Operation Husky order of battle


Operation Husky order of battle[De Havilland Mosquito|] is a listing of the significant military and air force units that were involved in the campaign for Sicily, July 10 - August 17, 1943.

Allied forces

Supreme Commander: General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Allied 15th Army Group

The Allied 15th Army Group was under the command of General Sir Harold Alexander.
Commanded by Major General Manton S. Eddy.
Commanded by Major General Matthew Ridgway. The independent 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion was held in reserve and it never saw action.
Commanded by Major General H. A. Freeman-Attwood.
The U.S. Seventh Army was commanded by Lieutenant General George S. Patton.
The U.S. II Corps was commanded by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley.
First commanded by Major General Terry Allen He was replaced by Major General Clarence R. Huebner on August 7.
Commanded by Major General Troy H. Middleton.
Commanded by Major General Geoffrey Keyes.
Commanded by Major General Hugh Joseph Gaffey. Divisional units were placed under the combat commands as needed.
Commanded by Major General Lucian Truscott
The British Eighth Army was under the command of General Sir Bernard Montgomery.
The British 46th Infantry Division formed a floating reserve, but it did not participate in the Sicily campaign.
Army Troops
The XIII Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey.
Commanded by Major-General Horatio Berney-Ficklin.
Commanded by Major-General Sidney Kirkman.
Commanded by Major-General Vyvyan Evelegh.
Commanded by Major-General George F. Hopkinson. This unit did not participate as a division.
The XXX Corps was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese.
Commanded by Major-General Guy Simonds.
Commanded by Major-General Douglas Wimberley.
HQ 23rd Armoured Brigade HQ fought as Arrow Force in mid-July with 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders under command together with elements of 50th RTR and 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery as well as an Anti-Tank battery and a machine gun company.
The Naval forces were under the command of Admiral of the Fleet Sir. A Cunningham and was divided into several Task Forces.

Covering Force

The role of the covering force was to prevent the Italian Navy from attacking the invasion forces.

Eastern Naval Task Force

Eastern Naval task Force transported the Eastern Task Force and provided Naval gunfire support.

Western Naval Task Force

The Western Naval Task Force transported the Western Task Force and provided Naval gunfire support.
Command by Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt.
The Dime Task Force landed the U. S. Army First Division and attached units near Gela, Sicily.
The Cent Task Force landed the U. S. Army Forty-fifth Division and attached units near Scoglitti, Sicily.
The Joss Task Force landed the U. S. Third Division and attached units near Licata, Sicily.
Less LCTs 80, 207, 208, 214
Plus LCTs 276, 305 311, 332
At the time of Operation Husky, the Allied air forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theatres were organized as the Mediterranean Air Command 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 under the command of Lt. General Carl Spaatz of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the American 12th Air Force, the American 9th Air Force under the command of Lt. General Lewis H. Brereton, and units of the British Royal Air Force.
Also supporting the NAAF were the RAF Middle East Command, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF Gibraltar, and the No. 216 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 and P-40 Warhawk fighter planes 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.

Mediterranean Air Command (Allied)

had his headquarters in Algiers, Algeria.
Northwest African Air Forces
Lt. General Carl Spaatz had his headquarters for the Northwest African Air Forces in Maison-Carrée, Algeria
Northwest African Strategic Air Force
, in command of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force, had his headquarters in Constantine, Algeria
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd also had his headquarters in Algiers.
British UnitsAmerican Units
RAF Units
  • No. 13 Squadron, Blenheim bombers
  • No. 614 Squadron, Blenheims
  • No. 36 Squadron, Wellington medium bombers
  • No. 253 Squadron, Hurricane fighter planes
  • No. 274 Squadron, Hurricanes
  • No. 313 Squadron, Hurricanes
  • No. 500 Squadron, Hudson light bombers
  • No. 608 Squadron, Hudsons
  • No. 1575 Flight, Halifax and Ventura bombers
52nd Fighter Group Lt. Colonel James Coward
  • 2nd Squadron, Spitfires
  • 4th Squadron, Spitfires
  • 5th Squadron, Spitfires
----
  • 414th Night Fighter Squadron, Bristol Beaufighters
  • 415th Night Fighter Squadron, Beaufighters
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm UnitsTorpedo Spotter Reconnaissance
  • 813 NAS, Swordfish torpedo planes
  • 820 NAS, Albacore c
  • 821 NAS, Albacore n
  • 826 NAS, Albacore r
  • 828 NAS, Albacore r
81st Fighter Group Lt. Colonel Michael Gordon
----
Oran, Algeria Sector:
92nd Squadron, P-39 Airacobra fighter planes
1st Air Defense Wing:
91st Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
93rd Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
Bone, Algeria Sector:
  • No. 32 Squadron, Hawker Hurricanes
  • No. 87 Squadron, Hurricanes
  • No. 219 Squadron, Beaufighters
350th Fighter Group Lt. Colonel Marvin McNickle
  • 345th Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
  • 346th Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
  • 347th Squadron, P-39 Airacobras
2nd Air Defense Wing:----
No. 153 Squadron, Beaufighters		480th Antisubmarine Group
Colonel Jack Roberts
  • 1st Squadron, B-24 Liberator patrol planes
  • 2nd Squadron, B-24 Liberators
Notes:
  1. 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 Frank J. Lowry
  2. Air Ministry was asked to provide two additional Wellington patrol squadrons. 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
Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst
Colonel Arthur Salisbury
Colonel Earl Bates
Maj. General Edwin House
Lt. Colonel John Stevenson
Major Clinton True
Colonel William W. Momyer
Colonel William McNown
Lt. Colonel Frank Hill
Air Commodore Laurence Sinclair
Colonel William W. Momyer
Colonel Malcolm Green, Jr.
Lt. Colonel Frank Hill
Colonel Edward Backus
Lt. Colonel Adolph Tokaz
For Operation Husky, No. 242 Group, originally a component of NATAF in February 1943, was assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force. 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 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
, in Tunisia
51st Troop Carrier Wing
Brig. General Ray Dunn		52nd Troop Carrier Wing
Colonel Harold Clark		RAF Detachment
60th Troop Carrier Group
Lt. Colonel Frederick Sherwood
----
10th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains
11th Squadron, C-47s
12th Squadron, C-47s
28th Squadron, C-47s		61st Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Willis Mitchell
  • *14th Squadron, C-47s
  • *15th Squadron, C-47s
  • *53rd Squadron, C-47s
  • *59th Squadron, C-47s
No. 38 WingAir Commodore William Primrose
  • *No. 295 Squadron RAF, Detached, Halifaxes
  • *No. 296 Squadron RAF, Albemarles
62nd Troop Carrier Group Lt. Colonel Aubrey Hurren
----
4th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains
7th Squadron, C-47s
8th Squadron, C-47s
51st Squadron, C-47s		313th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel James Roberts, Jr.
----
29th Squadron, C-47s
47th Squadron, C-47s
48th Squadron, C-47s
49th Squadron, C-47s
64th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel John Cerny
----
16th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains
17th Squadron, C-47s
18th Squadron, C-47s
35th Squadron, C-47s		314th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Clayton Stiles
----
32nd Squadron, C-47s
50th Squadron, C-47s
61st Squadron, C-47s
62nd Squadron, C-47s
Information in table taken from:
1) Participation of the Ninth and
Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign,

Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37
Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters,
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1945.		316th Troop Carrier Group
Colonel Jerome McCauley
----
36th Squadron, C-47 Skytrains
44th Squadron, C-47s
45th Squadron, C-47s		Information in table taken from:
2) Maurer, Maurer, Air Force
Combat Units Of World War II,
Office of Air Force History,
Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983.

To help carry out transport and supply operations for Operation Husky, in mid-1943 the American 315th Troop Carrier Group 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
Delmar had his headquarters in Dunton, Algiers.
Northwest African Training Command
Brig. General John K. Cannon,
U.S. APO 525
Air Headquarters Malta
Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, the commander of Air Headquarters Malta, had his headquarters in Valletta, Malta
Mosquito fighter planes
Air Commodore Whitney Straight, Headquarters at Heliopolis, Egypt
Air Vice Marshal Sturley Simpson had his headquarters in Gibraltar
Air Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas
Headquarters at Cairo, Egypt
No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group
Air Vice Marshal Thomas Langsford-Sainsbury, Headquarters at Alexandria, Egypt
No Wing assignment: 701 Naval Air Squadron, Walrus Air-Sea Rescue
Note:
RAF=Royal Air Force; RAAF=Royal Australian Air Force; SAAF=South African Air Force; FAA=Fleet Air Arm ; Det.= "detachment"
Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean
Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul
No. 209 Group
Group Captain R.C.F. Lister		No. 210 Group
Group Captain John Grandy		No. 212 Group
Air Commodore Archibald Wann		No. 219 Group
Group Captain Max Aitken
No. 46 Squadron RAF Det., BeaufightersNo. 3 Squadron SAAF, HurricanesNo. 7 Squadron SAAF, HurricanesNo. 46 Squadron RAF, Beaufighters
No. 127 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes and SpitfiresNo. 33 Squadron RAF, HurricanesNo. 41 Squadron SAAF, HurricanesNo. 74 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 89 Squadron RAF, BeaufightersNo. 80 Squadron RAF, SpitfiresNo. 238 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 213 Squadron RAF, HurricanesNo. 94 Squadron RAF, HurricanesNo. 335 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 274 Squadron RAF, HurricanesNo. 108 Squadron RAF Det., BeaufightersNo. 336 Squadron RAF, Hurricanes
No. 123 Squadron RAF, HurricanesNo. 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

Armed Forces Command

Commanded by Generale d'Armata Alfredo Guzzoni

German

Commanded by Generalmajor Eberhard Rodtfrom June 5. One third of the division was attached to Italian XVI Corps and the rest to Italian XII Corps until the activation of XIV Panzer Corps on 18 July.
Commanded by Generalleutnant Paul Conrath. Attached to Italian XVI Corps until the activation of XIV Panzer Corps on 18 July.
The Italian 6th Army was under the command of Generale d'Armata Alfredo Guzzoni.
German Army Liaison Officer: Generalleutnant Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin
Italian XII Corps
The major harbors garrisons were under command of the Italian Navy. Hence, they were not part of the Italian 6th Army, but under the command of General Guzzoni, who was also the Chief of Joint Command.
Activated 18 July to take command of 15th Panzergrenadier Division, the Hermann Göring Division, the newly arrived 1st Parachute Division and the 29th Panzergrenadier Division which started to arrive in Sicily 18 July., General der Panzertruppe Hans-Valentin Hube.