[Ronald Cherrycoke]

Friendly fire happens in every war...and will continue until we come up with magic bombs and bullets that only kill the enemy.






Operation Cobra 25-29 July 1944

The date for the attack was originally set for July 18. However, poor weather delayed the attack several times, and Montgomery had told Bradley that he need not rush the operation. The date was eventually finalized for July 24. However, poor weather on that day forced Leigh-Mallory to postpone for 24 hours. Some heavy bombers from the Eighth Air Force did not get the recall order and proceeded with their mission. About 335 B-17s, some hindered by poor visibility, dropped 685 tons of bombs. Some of the bombs fell on US positions, despite the planning done to prevent just such an occurrence. Bradley had specifically requested that the aircraft approach the target area by flying parallel to the front in order to minimize the risk of friendly fire. Although he believed the air commanders had committed to the parallel route, in fact only the fighter-bombers of the 9th Tactical Air Force approached the target parallel to the front. The bomber units had made no such agreement and approached perpendicular to the front line. The 'short' bomb drops thus fell on the very units that were expected to lead the assault.

Over 100 US soldiers were killed and approximately 500 were wounded. One unit, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, from the 30th Infantry Division, suffered 25 soldiers killed and 131 wounded. Perhaps the most notable soldier to die was General Lesley J. McNair.