Quote:
Originally Posted by Klaus Schiffler
The story of the Panzer Lehr Division is similar as related by Helmut Ritgen. The first reports of the losses in the approach march toward the beachhead indicated the loss of 5 Panzer IVs, 84 armored personnel carriers and tractors, and some 90 wheeled vehicles. Ritgen states that this is a exaggeration but it does indicate the intensity of the fighter-bomber attacks.
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'exaggerated' is an understatement. The Division lost 92 halftracks in the WHOLE of June.
The most effective tank killers in Normandy were the heavy bombers. On 18/7/44 sPzAbt. 503(Tigers) and 1/Pz.Reg. 22 (21st PD, PzIV)) were severely hit. sSS PzAbt 101(Tigers) was bombed at Everecy in June.
8 Tigers and 20 PzIV's, not bad for the heavies!