1944: Operation COBRA. An effort to breakout US forces at Normandy began with 3,000 planes, including 1,500 Eighth Air Force bombers, attacking German posts at St. Lo near American lines for 3 hours. Although the operation succeeded, a few bombers hit the wrong target area and killed almost 500 US troops, including Lt Gen Lesley J. McNair, the US Ground Forces Commander. (McNair Seen here with Purple Heart after being wounded in Tunisia in 1943.)
