1436:, six anti-tank guns and ten mortars, boarded their gliders in Tunisia and took off at 18:00, bound for Sicily. In the hours that preceded the landing, twelve Boeing B-17 and six Vickers Wellington equipped with radar jamming devices flew back and forth along the coast in the Siracusa-Licata sector; between 21:00 and 21:30, 55 Wellingtons of 205th Group carried out a diversionary bombing of the port and airport of Syracuse, causing a number of civilian and military casualties, including the commander of the Italian naval base, Commander Giuseppe Giannotti. 280 puppets dressed in paratrooper uniforms were launched north of the landing area, in order to deceive the Italian defense. En route, the gliders encountered strong winds, poor visibility and at times were subjected to anti-aircraft fire. To avoid gunfire and searchlights, pilots of the towing aircraft climbed higher or took evasive action. In the confusion surrounding these manoeuvres, some gliders were released too early and sixty-five of them crashed into the sea, drowning around 252 men. Of the remainder, only twelve landed in the right place. Another fifty-nine landed up to 25 miles (40 km) away while the remainder were either shot down or failed to release and returned to Tunisia. About 200 American paratroopers, having been mistakenly parachuted in the area assigned to the Eighth Army, were captured by the Italian 146th Coastal Regiment (206th Coastal Division) in the early hours of 10 July.
1280:, was conducted just prior to the amphibious landings, on the night of 9 July, while the remaining two operations took place on successive two nights. The 1st Airlanding Brigade was also given the additional tasks of capturing Syracuse harbour and the urban area that adjoined it, and either destroying or confiscating a coastal artillery battery that was in range of the amphibious landings. When training began for the operation, difficulties immediately arose. The original plan for the airborne operations had called for all three to employ parachutists, but in May Montgomery altered the plan; after determining that airborne troops would be at a considerable distance from Allied ground forces, he believed that the force sent to capture Syracuse would be served best by gliders in order to provide them with the maximum possible amount of firepower. His airborne advisor, Group Captain Cooper of the
1176:; they would land a few miles behind the beaches and neutralize their defenders, thereby aiding the landing of the Allied ground forces. However, in early May these directives were radically changed at the insistence of the Eighth Army commander, General Montgomery; he argued that with Allied forces landing separately at either end of the island, the defending Axis forces would have the opportunity to defeat each Allied army in turn before both could unite. Instead, the plans were altered to land both the Eighth and Seventh Armies simultaneously along a 100 miles (160 km) stretch of coastline on Sicily's south-eastern corner. At the same time, the plans for the two airborne divisions, the British 1st and U.S. 82nd, were also adjusted; Montgomery believed that the airborne troops should be landed near Syracuse, so that they could seize the valuable port. The commander of the
1328:, but pilots sent to ferry them to North Africa found that they were in poor condition. Due to neglect and the deleterious effects of tropical weather, the pilots were able to assemble only a small number of Wacos and fly them back on 22 April. On 23 April, a larger number of the American gliders began to arrive in North African ports, but were not immediately available for use as the crates holding them were unloaded haphazardly, instructions were often found to be missing, and those men assigned to assemble the gliders were often inexperienced. However, when the decision was made to conduct a glider-borne assault with 1st Airlanding Brigade, assembly was improved, and by 12 June 346 gliders had been put together and delivered to the Troop Carrier Wings. A small number of
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they were able to cut all telephone wires in the immediate area. The glider carrying the brigade deputy commander, Colonel O. L. Jones, landed beside an
Italian coastal artillery battery; at daylight the staff officers and radio operators attacked and destroyed the battery's five guns and their ammunition dump. Other isolated groups of Allied soldiers tried to aid their comrades, assaulting Italian defences and targeting reinforcements. Another attack by a group of paratroopers on three 149/35 mm Italian coastal batteries failed, and the batteries were able to open fire on Allied landing craft and troops at 6:15 on 10 July. At 9:15, the 1st Battalion of the Italian 75th Infantry Regiment ("Napoli" Division) captured another 160 American paratroopers on the
1498:, arrived at the bridge at 16:15 and mounted a successful counter-attack, which had been made possible by the prior removal of demolition charges from the bridge, preventing its destruction by the Italians. The 1st Battalion of the 75th Infantry Regiment, having no artillery, was unable to oppose the British tanks and had to retreat after suffering heavy losses. The survivors from the 1st Airlanding Brigade took no further part in the fighting and were withdrawn back to North Africa on 13 July. During the landings, the losses by 1st Airlanding Brigade were the most severe of all British units involved. The casualties amounted to 313 killed and 174 missing or wounded. Fourteen accompanying glider pilots were killed, and eighty-seven were missing or wounded.
1296:, with 82nd Airborne Division. A few weeks later this arrangement was switched, with the 52nd now operating with 82nd Airborne Division and the 51st with 1st Airborne Division; this seemed a logical decision, as each Wing had operational experience with the division it had been paired with. However, the decision to turn the Syracuse assault into a glider-based one was problematic; the 51st had practically no glider experience, whilst the 52nd had much more but was already training for a parachute-based mission. To switch both was impractical and would have led to a number of problems, which left 1st Airborne Division, and thus 1st Airlanding Brigade, with an inexperienced Troop Carrier Wing.
1262:
1300:
171:
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three days. Given these problems and delays, 51st Troop
Carrier Wing was not able to conduct a large-scale glider exercise until mid-June. On 14 June, fifty-four Wacos were flown over 70 miles (110 km) and then released to land at an airfield, and a larger exercise was conducted on 20 June; but even these limited exercises were unrealistic, as they were conducted in broad daylight. The British glider pilots themselves also caused difficulties; although there were a sufficient number of them to conduct the operation, they were highly inexperienced. Detached from the
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1375:. The Staffords were tasked with securing the bridge and the area to the south, while the Borders were to capture Syracuse. For the mission the 1st Airlanding Brigade were allocated 136 Waco and eight Horsa gliders. With the shortage of space in the gliders—Wacos could only accommodate fifteen troops, half that of the Horsa, thus the whole brigade could not be deployed. Six of the Horsas carrying 'A' and 'C' companies from the Staffords were scheduled to land at the bridge at 23:15 on 9 July in a
1043:
were to be relieved. Finally, with their ammunition expended and only fifteen soldiers remaining unwounded, the Allied troops surrendered to
Italian forces. The Italians, having gained control of the bridge, sought to destroy the structure, but were frustrated by troopers of the 1st Airlanding Brigade who had removed the previously attached explosive charges. Other troops from the brigade, who had landed elsewhere in Sicily, aided further by destroying communications links and capturing gun batteries.
159:
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set out their beacons. The landing plan was simplified with complete brigades landing on a drop zone, instead of the smaller battalion landing areas used on Sicily. Gliders were no longer released at night while still over water, and their landing zones would be large enough to accommodate the aircraft with room to spare. Following a friendly fire incident over an Allied convoy, more training was given to ship's crews in aircraft recognition; Allied aircraft were also painted with three large
124:
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1511:. Training for pilots of the Glider Pilot Regiment was increased, and improvements to the gliders were implemented, including better inter-aircraft communication. To provide another method of delivering jeeps and artillery by air, the Royal Air Force started experimenting with how to use parachutes to drop them into combat, the jeeps and guns being carried in aircraft's bomb bays. A second Royal Air Force transport group,
1351:
experience. Colonel George
Chatterton, the commander of the Glider Pilot Regiment, had protested their participation as he believed they were entirely unfit for any operation. When the training period for the brigade ended with a total of two exercises completed, the glider pilots had an average of 4.5 hours training in flying the unfamiliar Waco, which included an average of 1.2 hours night flying.
1586:
Coastal units were second line formations, usually made up from men in their forties and fifties, and were intended to perform labouring or other second line duties. Recruited from the local population, their officers were mostly men who had retired and had been called up again. Their morale was low,
1480:
The first counterattack on the bridge was by two companies of
Italian sailors, who were repulsed by the British. As the Italians responded to the Allied landings, they gathered more troops and brought up artillery and mortars to bombard the Allied-controlled Pont Grande Bridge. The British defenders
1345:
When sufficient gliders had arrived in North Africa, however, they were not all usable even in training; on 16 June, most of the gliders were grounded for repairs, and on 30 June, large numbers of them had developed weaknesses in their tail-wiring, necessitating another grounding period of
1506:
After an enquiry into the problems with the airborne missions in Sicily, the
British Army and Royal Air Force submitted recommendations in the aftermath of Operation Ladbroke. Aircrew were to be trained in parachute and glider operations, and pathfinders were to be landed before the main force, to
1485:
relief did not appear at 10:00 as planned. At 11:30 the
Italian 385th Coastal Battalion arrived at the bridge, followed soon afterward by the 1st Battalion, 75th (Napoli) Infantry Regiment. The Italians were positioned to attack the bridge from three sides. By 14:45 there were only fifteen British
1439:
Only one Horsa with a platoon of infantry from the
Staffords landed near the bridge. Its commander, Lieutenant Withers, divided his men into two groups, one of which swam across the river and took up position on the opposite bank. Thereafter the bridge was captured following a simultaneous assault
1403:
Mario
Damiani in command of the army contingent. The Augusta-Syracuse Naval Fortress Area, which included the Coastal Division, was protected by six medium and six heavy coastal artillery batteries, with eleven additional dual-purpose coastal and anti-aircraft batteries, with six batteries only of
1042:
En route to Sicily, sixty-five gliders released too early by the
American towing aircraft crashed into the sea, drowning approximately 252 men. Of the remainder, only eighty-seven men arrived at the Pont Grande Bridge, although they successfully captured the bridge and held it beyond the time they
1460:
and captured a radio station. Based on a warning of imminent glider landings transmitted by the station's previous occupants, the local Italian commander ordered a counter-attack but his troops failed to receive his message. The scattered nature of the landings now worked in the Allies' favour as
1350:
for the operation, they had no experience with the Waco gliders and night operations involving them, as British doctrine had deemed such operations impossible. On average, the pilots had eight hours of flight experience in gliders. Few were rated as being 'operationally ready' and none had combat
1447:
The British platoon then dismantled some demolition charges that had been fitted to the bridge and dug-in to wait for reinforcement or relief. Another Horsa landed roughly 200 yards (180 m) from the bridge but exploded on landing, killing all on board. Three of the other Horsas carrying the
1319:
Further problems were encountered with the gliders to be used in the operation, and the glider pilots themselves. Until a few months prior to the operation, there was a notable shortage of serviceable gliders in North Africa. In late March a small number of Wacos arrived at
1465:–Syracuse road. Another group of paratroopers attacked an Italian patrol led by Major Paoli, commander of the 126th Artillery Group; Paoli was killed and his unit fell in disarray, and was thus unable to intervene in the later fight against British tanks near the bridge.
1486:
troops defending the bridge that had not been killed or wounded (four officers and eleven soldiers). At 15:30, with their ammunition consumed, the British stopped fighting. Some men on the south side of the bridge escaped into the countryside, but the rest became
1039:. The objective was to establish a large invasion force on the ground near the town of Syracuse, secure the Ponte Grande Bridge and ultimately take control of the city itself with its strategically vital docks, as a prelude to the full-scale invasion of Sicily.
1404:
anti-aircraft guns. Finally the Fortress contained an armoured train with four 120 mm guns. The army contingent was the 121st Coastal Defence Regiment, which included four battalions. There were also naval and air force battalions available, while the
1600:
While an improvement of what went before the total of 362 is only a fraction of the 1,166 C-47s in the American transport fleet. The lack of transport aircraft hampered every British airborne operation of the war. Nonetheless, since 1941 following an
1066:
was coming to a close; with victory there imminent, discussions began among the Allies regarding the nature of their next objective. Many Americans argued for an immediate invasion of Northern France, while the British, as well as
2400:
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operation. The remainder of the brigade would arrive at 01:15 on 10 July using a number of landing-zones between 1.5 and 3 miles (2.4 and 4.8 km) away, then converge on the bridge to reinforce the defence.
1287:
Montgomery's orders raised several issues, the first with the transport aircraft of the Troop Carrier Wings assigned to the airborne operations. When they had arrived in North Africa, it had been decided that the
1605:
order, many Royal Air Force bombers had equipment fitted to tow gliders; as a result, Albemarle, Halifax and Stirling bombers were able to conduct parachute operations. Even so, it was the Commander-in-Chief of
1452:
party landed within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the bridge—their occupants eventually finding their way to the site. Reinforcements began to arrive at the bridge, but by 06:30 they numbered only eighty-seven men.
1187:, further asserted that dropping behind the island's beaches and overcoming its defences was not a suitable mission for the airborne troops, as they were only lightly armed and vulnerable to the '
786:
1218:. Major General Hopkinson's British 1st Airborne Division was now to conduct three brigade-size airborne operations: the Ponte Grande road bridge south of Syracuse was to be captured by the
2395:
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not least because of the second rate equipment and weapons they had been issued. It had been intended to improve their armaments with equipment seized from the recently disbanded
2390:
779:
1100:, whose invasion and occupation could potentially provide the Allies with Mediterranean shipping routes and airfields nearer to mainland Italy and Germany. The codename
1332:
gliders were transported to North Africa for use by the brigade. Thirty took off from England and undertook a trip of approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) in
249:
1269:
As there were insufficient transport aircraft for all three brigades to conduct their operations simultaneously, it was decided that the first operation would be
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could not hold onto the bridge after it had been captured. Their removal of the demolition charges prevented its destruction when the first units from the
72:
1210:
and numerous other units attached) from Major General Ridgway's U.S. 82nd Airborne Division would be dropped by parachute north-east of the port of
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242:
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fighter patrols and experiencing often turbulent weather, a total of 27 Horsas were delivered to North Africa in time for the operation.
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1284:, argued that a glider landing conducted at night with inexperienced aircrews was not practical, but the decision was left unchanged.
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army, but when the arms arrived in Sicily, they had often been made unusable and had the wrong type or no ammunition at all.
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1577:. The 181st Field Ambulance needed thirty-two Wacos but were only allocated six, and five of them failed to reach Sicily.
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1368:
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2215:
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For example, only six of the brigade's sixteen anti-tank guns were taken, with a similar reduction in mortars and no
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coastal battery, captured by 250 British commandos after about two hours of fighting, in the night of 10 July 1943.
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1524:
1191:' of the planned Allied naval bombardment. In the revised blueprint for the airborne divisions, a reinforced
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194:
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1490:. With the bridge back in Italian hands, the first unit from 5th Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion,
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from both sides. The Italian defenders from the 120th Coastal Infantry Regiment abandoned their
1273:, whose objective was the capture of the Ponte Grande Bridge. The mission, under the command of
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1123:, were to land on the south-eastern corner of the island and advance north to the port of
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and 150 Dakotas, a total of 362 planes which did not include aircraft held as reserves.
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613:
447:
325:
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The Ponte Grande Bridge was immediately outside the area defended by the Italian
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mission using large numbers of the aircraft, the operation was carried out from
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2208:
The Gliders: The story of Britain's fighting gliders and the men who flew them
1523:. Together, the Royal Air Force groups were capable of supplying eighty-eight
1392:, which would oppose the British seaborne landing. The fortress commander was
1135:, would land on the western corner of the island and move towards the port of
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989:
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Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom
2172:. Men at arms. Vol. 3: Italy 1943–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
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2092:
On wings of healing: the story of the Airborne Medical Services 1940–1960
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was the best subsequent target of the Allied forces. In January 1943 the
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2355:. Air University, Maxwell AFB: US Air Force Historical Research Agency.
2227:
The Battle of Sicily: How the Allies Lost Their Chance for Total Victory
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from the strategic bombing campaign, for the transportation of troops.
1265:
Map showing the landing areas during the invasion of Sicily, July 1943.
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1338:
1308:
1304:
1215:
1032:
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227:
163:
1241:, and finally the Primasole Bridge over the River Simeto was to be
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367:
2250:
Airborne Combat: Axis and Allied Glider Operations in World War II
2151:
Out of The Blue – US Army Airborne Operations In World War II
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On 9 July, a contingent of 2,075 British troops, along with seven
1292:
would operate with 1st Airborne Division and its counterpart, the
40:
1411:
1400:
1359:
The units of the 1st Airlanding Brigade were: the 1st Battalion,
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1013:
2191:. Combat Aircraft. Vol. 14. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.
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1097:
997:
1321:
2334:
Airborne to Battle: A History of Airborne Warfare, 1918–1971
1211:
2296:
The Second World War 1939–1945 Army – Airborne Forces
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to block the movement of Axis reserves towards the Allied
2396:
Land battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom
2225:
Mitcham, Samuel W; Von Stauffenberg, Friedrich (2007).
2224:
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came under attack from the Italians while the expected
2391:
Battles and operations of World War II involving Italy
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was in a position to send reinforcements if required.
2229:. Stackpole Military History Series. Mechanicsburg,
1419:, on 9 July 1943, just prior to take off. Note the
2108:
2315:Ready for Anything: The Parachute Regiment at War
1000:, that began on 9 July 1943 as part of
16:Glider landing by Britain during the World War II
2372:
2353:Airborne Missions in the Mediterranean 1942–1945
2153:. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.
2132:Wings of War – Airborne Warfare 1918–1945
195:1st Battalion, 75th (Napoli) Infantry Regiment
780:
383:
243:
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1902:
1900:
1898:
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2252:. Military History Series. Mechanicsburg,
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1986:
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796:British airborne forces operations of the
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2294:Otway, Lieutenant-Colonel T.B.H. (1990).
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2013:
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1519:, instead of the mixture of aircraft in
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1058:after landing there the month before in
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2313:Thompson, Major-General Julian (1990).
1983:
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2006:
1969:
1822:
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1515:, was formed and equipped solely with
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2134:. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
1756:
1742:
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768:
371:
231:
219:313 killed and 174 missing or wounded
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2089:
1707:
1686:
1630:
1303:One of the 1st Airlanding Brigade's
397:
2381:Airborne operations of World War II
1456:Elsewhere, about 150 men landed at
13:
1369:181st (Airlanding) Field Ambulance
1314:
1131:, commanded by Lieutenant General
14:
2422:
1383:
1142:In March it was decided that the
1112:began in February. Initially the
898:Caen canal and Orne river bridges
2406:Glider Pilot Regiment operations
2189:Halifax Squadrons of World War 2
2094:. Edinburgh: William Blackwood.
1206:, with the 3rd Battalion of the
1178:82nd Airborne Division Artillery
169:
157:
136:
122:
39:
2298:. London: Imperial War Museum.
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2070:
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1406:54th Infantry Division "Napoli"
2107:Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1948).
1698:
1677:
1668:
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1650:
1550:
1233:was to be seized by Brigadier
1022:British 1st Airlanding Brigade
1:
1562:British 5th Infantry Division
1483:British 5th Infantry Division
1155:British 1st Airborne Division
1046:
1624:
1543:
1501:
1415:Men from the 1st Battalion,
1365:South Staffordshire Regiment
1074:, argued that the island of
7:
2351:Warren, Dr John C. (1955).
1948:Tugwell (1971), p. 160
1256:
1144:U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
10:
2427:
2411:July 1943 events in Europe
2168:Jowett, Philip S. (2001).
2130:Harclerode, Peter (2005).
1427:
2386:Allied invasion of Sicily
2332:Tugwell, Maurice (1971).
2273:Silent Wings Savage Death
2149:Huston, James A. (1998).
1916:no. 210 (May 2011), p. 6.
1106:Allied invasion of Sicily
1104:was decided upon for the
1056:advancing through Tunisia
1006:Allied invasion of Sicily
807:
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269:
213:
200:
181:
150:
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49:
45:Sicily (pictured in red).
38:
33:Allied invasion of Sicily
30:
25:
2317:. Fontana, CA: Fontana.
2170:The Italian Army 1940–45
1613:, who refused to divert
1538:
1421:folding airborne bicycle
1334:Operation Turkey Buzzard
1197:505th Parachute Infantry
2271:Nigl, Alfred J (2007).
2115:. New York: Doubleday.
2090:Cole, Howard N (1963).
1371:and 9th Field Company,
1290:52nd Troop Carrier Wing
1116:, under the command of
1051:By December 1942, with
192:385th Coastal Battalion
2279:: Graphic Publishers.
2248:Mrazek, James (2011).
1558:1st Airlanding Brigade
1477:
1424:
1390:206th Coastal Division
1355:1st Airlanding Brigade
1311:
1307:being loaded aboard a
1266:
1220:1st Airlanding Brigade
1193:regimental combat team
1164:, would be dropped by
1121:Sir Bernard Montgomery
1080:British Prime Minister
1064:North African Campaign
1031:, with a force of 136
188:1st Airlanding Brigade
151:Commanders and leaders
2210:. Ealing, UK: Corgi.
1910:L'invasione dal cielo
1908:Ferdinando Pedriali,
1496:17th Infantry Brigade
1492:Royal Scots Fusiliers
1471:
1414:
1348:Glider Pilot Regiment
1336:. After attacks from
1302:
1264:
1251:1st Parachute Brigade
1239:2nd Parachute Brigade
1127:. Two days later the
1094:Casablanca Conference
1090:Franklin D. Roosevelt
937:2nd Parachute Brigade
883:6th Airborne Division
813:1st Airborne Division
691:1945 Spring Offensive
214:Casualties and losses
88:37.05444°N 15.26500°E
2206:Lloyd, Alan (1982).
1575:Vickers machine guns
1072:Dwight D. Eisenhower
903:Merville Gun Battery
521:Armistice with Italy
2256:: Stackpole Books.
2233:: Stackpole Books.
2076:Tugwell, pp. 136–37
1458:Cape Murro di Porco
1444:on the north bank.
1309:Waco Hadrian glider
1174:amphibious landings
1162:George F. Hopkinson
1114:British Eighth Army
1108:, and planning for
84: /
2336:. London: Kimber.
2187:Lake, Jon (1999).
1858:Mitcham, pp. 73–74
1704:Harclerode, p. 256
1683:Harclerode, p. 275
1656:Eisenhower, p. 159
1608:RAF Bomber Command
1478:
1425:
1312:
1267:
1172:just prior to the
1069:Lieutenant General
975:Operation Ladbroke
413:Invasion of Sicily
261:Invasion of Sicily
93:37.05444; 15.26500
26:Operation Ladbroke
2286:978-1-882824-31-1
2263:978-0-8117-0808-1
2240:978-0-8117-3403-5
2111:Crusade in Europe
1966:Mrazek, pp. 79–80
1807:Warren, pp. 27–28
1665:Eisenhower, p. 60
1463:Palazzolo Acreide
1363:; 2nd Battalion,
1243:taken and secured
1185:Maxwell D. Taylor
1182:Brigadier General
1129:U.S. Seventh Army
1096:on the island of
1083:Winston Churchill
969:
968:
762:
761:
755:Italian Civil War
493:Invasion of Italy
365:
364:
226:
225:
111:
110:
2418:
2366:
2347:
2328:
2309:
2290:
2267:
2244:
2221:
2202:
2183:
2164:
2145:
2126:
2114:
2103:
2077:
2074:
2068:
2065:
2054:
2051:
2045:
2042:
2036:
2033:
2027:
2024:
2018:
2015:
2004:
2001:
1995:
1992:
1981:
1978:
1967:
1964:
1958:
1955:
1949:
1946:
1940:
1937:
1931:
1928:
1917:
1906:
1889:
1886:
1873:
1870:
1859:
1856:
1841:
1838:
1832:
1829:
1820:
1817:
1808:
1805:
1799:
1796:
1790:
1789:Lloyd, pp. 43–44
1787:
1781:
1778:
1772:
1769:
1754:
1751:
1740:
1737:
1726:
1723:
1717:
1714:
1705:
1702:
1696:
1693:
1684:
1681:
1675:
1672:
1666:
1663:
1657:
1654:
1648:
1645:
1618:
1598:
1592:
1584:
1578:
1571:
1565:
1554:
1488:prisoners of war
1133:George S. Patton
990:Second World War
802:
800:
799:Second World War
789:
782:
775:
766:
765:
579:Monte la Difensa
404:
402:
401:Italian Campaign
392:
385:
378:
369:
368:
264:
262:
252:
245:
238:
229:
228:
174:
173:
162:
161:
146:
142:
140:
139:
128:
126:
125:
99:
98:
96:
95:
94:
89:
85:
82:
81:
80:
77:
67:Syracuse, Sicily
51:
50:
43:
23:
22:
2426:
2425:
2421:
2420:
2419:
2417:
2416:
2415:
2371:
2370:
2369:
2363:
2344:
2325:
2306:
2287:
2264:
2241:
2218:
2199:
2180:
2161:
2142:
2123:
2085:
2080:
2075:
2071:
2067:Tugwell, p. 202
2066:
2057:
2052:
2048:
2043:
2039:
2034:
2030:
2025:
2021:
2017:Tugwell, p. 167
2016:
2007:
2003:Tugwell, p. 162
2002:
1998:
1993:
1984:
1980:Tugwell, p. 161
1979:
1970:
1965:
1961:
1956:
1952:
1947:
1943:
1938:
1934:
1929:
1920:
1914:Storia Militare
1907:
1892:
1887:
1876:
1872:Mitcham, p. 334
1871:
1862:
1857:
1844:
1839:
1835:
1831:Tugwell, p. 159
1830:
1823:
1818:
1811:
1806:
1802:
1797:
1793:
1788:
1784:
1779:
1775:
1770:
1757:
1752:
1743:
1738:
1729:
1724:
1720:
1716:Thompson, p. 97
1715:
1708:
1703:
1699:
1694:
1687:
1682:
1678:
1673:
1669:
1664:
1660:
1655:
1651:
1646:
1631:
1627:
1622:
1621:
1615:Avro Lancasters
1599:
1595:
1585:
1581:
1572:
1568:
1555:
1551:
1546:
1541:
1527:, eighty-eight
1517:Douglas Dakotas
1504:
1472:Remains of the
1430:
1417:Border Regiment
1397:Priamo Leonardi
1386:
1373:Royal Engineers
1361:Border Regiment
1357:
1317:
1315:Glider problems
1282:Royal Air Force
1259:
1247:Gerald Lathbury
1151:Matthew Ridgway
1102:Operation Husky
1092:settled at the
1060:Operation Torch
1049:
1037:Airspeed Horsas
1024:, commanded by
1018:glider infantry
1002:Operation Husky
986:airborne troops
972:
971:
970:
965:
803:
798:
795:
793:
763:
758:
752:
545:Vatican bombing
416:
405:
400:
398:
396:
366:
361:
265:
260:
258:
256:
193:
176:Priamo Leonardi
168:
156:
137:
135:
123:
121:
107:British victory
92:
90:
86:
83:
78:
75:
73:
71:
70:
69:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2424:
2414:
2413:
2408:
2403:
2398:
2393:
2388:
2383:
2368:
2367:
2361:
2348:
2342:
2329:
2323:
2310:
2304:
2291:
2285:
2275:. Santa Anna,
2268:
2262:
2245:
2239:
2222:
2216:
2203:
2197:
2184:
2178:
2165:
2159:
2146:
2140:
2127:
2121:
2104:
2086:
2084:
2081:
2079:
2078:
2069:
2055:
2046:
2037:
2028:
2019:
2005:
1996:
1994:Mitcham, p. 78
1982:
1968:
1959:
1950:
1941:
1932:
1930:Mitcham, p. 74
1918:
1890:
1888:Mitcham, p. 75
1874:
1860:
1842:
1833:
1821:
1809:
1800:
1791:
1782:
1773:
1755:
1741:
1727:
1718:
1706:
1697:
1685:
1676:
1674:Huston, p. 155
1667:
1658:
1649:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1620:
1619:
1593:
1579:
1566:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1542:
1540:
1537:
1503:
1500:
1429:
1426:
1385:
1384:Italian forces
1382:
1356:
1353:
1316:
1313:
1258:
1255:
1229:, the port of
1204:James M. Gavin
1087:U.S. President
1048:
1045:
967:
966:
964:
963:
956:
949:
941:
940:
932:
931:
924:
919:
914:
907:
906:
905:
900:
887:
886:
878:
877:
870:
865:
858:
851:
844:
841:Turkey Buzzard
837:
832:
825:
817:
816:
808:
805:
804:
792:
791:
784:
777:
769:
760:
759:
751:
750:
745:
740:
733:
728:
723:
716:
709:
702:
687:
686:
681:
679:Monte Castello
676:
671:
666:
653:
652:
647:
642:
640:Trasimene Line
637:
630:
623:
616:
611:
606:
601:
596:
591:
586:
581:
576:
574:Bernhardt Line
563:
562:
557:
552:
547:
542:
535:
530:
523:
518:
511:
504:
489:
488:
483:
478:
473:
466:
459:
452:
445:
438:
431:
424:
410:
407:
406:
395:
394:
387:
380:
372:
363:
362:
360:
359:
354:
349:
338:
337:
330:
323:
316:
303:
302:
295:
288:
281:
270:
267:
266:
255:
254:
247:
240:
232:
224:
223:
220:
216:
215:
211:
210:
207:
203:
202:
198:
197:
190:
184:
183:
182:Units involved
179:
178:
166:
153:
152:
148:
147:
132:
130:United Kingdom
118:
117:
113:
112:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
65:
63:
59:
58:
57:9–10 July 1943
55:
47:
46:
36:
35:
28:
27:
21:
20:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2423:
2412:
2409:
2407:
2404:
2402:
2399:
2397:
2394:
2392:
2389:
2387:
2384:
2382:
2379:
2378:
2376:
2364:
2362:0-89126-023-4
2358:
2354:
2349:
2345:
2343:0-7183-0262-1
2339:
2335:
2330:
2326:
2324:0-00-637505-7
2320:
2316:
2311:
2307:
2305:0-901627-57-7
2301:
2297:
2292:
2288:
2282:
2278:
2274:
2269:
2265:
2259:
2255:
2251:
2246:
2242:
2236:
2232:
2228:
2223:
2219:
2217:0-552-12167-3
2213:
2209:
2204:
2200:
2198:1-85532-892-5
2194:
2190:
2185:
2181:
2179:1-85532-866-6
2175:
2171:
2166:
2162:
2160:1-55753-148-X
2156:
2152:
2147:
2143:
2141:0-304-36730-3
2137:
2133:
2128:
2124:
2122:0-385-41619-9
2118:
2113:
2112:
2105:
2101:
2097:
2093:
2088:
2087:
2073:
2064:
2062:
2060:
2050:
2041:
2032:
2026:Mrazek, p. 85
2023:
2014:
2012:
2010:
2000:
1991:
1989:
1987:
1977:
1975:
1973:
1963:
1957:Mrazek, p. 79
1954:
1945:
1936:
1927:
1925:
1923:
1915:
1911:
1905:
1903:
1901:
1899:
1897:
1895:
1885:
1883:
1881:
1879:
1869:
1867:
1865:
1855:
1853:
1851:
1849:
1847:
1837:
1828:
1826:
1816:
1814:
1804:
1795:
1786:
1777:
1771:Warren, p. 27
1768:
1766:
1764:
1762:
1760:
1753:Warren, p. 26
1750:
1748:
1746:
1739:Warren, p. 23
1736:
1734:
1732:
1725:Otway, p. 119
1722:
1713:
1711:
1701:
1695:Warren, p. 22
1692:
1690:
1680:
1671:
1662:
1653:
1647:Warren, p. 21
1644:
1642:
1640:
1638:
1636:
1634:
1629:
1616:
1612:
1611:Arthur Harris
1609:
1604:
1597:
1590:
1583:
1576:
1570:
1563:
1559:
1556:Although the
1553:
1549:
1536:
1534:
1531:, thirty-six
1530:
1526:
1522:
1518:
1514:
1510:
1509:white stripes
1499:
1497:
1493:
1489:
1484:
1475:
1470:
1466:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1451:
1445:
1443:
1437:
1435:
1422:
1418:
1413:
1409:
1407:
1402:
1398:
1395:
1391:
1381:
1378:
1374:
1370:
1366:
1362:
1352:
1349:
1343:
1341:
1340:
1335:
1331:
1327:
1323:
1310:
1306:
1301:
1297:
1295:
1291:
1285:
1283:
1279:
1276:
1272:
1263:
1254:
1252:
1248:
1245:by Brigadier
1244:
1240:
1236:
1232:
1228:
1225:
1221:
1217:
1213:
1209:
1205:
1202:
1198:
1194:
1190:
1189:friendly fire
1186:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1171:
1167:
1163:
1160:
1159:Major-General
1156:
1152:
1149:
1148:Major General
1145:
1140:
1138:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1122:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1107:
1103:
1099:
1095:
1091:
1088:
1084:
1081:
1077:
1073:
1070:
1065:
1061:
1057:
1054:
1053:Allied forces
1044:
1040:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1027:
1023:
1019:
1015:
1011:
1007:
1003:
999:
995:
991:
987:
984:
980:
976:
962:
961:
957:
955:
954:
950:
948:
947:
943:
942:
939:
938:
934:
933:
930:
929:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
912:
908:
904:
901:
899:
896:
895:
894:
893:
889:
888:
885:
884:
880:
879:
876:
875:
871:
869:
866:
864:
863:
859:
857:
856:
852:
850:
849:
845:
843:
842:
838:
836:
833:
831:
830:
826:
824:
823:
819:
818:
815:
814:
810:
809:
806:
801:
790:
785:
783:
778:
776:
771:
770:
767:
757:
756:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
738:
734:
732:
729:
727:
724:
722:
721:
717:
715:
714:
710:
708:
707:
703:
701:
700:
696:
695:
694:
693:
692:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
661:
660:
659:
658:
651:
648:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
635:
631:
629:
628:
624:
622:
621:
617:
615:
612:
610:
607:
605:
604:Monte Cassino
602:
600:
597:
595:
592:
590:
587:
585:
582:
580:
577:
575:
572:
571:
570:
569:
568:
561:
558:
556:
553:
551:
550:Volturno Line
548:
546:
543:
541:
540:
536:
534:
531:
529:
528:
524:
522:
519:
517:
516:
512:
510:
509:
505:
503:
502:
498:
497:
496:
495:
494:
487:
484:
482:
479:
477:
474:
472:
471:
467:
465:
464:
460:
458:
457:
453:
451:
450:
446:
444:
443:
439:
437:
436:
432:
430:
429:
425:
423:
422:
418:
417:
415:
414:
408:
403:
393:
388:
386:
381:
379:
374:
373:
370:
358:
355:
353:
350:
348:
345:
344:
343:
342:
336:
335:
331:
329:
328:
324:
322:
321:
317:
315:
314:
310:
309:
308:
307:
301:
300:
296:
294:
293:
289:
287:
286:
282:
280:
279:
275:
274:
273:
268:
263:
253:
248:
246:
241:
239:
234:
233:
230:
221:
218:
217:
212:
208:
205:
204:
199:
196:
191:
189:
186:
185:
180:
177:
172:
167:
165:
160:
155:
154:
149:
145:
133:
131:
120:
119:
114:
106:
103:
102:
97:
68:
64:
61:
60:
56:
53:
52:
48:
42:
37:
34:
29:
24:
19:
2352:
2333:
2314:
2295:
2272:
2249:
2226:
2207:
2188:
2169:
2150:
2131:
2110:
2091:
2083:Bibliography
2072:
2049:
2040:
2031:
2022:
1999:
1962:
1953:
1944:
1939:Jowett, p. 6
1935:
1913:
1909:
1840:Cole, p. 40
1836:
1803:
1798:Lloyd, p. 35
1794:
1785:
1780:Lloyd, p. 40
1776:
1721:
1700:
1679:
1670:
1661:
1652:
1603:Air Ministry
1596:
1589:Vichy French
1582:
1569:
1552:
1521:No. 38 Group
1505:
1479:
1473:
1455:
1450:coup-de-main
1449:
1446:
1438:
1431:
1394:Rear Admiral
1387:
1377:coup-de-main
1358:
1344:
1337:
1318:
1286:
1278:Philip Hicks
1270:
1268:
1227:Philip Hicks
1141:
1109:
1050:
1041:
1029:Philip Hicks
1008:. The first
974:
973:
959:
952:
945:
935:
927:
910:
891:
881:
873:
861:
854:
847:
846:
840:
835:North Africa
828:
821:
811:
753:
736:
719:
712:
705:
698:
690:
688:
655:
654:
634:Chesterfield
633:
626:
619:
565:
564:
555:Barbara Line
538:
526:
514:
507:
500:
492:
490:
469:
468:
462:
455:
448:
441:
434:
427:
420:
412:
340:
339:
333:
326:
319:
312:
311:
305:
304:
298:
291:
284:
277:
271:
164:Philip Hicks
116:Belligerents
31:Part of the
18:
2053:Lake, p. 81
2044:Nigl, p. 69
2035:Nigl, p. 68
1819:Cole, p. 36
1525:Albermarles
1474:Lamba Doria
1235:Ernest Down
988:during the
981:landing by
731:Argenta Gap
657:Gothic Line
567:Winter Line
91: /
2375:Categories
1326:Gold Coast
1216:beachheads
1153:, and the
1047:Background
1035:and eight
743:Collecchio
684:Garfagnana
669:San Marino
584:San Pietro
79:15°15′54″E
76:37°03′16″N
1625:Citations
1544:Footnotes
1533:Halifaxes
1529:Stirlings
1502:Aftermath
1442:pillboxes
1339:Luftwaffe
1275:Brigadier
1224:Brigadier
1208:504th PIR
1166:parachute
1026:Brigadier
862:Slapstick
560:Bari raid
515:Slapstick
508:Avalanche
486:Centuripe
456:Narcissus
428:Mincemeat
421:Corkscrew
357:Centuripe
320:Narcissus
292:Corkscrew
278:Mincemeat
2100:29847628
1564:arrived.
1271:Ladbroke
1257:Planning
1222:, under
1199:, under
1157:, under
1146:, under
1125:Syracuse
1076:Sardinia
1033:Hadrians
994:Syracuse
917:Bréville
874:Doomsday
848:Ladbroke
829:Freshman
627:Strangle
614:Cisterna
470:Ladbroke
449:Chestnut
327:Chestnut
313:Ladbroke
306:Invasion
201:Strength
62:Location
1428:Mission
1401:Colonel
1399:, with
1324:on the
1231:Augusta
1201:Colonel
1137:Palermo
1118:General
1020:of the
1014:Tunisia
983:British
928:Varsity
911:Mallard
855:Fustian
748:Trieste
737:Herring
726:Bologna
706:Tombola
674:Gemmano
501:Baytown
463:Fustian
442:Animals
435:Barclay
334:Fustian
299:Barclay
285:Animals
272:Prelude
222:Unknown
209:Unknown
2359:
2340:
2321:
2302:
2283:
2260:
2237:
2214:
2195:
2176:
2157:
2138:
2119:
2098:
1513:No. 46
1170:glider
1098:Sicily
1062:, the
1010:Allied
1004:, the
998:Sicily
979:glider
977:was a
868:Arnhem
822:Biting
713:Bowler
699:Encore
664:Rimini
645:Ancona
620:Diadem
599:Rapido
594:Ortona
533:Naples
481:Troina
352:Troina
341:Inland
141:
127:
104:Result
1912:, on
1539:Notes
1494:, of
1434:jeeps
1330:Horsa
1322:Accra
1305:jeeps
1195:(the
1110:Husky
1067:then-
992:near
960:Manna
953:Rugby
946:Hasty
892:Tonga
720:Roast
609:Anzio
539:Devon
527:Achse
206:2,075
144:Italy
2357:ISBN
2338:ISBN
2319:ISBN
2300:ISBN
2281:ISBN
2258:ISBN
2235:ISBN
2212:ISBN
2193:ISBN
2174:ISBN
2155:ISBN
2136:ISBN
2117:ISBN
2096:OCLC
1294:51st
1212:Gela
1168:and
1085:and
922:Bure
650:Elba
589:Moro
476:Gela
347:Gela
54:Date
1249:'s
1237:'s
1016:by
2377::
2277:CA
2254:PA
2231:PA
2058:^
2008:^
1985:^
1971:^
1921:^
1893:^
1877:^
1863:^
1845:^
1824:^
1812:^
1758:^
1744:^
1730:^
1709:^
1688:^
1632:^
1367:;
1253:.
1180:,
1139:.
996:,
2365:.
2346:.
2327:.
2308:.
2289:.
2266:.
2243:.
2220:.
2201:.
2182:.
2163:.
2144:.
2125:.
2102:.
1423:.
788:e
781:t
774:v
391:e
384:t
377:v
251:e
244:t
237:v
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