User:Hungrydog55/sandbox/military/mediterranean/1943-07 OperationHusky Alliedoob
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Map_Operation_Husky_and_Axis_Dispositions.svg/320px-Map_Operation_Husky_and_Axis_Dispositions.svg.png)
Operation Husky order of battle is a listing of the significant military and air force units that were involved in the campaign for Sicily, July 10 – August 17, 1943. The Allied invasion of Sicily, also known as the Battle of Sicily and Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily in July 1943 and took it from the Axis powers (Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany). It began with a large amphibious and airborne operation, followed by a six-week land campaign, and initiated the Italian campaign.
To divert some of the Axis forces to other areas, the Allies engaged in several deception operations, the most famous and successful of which was Operation Mincemeat. Husky began on the night of 9–10 July 1943 and ended on 17 August. Strategically, Husky achieved the goals set out for it by Allied planners; the Allies drove Axis air, land and naval forces from the island and the Mediterranean sea lanes were opened for Allied merchant ships for the first time since 1941. These events led to the Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, being toppled from power in Italy on 25 July, and to the Allied invasion of Italy on 3 September.
Summary of Allied Ground Forces
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Ground forces
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/British_and_U._S._Troops_Landing_at_Gela_Sicily.jpg/280px-British_and_U._S._Troops_Landing_at_Gela_Sicily.jpg)
Allied Forces Headquarters - Mediterranean
Supreme Commander: General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Allied 15th Army Group
General Sir Harold Alexander[2]
Army group troops
US 9th Infantry ("Old Reliables") Division
- Major General Manton S. Eddy[2]
- 39th Infantry Regiment
- 47th Infantry Regiment
- 60th Infantry Regiment
- 26th Field Artillery Battalion
- 34th Field Artillery Battalion
- 60th Field Artillery Battalion
- 84th Field Artillery Battalion
- 15th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 42nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion
- 9th Reconnaissance Troop
US 82nd Airborne ("All American") Division
- Major General Matthew B. Ridgway
- . The independent 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion was held in reserve and it never saw action.[2]
- 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
- 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
- 325th Glider Infantry Regiment
- 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
- 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
- 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion
- 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion
- 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
- 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion
British 46th Infantry Division[b]
- Major-General H. A. Freeman-Attwood[2]
- 128th Infantry Brigade
- 138th Infantry Brigade
- 139th Infantry Brigade
- 46th Royal Artillery Brigade
- 46th Royal Engineer Brigade
US Seventh Army
Lieutenant General George S. Patton
US Seventh Army was assigned the Western invasion zone
Army troops
- 1st Ranger Battalion
- 3rd Ranger Battalion
- 4th Ranger Battalion
- 70th Tank Battalion
- 753rd Tank Battalion
- 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion
- 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion (two platoons)
- 39th Engineer Regiment
- 540th Engineer Shore Regiment
- 5th Armored Artillery Group
- 58th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 65th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
- 17th Artillery Regiment
- 36th Artillery Regiment
- 77th Artillery Regiment
- 178th Artillery Regiment
- Free French 4th Moroccan Tabor
US II CorpsLieutenant General Omar N. Bradley
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US Provisional Corps
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British Eighth Army
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Bernard_Law_Montgomery.jpg/180px-Bernard_Law_Montgomery.jpg)
General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
British Eighth Army was assigned the Eastern invasion zone
Army troops
- 2nd Special Air Service
- No. 3 (Army) Commando
- No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando
- No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando
- Three companies of 2nd/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
- 2nd/4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 7th Battalion, Royal Marines
British XIII Corps
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/General_Dempsey.jpg/160px-General_Dempsey.jpg)
Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey
Corps troops
- 105th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 6th Army Group Royal Artillery
- 24th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 98th (Surrey & Sussex Yeomanry Queen Mary's) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 66th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 80th (Scottish Horse Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- XIII Corps Troops Royal Engineers[4]
British XXX Corps
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Lieutenant_General_Sir_Oliver_Leese%2C_commander_of_the_British_Eighth_Army_in_Italy%2C_30_April_1944._TR1759.jpg/180px-Lieutenant_General_Sir_Oliver_Leese%2C_commander_of_the_British_Eighth_Army_in_Italy%2C_30_April_1944._TR1759.jpg)
Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese
Corps troops
- 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 5th Army Group Royal Artillery
- 57th (Home Counties) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 58th (Sussex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 78th (Lowland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 64th (London) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 70th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Honourable Artillery Company)
- 142nd (Royal Devon Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
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Naval forces
Naval forces were under the overall command of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham, RN.
The Western landing forces were commanded by Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, USN and the Eastern forces by Vice Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsay, RN.[16]
Note: Many of the vessels listed below were attached to multiple units at various times during the campaign but are listed here only once.
Western Naval Task Force
Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt
- Landings in the Gulf of Gela
Covering Force
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/USS_McLanahan_%28DD-615%29_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard_on_5_February_1943.jpg/220px-USS_McLanahan_%28DD-615%29_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard_on_5_February_1943.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/PT_boat_underway_c1945.jpg/220px-PT_boat_underway_c1945.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Shawmut_%28CM-11%29.jpg/220px-Shawmut_%28CM-11%29.jpg)
Task Force 80[17]
Vice Admiral Hewitt
- Force Flagship Group (TG 80.1)
- Embarking Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. commanding
US Seventh Army and staff
- 1 cargo ship: Monrovia
- 1 Benson-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery): McLanahan
- Escort Group (TG 80.2)
- 9 destroyers
- 3 Gleaves-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Plunkett, Gleaves, Niblack
- 1 Benson-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Benson
- 1 Sims-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Wainwright
- 4 Benham-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Mayrant, Trippe, Rhind, Rowan
- 9 destroyers
- Screening Group (TG 80.3)
- 1 Benson-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery): Ordronaux
- 17 PTs
- Demonstration Group (TG 80.4)
- 8 air-sea rescue craft
- 1 PT
- Minelaying Group (TG 80.5)
- 3 minelayers: Keokuk, Weehawken, Salem
- Floating Reserve — "Kool" (TG 80.6)
- Embarking 18th Regimental Combat Team of
1st Infantry Division plus HQ and 2 Combat Commands of
2nd Armored Division: approx. 8,000 officers and enlisted under Maj. Gen. Hugh Joseph Gaffey
- 2 transports: Orizaba, Chateau Thierry
- 7 cargo ships: Joseph Pulitzer, Robert Rowan (sunk by air attack), Laughton B. Evans, Ezra Meeker, Francis Parkman, Nicholas Gilman, Tabitha Brown
- 6 LSTs
- 11 LCIs
- 16 British
LCIs
- 5 LCTs
Western Landing Area – Licata
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/USS_Brush_%28DD-745%29_underway_on_22_May_1944_%2880-G-237963%29.jpg/220px-USS_Brush_%28DD-745%29_underway_on_22_May_1944_%2880-G-237963%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/USS_Birmingham_%28CL-62%29_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard_on_7_February_1944.jpg/220px-USS_Birmingham_%28CL-62%29_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard_on_7_February_1944.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Seer_%28MMC_5%29.jpg/220px-Seer_%28MMC_5%29.jpg)
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/USS_LST-492_Italy.jpg/220px-USS_LST-492_Italy.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/USS_YMS-143.jpg/220px-USS_YMS-143.jpg)
Task Force 86 ("Joss" Force)[18]
Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly, USN
Embarking US 3rd Infantry Division (reinforced); 3rd Ranger Bttn.; Combat Command A of
US 2nd Armored Division; 20th and 36th Engineers: approx. 27,650 officers and enlisted under Maj. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott
- 1 amphibious command ship: Biscayne
- 1 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer (6 × 5-in. main battery): Bristol
- Support Group (TG 86.1)
- Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose
- Gunfire Support Group
- 2 light cruisers
- 1 Brooklyn-class (15 × 6-in. main battery): Brooklyn
- 1 Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery): Birmingham
- 2 destroyers
- 1 Gleaves-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Ludlow
- 1 Sims-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Buck
- 2 light cruisers
- Beach Identification Group
- 1 submarine:
Safari
- 1 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer (6 × 5-in. main battery): Bristol
- 1 submarine chaser: PC (steel hull)
- 1 submarine:
- Gunfire Support Group
- Gaffi Attack Group (TG 86.2)
- Gunfire Support
- 2 destroyers
- 1 Gleaves-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Swanson
- 1 Sims-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Roe
- 1 British
LCG(L)s, 2 British
LCF(L)s
- 1 Auk-class minesweeper: Seer
- 2 destroyers
- Landing and control craft
- 7 LSTs
- 1st Wave: 6 LCI(L)s
- 2nd Wave: 9 LCI(L)s
- 21 LCTs
- 7 submarine chasers: 2 PCs (steel hull), 5 SCs (wooden hull)
- Gunfire Support
- Molla Attack Group (TG 86.3)
- Gunfire support
- 1 Gleaves-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery): Edison
- 1 British
LCG(L)s, 2 British
LCF(L)s
- 1 Auk-class minesweeper: Sentinel (sunk by air attack 10 July)
- Landing and control craft
- 2 British
LSI(S)s: Princess Josephine Charlotte, Princess Astrid
- 6 LSTs, 3 LCTs, 1 LCI
- 7 submarine chasers: 2 PCs (steel hull), 5 SCs (wooden hull)
- 2 British
- Gunfire support
- Salso Attack Group (TG 86.4)
- Gunfire Support
- 1 Gleaves-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Woolsey
- 3 British
LCG(L)s, 2 British
LCF(L)s
- Landing and control craft
- 12 LSTs (one sunk by air attack), 1 LCI, 25 LCTs
- 7 submarine chasers: 2 PCs (steel hull), 5 SCs (wooden hull)
- Gunfire Support
- Falconara Attack Group (TG 86.5)
- Gunfire Support
- 2 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Wilkes, Nicholson
- 2 British
LCG(L)s, 2 British
LCF(L)s
- Landing and control craft
- 10 LSTs
- 1st Wave: 8 LCI(L)s
- 2nd Wave
- 8 LCI(L)s, 9 LCTs
- 5 submarine chasers: 1 PC (steel hull), 4 SCs (wooden hull)
- Gunfire Support
- Reserve (TG 86.8)
- 2 LSTs; 15 LCIs; 8 LCTs; 12 British
LCTs; 6 SCs; 6 YMSs
- 2 LSTs; 15 LCIs; 8 LCTs; 12 British
Central Landing Area – Gela
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/HMS_Shakespeare.jpg/230px-HMS_Shakespeare.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/USS_Joseph_T._Dickmann_%28APA-13%29_at_anchor_c1943.jpg/230px-USS_Joseph_T._Dickmann_%28APA-13%29_at_anchor_c1943.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/USS_Savannah_%28CL-42%29_off_New_England_1944.jpg/230px-USS_Savannah_%28CL-42%29_off_New_England_1944.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/USS_Hopi.jpg/230px-USS_Hopi.jpg)
Task Force 81 ("Dime" Force)[19]
Rear Admiral John L. Hall Jr. in Samuel Chase
Embarking the 1st Infantry Division less 18th Regimental Combat Team; 1st and 4th Ranger Bttns.; Chemical Warfare Bttns.: approx. 19,250 officers and enlisted under Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen
- Beach Identification Group
- 1 Wickes-class destroyer (4 × 4-in. main battery): Cole
- 1 submarine:
Shakespeare
- Transport Group (TG 81.2)
- Section 1
- 1 attack transport: Joseph T. Dickman
- 2 LSIs:
Prince Charles,
Prince Leopold
- Section 2
- 2 attack transports: Barnett, Monrovia
- 1 transport: Lyon
- 1 attack cargo: Oberon
- 9 LCIs
- 4 submarine chasers: 1 PC (steel hull), 3 SCs (wooden hull)
- Section 3
- 1 attack transport: Samuel Chase
- 2 transports: Elizabeth C. Stanton, Thurston
- 1 attack cargo: Betelgeuse
- 8 LCIs
- 3 submarine chasers: 2 PCs (steel hull), 1 SC (wooden hull)
- Section 1
- LST Group (TG 81.3)
- 14 LSTs (one sunk by air attack)
- LCI Group (TG 81.4)
- 16 LCIs
- Fire Support Group (TG 81.5)
- 2 Brooklyn-class light cruisers: (15 × 6-in. main battery): Boise, Savannah
- 2 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Shubrick, Jeffers
- Screen (TG 81.6)
- 10 destroyers
- 6 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Nelson, Glennon, Maddox (sunk by air attack 10 July), Gherardi, Butler, Herndon
- 2 Benson-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): McLanahan, Murphy
- 1 Clemson-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Dallas
- 1 Wickes-class (4 × 4-in. main battery): Bernadou
- 10 destroyers
- Control Group (TG 81.7)
- 9 submarine chasers: 4 PCs (steel hull), 5 SCs (wooden hull)
Eastern Landing Area – Scoglitti
Task Force 85 ("Cent" Force)[20]
Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN
Embarking Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley and staff of II Corps and the
45th Infantry Division (reinforced): approx. 25,800 officers and enlisted under Maj. Gen. Troy H. Middleton
- Attack Group One – "Wood's Hole" (TG 85.1)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/USS_Ancon_%28AGC-4%29_at_anchor%2C_circa_in_1945_%28NH_99150%29.jpg/220px-USS_Ancon_%28AGC-4%29_at_anchor%2C_circa_in_1945_%28NH_99150%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/USS_Laub_%28DD-613%29.jpg/220px-USS_Laub_%28DD-613%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/HMS_Abercrombie_%28F109%29.jpg/220px-HMS_Abercrombie_%28F109%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Usssusanbanthony-ap72.jpg/220px-Usssusanbanthony-ap72.jpg)
- Rear Admiral Kirk
- Force Flagship Group
- 1 amphibious force flagship: Ancon
- 1 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Earle
- Force Flagship Group
- Beach Identification Group
- 1 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Cowie
- 1 submarine:
Seraph
- Beach Identification Group
- Transdiv 1
- 3 attack transports: Leonard Wood, James O'Hara, Harry Lee
- 2 transports: Dorothea L. Dix, Florence Nightingale
- 2 attack cargos: Andromeda, Alcyone
- Transdiv 7
- 2 attack transports: Neville, Frederick Funston
- 2 transports: Calvert, Anne Arundel
- 1 attack cargo: Bellatrix
- 8 LSTs
- 6 LCIs
- 6 LCTs
- 2 fleet tugs: Narragansett, Nauset
- Transdiv 1
- Screen
- 4 Benson-class destroyers (4 × 5-in. main battery): Parker, Laub, MacKenzie, Kendrick
- 1 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Doran
- 6 submarine chasers: 4 PCs (steel hull), 2 SCs (wooden hull)
- Screen
- Attack Group Two – "Bailey's Beach" (TG 85.2)
- Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson in Philadelphia
- Transdiv 5
- 3 attack transports: Charles Carroll, Thomas Jefferson, William P. Biddle
- 1 transport: Susan B. Anthony
- 2 attack cargos: Arcturus, Procyon
- 5 LSTs
- Transdiv 5
- Screen
- 4 Benson-class destroyers (4 × 5-in. main battery): Boyle, Champlin, Nields
- 1 Gleaves-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery): Davison
- 4 submarine chasers: 2 PCs (steel hull), 2 SCs (wooden hull)
- Screen
- Minecraft
- 5 YMSs
- Minecraft
- Fire Support Groups (TG 85.3)
- Rear Admiral Davidson
- 1 Brooklyn-class light cruiser: (15 × 6-in. main battery): Philadelphia
- 1 monitor (2 × 15-in. main battery):
Abercrombie
- 7 Gleaves-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Mervine, Doran, Quick, Tillman, Knight, Cowie, Beatty
Train
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/USS_Rapidan_%28AO-18%29.jpg/220px-USS_Rapidan_%28AO-18%29.jpg)
Task Force 87[21]
Captain R. B. Tuggle
- 7 oilers: Winooski, Mattaponi, Chicopee, Salamonie, Chemung, Niobrara, Rapidan
- 2 repair ships: Vulcan, Delta
- 1 stores ships: Tarazed
- 1 ammunition ship: Mount Baker
- 1 salvage ship: W. R. Chamberlin, Jr.
Eastern Naval Task Force
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A17348.jpg/220px-The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A17348.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Freefrench_british_captured_hms_CHARLES_PLUMIER.jpg/220px-Freefrench_british_captured_hms_CHARLES_PLUMIER.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/HMS_Bulolo.jpg/220px-HMS_Bulolo.jpg)
Vice Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsay, RN[22]
Embarking the British Eighth Army under the command of General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
- Force "V" – Bark West
- Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian in infantry headquarters ship Hilary
- Landing the following forces on the West shore of the Pachino Peninsula
- Force "B" – Bark South
- Rear Admiral Rhoderick McGrigor in combined operations headquarters ship Largs
- Landing the following forces on the tip of the Pachino Peninsula
- Force "N" – Bark East
- Captain Lord Ashbourne in infantry landing ship Keren
- Landing the following forces on the East shore of the Pachino Peninsula
- Force "A" – Acid
- Rear Admiral Thomas Hope Troubridge in landing ship, headquarters Bulolo
- Landing the following forces in the Gulf of Noto
Air Forces
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Operation_Husky_Principle_NAAF_Targets.jpg/340px-Operation_Husky_Principle_NAAF_Targets.jpg)
At the time of Operation Husky, the Allied air forces in the North African and Mediterranean theatres were organized as the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder of the Royal Air Force. The major subdivisions of the MAC included the Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF) under the command of Lt. General Carl Spaatz of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the American 12th Air Force (also commanded by Gen. Spaatz), the American 9th Air Force under the command of Lt. General Lewis H. Brereton, and units of the British Royal Air Force (RAF).
Also supporting the NAAF were the RAF Middle East Command, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF Gibraltar, and the No. 216 (Transfer and Ferry) Group, which were subdivisions of MAC under the command of Tedder. He reported to the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower for the NAAF operations, but to the British Chiefs of Staff for RAF Command operations. Air Headquarters Malta, under the command of Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Park, also supported Operation Husky.
The "Desert Air Task Force" consisting of American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers (the 12th and 340th Bombardment Groups) and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters (the 57th, 79th, and 324th Fighter Groups) from the 9th Air Force served under the command of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force. These bomber and fighter groups moved to new airfields on Sicily as soon as a significant beachhead had been captured there.
In the MAC organization established at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, the 9th Air Force was assigned as a subdivision of the RAF Middle East Command under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas.[23][24][25][26]
Mediterranean Air Command (Allied)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder had his headquarters in Algiers, Algeria.[27]
Northwest African Air Forces
Lt. General Carl Spaatz had his headquarters for the Northwest African Air Forces in Maison-Carrée, Algeria[27]
Northwest African Strategic Air Force
Maj. General James H. Doolittle, in command of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force, had his headquarters in Constantine, Algeria[27]
- 5th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)
Northwest African Coastal Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd also had his headquarters in Algiers.[27]
- No. 242 Group RAF[28] (Air Commodore Kenneth Cross)
- No. 323 Wing RAF
- No. 73 Squadron, Supermarine Spitfire fighter planes
- No. 255 Squadron, Bristol Beaufighters
- No. II/5 Escadre (French Air Force), P-40 Warhawk fighters
- No. II/7 Escadre (French Air Force), Spitfires
- No. 283 Squadron, Supermarine Walrus air-sea rescue planes
- No. 284 Squadron, Walrus air-sea aescue planes
- No. 328 Wing RAF
- No. 14 Squadron, Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers
- No. 39 Squadron, Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers
- No. 47 Squadron, Bristol Beauforts
- No. 144 Squadron, Beaufighters
- No. 52 Squadron, Martin Baltimore light bombers
- No. 221 Squadron (Det.), Vickers Wellington medium bombers
- No. 458 Squadron (RAAF), Wellington bombers
- No. 323 Wing RAF
British Units | American Units |
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RAF Units
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52nd Fighter Group Lt. Colonel James Coward
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Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Units Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance
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81st Fighter Group Lt. Colonel Michael Gordon Oran, Algeria Sector: |
Bone, Algeria Sector:
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350th Fighter Group Lt. Colonel Marvin McNickle
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2nd Air Defense Wing:
No. 153 Squadron, Beaufighters |
480th Antisubmarine Group Colonel Jack Roberts
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Notes:
- The 1st and 2nd Antisubmarine Squadrons were assigned to NACAF for administration and placed under the operational control of the U.S. Navy Fleet Air Wing 15 of the Moroccan Sea Frontier commanded by Rear Admiral (United States) Frank J. Lowry
- Air Ministry was asked to provide two additional Wellington patrol squadrons.[clarification needed] Asked? This is supposed to be an accurate historical document. Many things get asked for, but many less get provided.
Northwest African Tactical Air Force
Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham had his headquarters in Hammamet, Tunisia[27]
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For Operation Husky, No. 242 Group, originally a component of NATAF in February 1943, was assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF). At the same time, Air Headquarters, Western Desert became known as the Desert Air Force. All of the fighter units of Desert Air Force formed No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group commanded by Air Commodore Richard Atcherley on April 11, 1943 in Tripoli. The 99th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the XII Air Support Command on May 28, 1943, and later made a part of the 33rd Fighter Group.
Northwest African Troop Carrier Command
United States Paul Williams, in Tunisia
51st Troop Carrier Wing Brig. General Ray Dunn |
52nd Troop Carrier Wing Colonel Harold Clark |
RAF Detachment |
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60th Troop Carrier Group Lt. Colonel Frederick Sherwood 10th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains |
61st Troop Carrier Group Colonel Willis Mitchell
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No. 38 Wing
Air Commodore William Primrose
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62nd Troop Carrier Group Lt. Colonel Aubrey Hurren 4th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains |
313th Troop Carrier Group Colonel James Roberts, Jr. 29th Squadron, C-47s |
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64th Troop Carrier Group Colonel John Cerny 16th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains |
314th Troop Carrier Group Colonel Clayton Stiles 32nd Squadron, C-47s |
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Information in table taken from: 1) Participation of the Ninth and |
316th Troop Carrier Group Colonel Jerome McCauley 36th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains |
Information in table taken from: 2) Maurer, Maurer, Air Force |
To help carry out transport and supply operations for Operation Husky, in mid-1943 the American 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th & 43rd Squadrons) had been flown from England to Tunisia. There it was assigned to the Mediterranean Air Transport Service, and along with NATCC, this was a subdivision of the Mediterranean Air Command.
Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing
Colonel Elliott Roosevelt had his headquarters at La Marsa, Tunisia
- Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing
- 3rd Photographic Group, Lt. Colonel Frank Dunn
- 5th Combat Mapping Squadron, P-38 Lightnings
- 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, P-38 Lightnings
- 12th Weather Detachment
- 15th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, B-17 Flying Fortresses
- 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron photo intelligence squadron
- No. 60 Squadron SAAF Det., Mosquitos
- No. 540 Squadron RAF Det., Mosquitos
- No. 680 Squadron RAF, Spitfires
- 2/33 Groupe (French), P-38 Lightnings (F-5 reconnaissance planes)
- 3rd Photographic Group, Lt. Colonel Frank Dunn
Northwest African Air Service Command
Brig. General Delmar had his headquarters in Dunton, Algiers.[27]
Northwest African Training Command
Brig. General John K. Cannon,
U.S. APO 525[27]
Air Headquarters Malta
Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, the commander of Air Headquarters Malta, had his headquarters in Valletta, Malta[33]
- No. 248 (Naval Co-operation) Wing
- No. 69 Squadron RAF, Baltimores
- No. 108 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
- No. 221 Squadron RAF, Wellington bombers
- No. 272 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
- No. 683 Squadron RAF, Spitfires
- Spitfire fighter plane units
- Other units
- No. 23 Squadron RAF, counter-night-intruder operations with Mosquito fighter planes
- No. 73 Squadron RAF Detachment (Det.), with Hurricane fighter planes
- No. 256 Squadron RAF Det., with Mosquito night fighters
- No. 600 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter night fighters
- 815 Naval Air Squadron Det. (Fleet Air Arm), Fairey Albacores
No. 216 (Transport and Ferry) Group
Air Commodore Whitney Straight, Headquarters at Heliopolis, Egypt[33]
- No. 17 Squadron SAAF, Junkers 52
- No. 28 Squadron SAAF, Anson
- No. 117 Squadron RAF, Hudson
- No. 173 Squadron RAF, Lodestar, Proctor, Hurricane
- No. 216 Squadron RAF, Douglas Dakota
- No. 230 Squadron RAF, Short Sunderland
- No. 267 Squadron RAF, Hudson
RAF Gibraltar
Air Vice Marshal Sturley Simpson had his headquarters in Gibraltar
- No. 48 Squadron RAF, Hudsons
- No. 179 Squadron RAF, Wellingtons
- No. 202 Squadron RAF, Catalinas
- No. 210 Squadron RAF, Catalinas
- No. 233 Squadron RAF, Hudsons
- No. 248 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
- No. 544 Squadron RAF, Spitfires
- 813 Naval Air Squadron (Fleet Air Arm), Swordfish torpedo planes
- No. 1403 (Meteorological) Flight Hampden, Gloster Gladiators
Middle East Command
Air Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas Headquarters at Cairo, Egypt[27]
No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group
Air Vice Marshal Thomas Langsford-Sainsbury, Headquarters at Alexandria, Egypt
- No. 235 Wing
- No. 13 Squadron (Royal Hellenic Air Force), Blenheim bombers
- No. 227 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighters
- No. 454 Squadron RAAF, Baltimores
- No. 459 Squadron RAAF, Hudsons
- 815 Naval Air Squadron (FAA), Swordfish
- No. 238 Wing
- No. 16 Squadron SAAF, Beauforts
- No. 227 Squadron RAF Beaufighters
- No. 603 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
- 815 Naval Air Squadron (FAA), Swordfish
- No. 245 Wing
- No. 15 Squadron SAAF, Blenheims and Baltimores
- No. 38 Squadron RAF, Wellingtons
- No. 1 General Reconnaissance Unit, Wellingtons
- No. 247 Wing
- No. 38 Squadron RAF, Wellingtons
- No. 203 Squadron RAF, Baltimores
- No. 227 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
- No. 252 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
No Wing assignment: 701 Naval Air Squadron (FAA), Walrus Air-Sea Rescue
Note: RAF=Royal Air Force; RAAF=Royal Australian Air Force; SAAF=South African Air Force; FAA=Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy); Det.= "detachment"
Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean
Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul
No. 209 (Fighter) Group Group Captain R.C.F. Lister |
No. 210 (Fighter) Group Group Captain John Grandy |
No. 212 (Fighter) Group Air Commodore Archibald Wann |
No. 219 (Fighter) Group Group Captain Max Aitken |
---|---|---|---|
No. 46 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighters | No. 3 Squadron SAAF, Hurricanes | No. 7 Squadron SAAF, Hurricanes | No. 46 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters |
No. 127 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes and Spitfires | No. 33 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | No. 41 Squadron SAAF, Hurricanes | No. 74 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes |
No. 89 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters | No. 80 Squadron RAF, Spitfires | No. 238 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | |
No. 213 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | No. 94 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | No. 335 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | |
No. 274 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | No. 108 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighters | No. 336 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | |
No. 123 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | No. 451 Squadron RAAF, Hurricanes | ||
No. 134 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | |||
No. 237 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes | |||
No. 1563 Met. Flight, Gloster Gladiators | |||
No. 1654 Met. Flight, Gladiators |
Notes:
SAAF=South African Air Force; RAAF=Royal Australian Air Forces; Det.=Detached; Met.=Meteorological.
U.S. 9th Air Force
Major General Lewis H. Brereton had his headquarters in Cairo, Egypt[27]
- IX Advanced Headquarters in Tripoli, Libya[27]
- IX Fighter Command Headquarters in Tripoli[27]
- IX Bomber Command Headquarters at Benghazi, Libya[27]
- 98th Bombardment Group, B-24D Liberator II
- 343rd Squadron, Lete Airfield, Libya
- 344th Squadron, Lete Airfield
- 345th Squadron, Benina Airfield
- 415th Squadron, Benina Airfield
- 376th Bombardment Group, B-24D Liberator II, Berka, Libya
- 98th Bombardment Group, B-24D Liberator II
See also
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ This unit was organized by Patton to improve the command structure; HQ established 15 July[1]
- ^ Formed a floating reserve, but it did not participate in the Sicily campaign.
- ^ This unit did not participate as a division.
- ^ HQ 23rd Armoured Brigade HQ fought as Arrow Force in mid-July with 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (from 152nd Brigade) under command together with elements of 50th RTR and 11th (HAC) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery as well as an Anti-Tank battery and a machine gun company.[13]
- ^ Activities in support of Special Operations Executive
- Citations
- ^ Zaloga, p. xx
- ^ a b c d Niehorster, Leo. "World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations". Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ Molony, p. 108.
- ^ Richard A. Rinaldi, Royal Engineers, World War II at Orbat.com Archived 2014-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Molony, p. 81n.
- ^ Molony, p. 177n
- ^ Molony, p. 102n
- ^ Molony, p. 152n.
- ^ Molony, p. 79n.
- ^ Molony, p. 95n.
- ^ Molony, p. 94n.
- ^ a b Molony, p. 117n
- ^ a b Molony, p. 115n
- ^ Molony, p. 82n.
- ^ Molony, p. 234n.
- ^ Morison, pp. 148–149
- ^ Morison, pp. 385-386
- ^ Morison, pp. 386–387
- ^ Morison, pp. 387–388
- ^ Morison, pp. 388–389
- ^ Morison, p. 390
- ^ Morison, pp. 150–151
- ^ Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983, ISBN 0-912799-03-X).
- ^ Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).
- ^ Howe, George F., Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Center of Military History, Washington, DC., 1991.
- ^ Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters, Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1945.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Secret Document 161, Location of units in the Royal Air Force, 34th issue, July 1943, Royal Air Force Museum accession number PR02859.
- ^ No. 242 Group was originally a part of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force but which was later[when?] transferred to NACAF
- ^ Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1945
- ^ Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II Office of Air Force History, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983.
- ^ a b Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1945.
- ^ a b Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983
- ^ a b Secret Document 161, Location of units in the Royal Air Force, 34th issue, July 1943, Royal Air Force Museum accession number PR02859.
References
- Juno Beach Centre - Canadian Army units in Sicily
- Bovi, Lorenzo (2013), Sicilia.WW2: foto inedite (in Italian), Siracusa, Italy: Morrone, ISBN 978-88-97672-59-3
- Costanzo, Ezio (2008). The Mafia and the Allies: Sicily 1943 and the Return of the Mafia. New York: Enigma Book.
- Costanzo, Ezio (2003). Sicilia 1943. Lo sbarco alleato (in Italian). Le Nove Muse Editrice, Italy.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Holland, James (2020). Sicily '43, the First Assault on Fortress Europe. New York: Grove Atlantic. ISBN 978-0-8021-5718-8.
- Hoyt, Edwin P. (2007) [2002]. Backwater War: The Allied Campaign in Italy, 1943-45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-0-8117-3382-3.
- Jowett, Philip S. (2001). The Italian Army 1940-45. (3) Italy 1943–1945. Men-At-Arms 353. illustrated by Stephen Andrew. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-866-6.
- Molony, Brigadier C.J.C.; with Flynn, Captain F.C. (R.N.); Davies, Major-General H.L. & Gleave, Group Captain T.P. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO:1973]. Butler, Sir James (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume V Part 1: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and The Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-069-6.
- Morison, Samuel Eliot (1954). Sicily – Salerno – Anzio: January 1943 – June 1944. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.