1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 14–16 JULY 1943 ]
SICILY—First Allied fighters fly to Sicily to
operate from Pachino field. Enemy planes are no
longer able to offer effective resistance over the island
and are reducing their efforts.
15th Army Group: Gen Alexander establishes
new boundary between Br and U.S. forces, giving
Eighth Army road Vizzini–Caltagirone–Piazza Armerina–Enna–S.
Stefano.
U.S. Seventh Army orders Canicatti held while
rcn is pushed W to Agrigento on W, where Gen
Truscott’s assault force has attained its immediate
objective. In II Corps area, RCT 18 is released to 1st
Div, from which 1st and 4th Ranger Bns are detached.
2d Armd Div ( — CCA) and 1st and 4th
Ranger Bns are placed in army reserve. II Corps continues
efforts to close along line Yellow. 45th Div
pushes N, taking Licodia and Monterosso.
In Br Eighth Army’s 30 Corps area, 51st Div is
slowed by enemy near Vizzini. 13 Corps begins offensive,
night 13–14, in effort to break out into
Catania plain. Parachutists of 1st Para Brig are
dropped to seize Primasole bridge over Simeto R,
the most suitable exit to Catania plain, and do so.
The operation, however, is costly, since planes come
under enemy and friendly fire. Seaborne commandos
are landed and take another bridge in the area.
5th Div, followed by 50th, makes ground assault
from vicinity of Lentini and is firmly opposed.
14 July
Solomon Is.—On New Georgia, 43d Div’s left
flank is reinf as 3d Bn of road Inf, with engineers
and tanks attached, lands at Laiana. The bn is not
committed to action at once, however. 3d Bn, 169th
Inf, holds its exposed hill position under enemy
fire. On Guadalcanal, 25th Div’s RCT 161 is alerted
for movement to New Georgia.
TROBRIAND Is.—Airfield on Woodlark I. is ready
for use by C–47’s.
SICILY—Messina, a primary target for Allied
bombers, is particularly hard hit. 212 heavy and
medium bombers drop about 800 tons of bombs.
15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army area,
82d A/B Div, in army reserve, is being assembled
and reinf in Gela area for operations on W flank of
U.S. sector. 4th Tabor of goums of Fr N African
Army lands at Licata and is attached to 3d Div. In
II Corps area, 1st Div makes substantial progress,
taking Mazzarino and Niscemi. CCB, 2d Armd Div,
mops up in Niscemi area. Rangers, assisted by naval
gunfire, seize Butera. On II Corps right flank, 45th
Div takes Biscari airfield and to right reaches line
Yellow near Vizzini.
In Br Eighth Army’s 30 Corps area, 51st Div,
assisted by U.S. 45th Div, overcomes strong opposition
at Vizzini. In 13 Corps area, main assault force
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is stoutly opposed near Lentini but succeeds in pushing
through that town toward Primasole bridge.
Parachute force defending the bridge withstands
strong enemy pressure throughout day and at night
falls back to ridge overlooking the bridge.
ITALY—Air offensive against Italy to interdict
movement of supplies and reinforcements to Sicily is
intensified by NAAF, Naples being a primary
target.
15 July
Solomon Is.—Gen Griswold, CG XIV Corps,
takes command of New Georgia Occupation Force
at midnight 15–16, relieving Gen Hester, who retains
command of 43d Div. Adm Turner is relieved
of posts of Commander, S Pacific Amphib Force
(III Amphib Force and TF 32), and Commander,
New Georgia Attack Force (TF 32), and leaves for
Hawaii. 1st Bn of 145th Inf, 37th Div, lands at
Zanana and is attached to 43d Div to relieve elements
of 69th Inf. Co of 103d Inf is committed on left
flank to plug gap in line of 172d Inf. In air battle
over central Solomons, Japanese lose 45 of about 75
aircraft as against 3 U.S. planes lost. As a result, Japanese
virtually stop daylight attacks.
SICILY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh
Army area, Gen Patton forms Provisional Corps,
comprising 3d Div, reinf by 3d Ranger Bn and supporting
troops, and 82d A/B Div, reinf by newly
arrived RCT 39 of 9th Div and supporting troops,
all under command of Maj Gen Geoffrey Keyes, to
operate en W flank of U.S. Seventh Army as it
swings NW. 2d Armd Div, to which CCA reverts,
assembles in Campobello area under army control.
3d Div continues to patrol actively. II Corps reaches
line Yellow all along its front, 45th Div on right
flank co–operating with 30 Corps in vicinity of
Caltagirone.
In Br Eighth Army’s 30 Corps area, Cdn 1st Div,
taking the lead from 51st Div, captures Grammichele
and Caltagirone. In 13 Corps area, main
assault force makes contact with paratroopers commanding
Primasole bridge; both forces continue
efforts to establish bridgehead over the Simeto.
16 July
NEW GEORGIA—As 172d Inf of 43d Div, assisted
by Marine tanks, slowly expands Laiana beachhead,
1st Bn of 169th Inf attacks through 3d Bn,
taking hill—later called Kelley Hill for 1st Lt John
R. Kelley—where it is exposed to strong enemy
pressure.
TROBRIAND IS.—First Allied plane lands on
Woodlark airstrip.
SICILY—Enemy air attacks during daylight virtually
cease, but night attacks are increasing.