 After a brief period in camp, it was attached to the newly arrived 5th Armored Division, and began operations on 2 August, with first contact with an enemy force on 4 August.In order to co-operate more closely with the 5th Armored, the battalion was split up, with one company going to each of the division's Combat Commands.The force moved south through Avranches and then southwest to Le Mans, before pushing north on 10 August to help close the Falaise Pocket.