The allied bombers whose task it was to destroy the German fortifications dropped most of their loads on open country too far inland. The result was that when the American assault wave moved into the beaches - the enemy were waiting. In addition, fog covered the targets on the beach for the allied gunships - leaving the infantry unprotected. Two of the first six landing crafts were sunk, the other four ran aground on a sandbank far from the shore. The men had to wade in water up to their shoulders to reach land, many were killed and many drowned before ever reaching the beach. During the assault, and as the tide rose reducing the length of sand, the beach became so encumbered with wreckage that those arriving were unable to move. During the late morning, engineers were able to clear narrow passages through the mines in the beach, and the Germans were progressively dislodged from their positions...