1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 20–22 JULY 1943 ]
and Ciampino airfields—with about 1,000 tons of
bombs.
SICILY—15th Army Group: U.S. Seventh Army
makes rapid progress against light resistance. In
Prov Corps area, 82d A/B Div, driving NW along
coastal highway, reaches positions beyond Ribera.
Casteltermini and Mussomeli fall to 3d Div. 2d
Armd Div is following in order to exploit possible
breakthrough. In II Corps area, 45th Div patrols
actively in S. Caterina area. 1st Div, advancing on
Enna, clears enemy pocket S of objective.
In Br Eighth Army’s 30 Corps area, Cdn 1st
Div continues toward Leonforte, bypassing Enna
and reaching positions N of Valguarnera. 51st Div
crosses Dittaino R at Sferro, SW of Paterno. 231st
Brig, bridging gap between Cdn 1st Div and 51st
Div, thrusts to within 3 miles of Agira, where it
halts to await clearance of Leonforte. 13 Corps continues
to meet firm resistance near Catania. 5th
Div crosses the Simeto to W of 50th Div, but its supporting
weapons remain S of the river.
20 July
U.S.—JCS direct Adm Nimitz to seize bases in
the Gilbert Is. and on Nauru.
NEW GEORGIA—Elements of 145th Inf, 37th
Div, relieve hard–pressed 169th Inf of 43d Div E of
Munda. 148th breaks through enemy positions that
have been checking it and prepares to relieve 145th.
Trail from Laiana to Munda Trail is completed,
easing supply situation. Liversedge Force, after
futile attempt to take Bairoko, falls back to Enogai.
NEW GUINEA—U.S. forces begin lengthy struggle
for heights (Roosevelt Ridge, Scout Ridge, and
Mt Tambu) commanding Tambu Bay and Dot
Inlet.
CBI—Gen Bissell is recalled to U.S. to become
Assistant Chief of Air Staff, A–2, and is replaced as
head of Tenth Air Force by Brig Gen Howard C.
Davidson.
SICILY—15th Army Group: Gen Alexander
orders U.S. Seventh Army, upon reaching coastal
road (Highway 113) N of Petralia, to reconnoiter
eastward along it and Highway 120 (Petralia–
Nicosia–Cesarò), which parallels it to S; to drive on
Palermo, which is to be a major supply base; and to
secure left flank on general line S. Giuseppe–
Corleone–Sciacca.
In U.S. Seventh Army’s Prov Corps area, 82d A/
B Div, continuing W along S coast, takes Sciacca and
Menfi. 3d Div clears S. Stefano and heights N of
Mussomeli. 2d Armd Div, assembled in Ribera area,
is attached to Prov Corps. TF X is formed to capture
Castelvetrano and airfield W of it; protect left and
rear of corps’ drive on Palermo. Lt Col William O.
Darby heads the TF, which is composed of 1st and
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4th Ranger Bns, RCT 39 of 9th Div, and supporting
units. In II Corps area, 45th Div clashes with Italian
delaying forces in Vallelunga area. 1st Div, in conjunction
with Br units to right, takes Enna, im-portant
supply center, and drives on to Villapriola.
In Br Eighth Army area, Gen Montgomery orders
reserve, 78th Div, to Sicily from Africa. In 30
Corps area, Cdn 1st Div pushes to within a few miles
of Leonforte. 51st Div, from Sferro area, attacks Gerbini
airfield. 13 Corps is virtually stopped by firm
resistance on Catania plain.
MEDITERRANEAN—Planning for invasion of Sardinia
(BRIMSTONE) is dropped because of successes
in Sicilian campaign. Attention of planners becomes
focused next on Naples because of its harbor and its
proximity to Rome.
USSR—Mitsensk falls to Red Army, whose assault
against Orel salient continues.
21 July
Solomon Is.—Small U.S. rcn party lands on
Vella Lavella at Barakoma, night 21–22, in preparation
for full–scale invasion. U.S. control of Vella
Lavella would isolate Japanese at Vila, Kolombangara.
On New Georgia, 148th Inf of 37th Div relieves
145th Inf E of Munda.
SICILY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh
Army’s Prov Corps area, TF X seizes Castelvetrano
and airport, and 2d Armd Div assembles NE of
Castelvetrano prepared to exploit breakthrough,
which appears imminent. 82d A/B Div takes S.
Margherita and 3d Div seizes Corleone. In II Corps
area, 45th Div continues NW, taking Valledolmo.
1st Div clears delaying opposition in Alimena.
In Br Eighth Army area, Gen Montgomery decides
to make main effort on left, where assault
forces will push around N side of M. Etna to take
enemy from rear, major assault to begin on 1 August.
13 Corps and 51st Div of 30 Corps are to go on the
defensive. In 30 Corps area, Leonforte falls to Cdn
1st Div, night 21–22. 51st Div falls back under
enemy pressure to positions S of Gerbini airfield.
22 July
ALEUTIAN IS.—In effort to soften Japanese defenses
on Kiska, U.S. warships and aircraft attack
the island in force.
NEW GEORGIA—Gen Griswold orders general
attack on Munda by 37th and 43d Divs on 25th. 37th
Div commander takes charge of his forces on the
island. RCT 161, 25th Div, arrives and is attached
to 37th Div.
SICILY—15th Army Group: U.S. Seventh Army
takes Palermo, on N coast, virtually completing
second phase of operations. Limited mopping up