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Posted on 07/09/2003 2:19:50 AM PDT by Radix
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How 'bout some French FReedom Toast?
Good morning all. I hope our men and women in uniform stay safe today, and know they have our support, always, no matter how tough the going gets.
60 years ago today
9 July 1943
Operation HUSKY involved four separate airborne operations, two by the Bristish and two by the 82nd Airborne. The first operation HUSKY I spearheaded this airborne invasion of Sicily. Led by Col. James M. "Slim Jim" Gavin, the 505th PIR, and the 3rd Battalion of the 504th PIR were organized into a Regimental Combat Team. Their first objective was to parachute into an area around Gela on the southern shore of Sicily to close off roads leading to the beaches and secure the drop zone for the next operation. They were also to take out Objective Y which was a series of 16 concrete "pillboxes" from which German gunners controlled movement on the nearby roads. Under a nearly full moon the paratroopers crossed over the on schedule and jumped on their assigned drop zone on 9 July 1943 -- an event which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill termed, "not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning."
The second operation called HUSKY II involved the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 504th PIR, led by Colonel Reuben H. Tucker. They loaded the C-47 aircraft and took off for Sicily from the dusty airstrip near Kairouan, Tunisia. Near the Sicilian coast, however, a nervous Allied naval vessel suddenly fired upon the formation. Immediately, all other naval vessels and shore troops joined in, downing friendly aircraft and forcing planeloads of paratroopers to exit far from their intended drop zones in one of the greatest tragedies of World War II. Twenty-three of 144 USAAF transports were shot down by friendly fire and a total of 318 American troops were killed or wounded in the operation.
Colonel Tucker’s plane, after twice flying the length of the Sicilian coast and with well over 2,000 holes in its fuselage, finally reached the drop zone near Gela. By morning, only 400 of the Regiment’s 1600 soldiers had reached the objective area. The others had been dropped in isolated groups on all parts of the island and carried out demolitions, cut lines of communication, established island roadblocks, ambushed German and Italian motorized columns, and caused so much confusion over such an extensive area that initial German radio reports estimated the number of American parachutists dropped to be over ten times the actual number.
Meanwhile, the troopers of the 504th 3rd Battalion along with the 505th PIR fought an enemy superior in numbers and equipment. Ambushes were conducted and even Objective Y, the deadly pillboxes, were secured. By continuing to fight in small groups the 82nd led the Germans and Italians to continue to overestimate the number of airborne invaders thus impeding any meaningful counterattacks. The German Herman Goering Panzer Division was another matter. Even though outmanned and outgunned, the 82nd used raw courage and fighting spirit to block the steel behemoths of this Division from advancing toward the Allied landings on the beachhead.
By D+3, they had accomplished their initial mission and were relieved by the 1st Infantry Division to return to regimental control.
| You Know The Drill Click the Pics J
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 Are you stuck at work? Awww...you are? Bummer! Don't you wish you were on the beach doing absolutely nothing? Me too! I'm at work! All I can do is post this lousy rant before I can come and play!!
While I'm slaving away at work, think about things like this: Do not ruin your day thinking about these below:
The French and slobbering smiley are to be ignored!
Have a great day everyone! See you later tonight! Don't forget the reason we are free and who provided it.
Ma grounded me for life because she's evil and mean. So? She decided to post this for me because she's so darn controlling. If you don't hear from me in the morning, it's not because I don't want to post to any of you. It's because she's made me go to work and then home again. Such is life for a child that is misunderstood by her Ma. Ugh! She needs reform school! |
Duty ~ Honor ~ Country
Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"
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FRIDAY, 9 JULY 1943
AIRCRAFT MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
B-17, Boeing Flying Fortress
B-24, Consolidated Liberator
B-25, North American Mitchell
B-26, Martin Marauder
P-40, Curtiss
P-47, Republic Thunderbolt
Wellington, Vickers (RAF)
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (AAF Antisubmarine Command)
The 23d Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy), 26th Antisubmarine Wing, based
at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida begins operating from Langley Field, Hampton,
Virginia with B-25's.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force)
B-25's bomb the railroad bridge on the Mu River between Ywataung and
Monywa, Burma scoring 2 direct hits and leaving the bridge temporarily
unusable.
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
HQ 56th Fighter Group and it's 63d Fighter Squadron with P-47D's transfer
from Horsham St Faith, England to Halesworth, England.
HQ 355th Fighter Group arrives at Steeple Morden, England from the US to
join the three squadrons that arrived yesterday.
MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force)
B-24's bomb airfields at Maleme, Crete, and Comiso and Taormina, Sicily.
In Sicily, B-25's hit Sciacca landing ground and Biscari Airfield and
dispersal areas while P-40's escort bombers over Castelvetrano, and Milo
Airfields. This pre-invasion air bombardment of Sicily provides air
superiority over the enemy. British and US airborne contingents are dropped
on the island during the night of 9/10 Jul to help facilitate the amphibious
assault of seaborne troops which are to land tomorrow morning. This is the
first major airborne operation to be undertaken by the Allies in World War
II, and subsequently becomes the subject of intensive study.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force)
In Sicily during the night of 8/9 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air
Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb the airfields at Catania, Gerbini, and
Comiso, and throughout the following day B-17's, B-25's, B-26's, and
fighters attack other targets, including Sciacca and Biscari Airfields,
Gerbini satellite field, and Cape Passero Island radar stations; and
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) planes hit Sciacca and Milo
Airfield during the night of 8/9 Jul, and on 9 Jul hit Milo and Biscari
Airfields, Sciacca, Porto Empedocle, HQ at Taormina, a junction NE of Gela,
the Canicatti area, and targets of opportunity.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force)
In the Solomon Islands during the night of 8/9 Jul, B-24's bomb Kahili
Airfield and Buin on Bougainville Island, and Poporang Island. B-25's and
several fighters sent against forces near Vella Lavella Island, fail to
locate the target and strafe Buki and Ganongga Islands, and a destroyer
beached on SE Kolombangara Island.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)
In New Guinea, B-25's hit forces in the vicinity of Old Bobdubi, Malolo,
and Busama. On Timor Island, B-25's hit landing fields, Dili, and Cape
Chater.
Vickers "Wellington"
Today in Anchorage, Alaska:
Sunrise 4:40am
Sunset 11:28pm
Hi 72°F
Lo 52°F
Mostly sunny and warm
Actual yesterday in Anchorage:
Hi 83°F NEW RECORD HIGH!!!
Lo 60°F
State Hi 89°F Big Lake
State Lo 36°F Barrow
...all other naval vessels and shore troops joined in, downing friendly aircraft...
This is always one of the darkest moments in war. You expect to die at the hand of the enemy - not your own guys shooting you. I can't imagine living with the guilt of being responsible for such a sad event!
Good morning, E.G.C. Thanks for bumping by. I am dying of this unusual heat! And some creep tryed to peel off by back bumper last night and left no note. GRRRRRRRRR!!!! Gotta check with my insurance today or tomorrow.
Good morning/afternoon, Aeronaut and Otto, and thank you both for your dedication to the flyover of protection for our troops' Canteen, a place where we offer a "touch of home" for our troops, our veterans, their families, and our allies. Heavy duty heat wave here. We need rain. How are you doing since your 5"?
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