Bomb damage in Coutances, France during World War II. Aerial view of the bomb damage in city. Heaps of debris seen in front of the damaged buildings. Priests walk through ruins.
Lieutenant General George Patton, Commander of the U.S. Third Army, rides, standing up in a jeep, as he arrives in Coutances, France during World War II. He appears to say something as he passes some soldiers standing atop a Sherman tank. He then salutes in the direction of the camera. His jeep passes an M3 half-track carrying soldiers. Closeup of Patton as he passes them, and they smile. His jeep continues along the dirt road, past soldiers waving salutes from atop a Sherman M4A1 tank. View of a Sherman tank equipped with plow blades and camouflaged with foliage. Another Sherman tank (M4A3) with foliage camouflage. Closeup as it passes. Several more Sherman tanks followed by trucks and jeeps carrying infantrymen. Closeups as they pass. An M3 half-track, towing a field piece, is directed at an intersection by an MP (military policeman). More armor and trucks are seen including a Sherman tank equipped with a bulldozer blade, followed by an M3 Lee tank. A spire of the Église Saint-Pierre (Rue de l'Église, 50570 Marigny-le-Lozon, France) at Marigny-le-Lozon is seen in the background as vehicles pass it. A truck and a wheeled vehicle equipped with an A-Frame are parked at the side of the road. An M8 Light Armored Car passes. A jeep carrying medics, displaying red cross emblems, passes a truck towing a field piece.
Allied Operation Cobra, during World War II. United States infantry,tanks and other vehicles advance from Lessay through the war-torn town of Periers, on their way to Coutances, France. U.S. infantrymen (probably 90th Infantry Division) and armor of the 4th Armored Division, including M4(105) howitzer medium tanks and M4 medium tanks (part of Operation Cobra) move past a road sign that reads "Périers". At top of signpost, another sign reads: "Road cleared of mines to hedges." The tanks turn right (South) in front of the damaged Periers church, as they pass through town on their way toward the city of Coutances.