Over the period of February and March, 1944 the US Army Air force fought a desperate battle in extreme conditions that, while unlike many other battles of 1944, was nonetheless as significant as almost any of those battles.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.