross the Noireau and take the heights and Col de Berjou, blocking the southern exit of the Falaise pocket.
Paddle	August 17–21	British I Corps (First Canadian Army), including 6th Airborne Division and the Piron Brigade.	Advance along the coast and through the Pays d’Auge to the Seine.