which were to be attacked by the "Liberators"
Air bombardment
Before D-Day, air attacks had taken place on coastal batteries in the area. The position of Pointe du Hoc, one of the main goals of the bombings, had already been affected on 15 April, 22 May and 4 June. It was these attacks that led the Germans to fold the six 155mm cannons 1km inland, making them unfit to fire on Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6.
These positions at Pointe du Hoc were to be attacked again on 6 June by 18 medium bombers B26 "Marauder" of the 9th US Tactical Air Force, between H-20 and H-5 (6:10 a.m. to 6:25 a.m.).
From H-30 to H-5 minutes (6h00 to 6h25), 114 heavy quadrimotors "Liberators" B24 of the 8th US Strategic Army Air Force were to strike the beach defences in the Vierville area, i.e. the 5 fortified areas WN 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74 (objectives 35 to 38) with bombs of 50kg, fragmentation or explosive, and 250kg, explosives for only some targets (a total of about 300 tons of bombs).
Other heavy bombers (approximately 300) were to attack targets 39 to 45 on the WN of Saint-Laurent and Colleville.
All WN bombs on beaches were equipped with instant detonators to avoid craters on the beach, which could slow down traffic.
