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Operation Dragoon order of battle

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Allied LSTs loading in Naples in preparation for Operation Dragoon

On 15 August 1944, Allied forces carried out Operation Dragoon, a set of simultaneous amphibious landings by three US infantry divisions followed by four Free French divisions along the Mediterranean coast of France. The main landings were preceded by nighttime paratroop drops and commando beach landings. This was a phase of the European Theatre of World War II.

Originally called Operation Anvil, these landings had been intended to take place at the same time as the Normandy landings of Operation Overlord, commonly called D-Day, but were postponed because the necessary shipping was committed to the Normandy operation.[1]

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill strenuously objected to the invasion of Southern France, strongly preferring an operation in the Adriatic Sea.[2] The American high command, however, particularly SHAEF commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, insisted on opening a port on the Southern French coast even after the lodgment in Normandy was obtained. The ports of Normandy were overwhelmed handling the cargo to support the Overlord invasion forces and another high-capacity port closer to the German frontier was vital if more men and supplies were to be delivered to the continent.[3] Additionally, the high command of the French Liberation Army pushed for a landing on the coast of Provence that would include the large numbers of Free French troops that were being trained.[4] Churchill finally relented only five days before the date set for the landings.[5]

In the Alpha and Delta areas, Allied air assault and naval bombardment had either destroyed the German gun emplacements or driven their crews to abandon them.[6] Only in the Camel zone did the landing forces experience any serious resistance.[7]

The Americans considered Operation Dragoon a success. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces (although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape), and the ports of Marseilles and Toulon were soon in operation.

Allied command structure

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Ground forces

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US Seventh Army

[edit]
Main article: Seventh United States Army
Lt. Gen. Alexander McC. Patch

Lieutenant General Alexander McC. Patch[a]

Detachment, Army HQ & HQ Company & Special Troops
Detachment, HQ Seventh Army (For Beach Control HQ)

Engineer

Company D (rem Map Plat), 378th Engineer Battalion (Separate)
697th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company
Mobile Laboratory, 701st Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company
Survey Platoon, 649th Engineer Topographic Battalion
Company A, Engineer Camouflage Battalion
1202nd Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon
1204th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon
1711th Engineer Map Depot Detachment
Special Platoon, 460th Engineer Depot Company
US VI Corps
Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. as a lieutenant general
Main article: VI Corps (United States)
Major General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr.
VI Corps consisted of the US 3rd, 45th and 36th Infantry Divisions; these units are detailed in the Alpha Force, Delta Force and Camel Force sections, respectively, below.
HQ & HQ Company, VI Corps
Combat Command
Combat Command Sudre 1ere Division Blindee
Attached
1ere Cie, 9e Regt Chasseurs d'Afrique
Det, 661/2 Cie De Reparation Engines Blindee
66e Cie de Munitions (-)
Det, 705 Cie de Ravitaillement en Essence

Armee "B"

[edit]
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny

Armee B constituted the follow-up landing force

Main article: First Army (France)

Général d'armée Jean de Lattre de Tassigny[b]

Etat-major de l'Armée "B", compagnie de quartier général 162/27 (-)
2ème Corps d'Armee
Général de corps d'armée Edgard de Larminat
Etat-major du 2ème Corps d'Armée et compagnie de quartier général 75
[edit]

US Eighth Fleet

[edit]
Main article: United States Eighth Fleet
Vice Adm. H. Kent Hewitt, USN
Vice Admiral Hewitt's flagship Catoctin off Southern France

Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt in amphibious force command ship Catoctin'[9]

Control Group
Vice Admiral Hewitt
1 amphibious force flagship: Catoctin
1 Gleaves-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery): Plunkett
9 minesweepers
8 Auk-class minesweepers: Auk, Broadbill, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Staff, Swift, Threat
1 Raven-class minesweeper: Raven
Special Operations Group[c]
Captain H.C. Johnson
Western Diversionary Unit (Captain Johnson)
Landings west of Alpha beaches
1 Gleaves-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery): Endicott
4 minelayers
8 PT boats
12 ASRC
Eastern Diversionary Unit (Lieutenant Commander Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.,[d] USNR)
Landings east of Camel beaches
4 gunboats HMS Aphis, HMS Scarab, HMS Stuart Prince, HMS Antwerp
3 minelayers
4 PT boats

Aircraft Carrier Force (Task Force 88)

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Thomas H. Troubridge, RN
HMS Attacker and Khedive, just prior to Operation Dragoon, 7 August 1944

Rear Admiral Thomas Hope Troubridge, RN in light cruiser HMS Royalist[11]

Task Group 88.1
Rear Admiral Troubridge
5 escort carriers
HMS Khedive: 899 Naval Air Squadron (Supermarine Seafire fighters)
HMS Emperor: 800 Naval Air Squadron (Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters)
HMS Searcher: 882 Naval Air Squadron (Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters)
HMS Pursuer: 881 Naval Air Squadron (Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters)
HMS Attacker: 879 Naval Air Squadron (Supermarine Seafire fighters)
2 anti-aircraft light cruisers: HMS Royalist, HMS Delhi
7 destroyers
5 T-class: HMS Troubridge, HMS Tuscan, HMS Tyrian, HMS Teazer, HMS Tumult
1 E-class: HHMS Navarinon
1 Type II Hunt-class: HMS Wheatland
Task Group 88.2
Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN
4 escort carriers
Tulagi: VOF-01 (Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters)
Kasaan Bay: VF-74 (Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters)
HMS Hunter: 807 Naval Air Squadron (Supermarine Seafire fighters)
HMS Stalker: 809 Naval Air Squadron (Supermarine Seafire fighters)
2 antiaircraft light cruisers: HMS Colombo, HMS Caledon
6 destroyers
5 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Jeffers, Butler, Gherardi, Herndon, Shubrick
1 Benson-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Murphy
6 British minelayers

Antisubmarine and Convoy Control Group (Task Group 80.6)

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Hunt-class destroyer Aldenham at anchor
Destroyer escort Tatum underway
Corvette Aubrietia at anchor

Captain J.P. Clay[12]

40 destroyers
21 Hunt-class

HMS Atherstone, HMS Cleveland, HMS Whaddon HMS Beaufort, HMS Bicester, HMS Blackmore, HMS Calpe, HMS Farndale, HMS Lauderdale, HMS Liddesdale, HMS Oakley, HMS Zetland', HHMS Kriti HMS Aldenham, HMS Belvoir, HMS Catterick, HMS Eggesford, HHMS Themistoklis, HMS Haydon, HHMS Pindos HMS Brecon

9 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Niblack, Carmick, McCook, Frankford, Baldwin, Harding, Satterlee, Thompson, Doyle
4 Benson-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Benson, Madison, Hilary P. Jones, Charles F. Hughes
1 Somers-class (8 × 5-in. main battery): Jouett
5 French destroyers: Le Fortuné, Forbin, Simoun, Tempête, Alcyon
6 destroyer escorts
4 Buckley-class (3 × 3-in. main battery): Tatum, Haines, Marsh, Currier
2 Edsall-class (3 × 3-in. main battery): Frederick C. Davis, Herbert C. Jones
7 corvettes
5 French: Marocain, Tunisien, Hova, Algérien, Somali
2 British: HMS Aubrietia, HMS Columbine
6 French sloops: Commandant Domine, La Moqueuse, Commandant Bory, La Gracieuse, Commandant Delage, La Boudeuse
12 minesweepers
6 Admirable-class: Improve, Implicit, Incessant, Incredible, Mainstay, Pinnacle
6 yard minesweepers

Sitka Force

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Parachute and commando landings night of 14–15 August

Sitka parachute and commando forces

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1st Airborne Task Force

Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick

Brigadier General Robert T. Frederick

HQ & HQ Company, 1st Airborne Task Force
517th Parachute Infantry Regiment[13]
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion[e]
596th Airborne Engineer Company
509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
550th Airborne Infantry Battalion (Glider)
1st Battalion, 551st Parachute Infantry Regiment (Reinforced)
463rd Airborne Field Artillery Battalion
602d Glider Field Artillery Battalion (75mm Pack)
887th Airborne Engineer Aviation Company
512th Airborne Signal Company
Antitank Company, 442d Infantry Regiment:
552nd Antitank Company[f]
Company A, 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion
Company D (airborne), 83d Chemical Mortar Battalion
676th Medical Collecting Company
Provisional Airborne Military Police Platoon
Provisional Pathfinder Detachment
172d Detail Issues Depot British Heavy Aerial Resupply Company
334th Quartermaster Depot Company(-)
3358th Quartermaster Truck Company
Detachment, 3d Ordnance Company (Medium Maintenance)
British 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group
4th Parachute Battalion
5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion
6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion
127th (Parachute) Field Ambulance
300th Airlanding Anti-tank Battery Royal Artillery
64th Airlanding Battery Royal Artillery
2nd Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers
2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group Signal Company Royal Signals
1st Independent Glider Squadron Army Air Corps
23rd Independent Platoon Army Air Corps (Pathfinders)
2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group Company Royal Army Service Corps
751st Parachute Brigade Company Royal Army Service Corps
T Company Royal Army Service Corps
2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group Workshop Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group Provost Section Royal Military Police
US-Canadian 1st Special Service Force(-)[g]
French Groupe de Commandos(-)
Commandos d'Afrique (750 men)
Groupe Naval d'Assault de la Marine en Corse (67 men)

Sitka naval forces

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United States Rear Adm. Davidson's flagship Augusta underway, May 1945
United Kingdom Destroyer Lookout
United States Light cruiser Cincinnati

Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson in heavy cruiser Augusta[14]

Gunfire Support Group
Rear Admiral Davidson
1 Lorraine
1 heavy cruiser: Augusta
1 light cruiser: HMS Dido
4 destroyers
1 Somers-class (6 × 5-in. main battery): Somers
1 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Gleaves
1 L-class: HMS Lookout
1 Hunt-class: HHMS Themistoklis
3 light cruisers:[h] Omaha, Cincinnati, HMS Sirius
Transport Group
Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler[i]
Unit A
2 destroyer transports: Tattnall, HMS Prince Baudoin
1 PT boat: PT-201
Unit B
HMCS Prince Henry
4 destroyer transports: Barry, Greene, Roper, Osmond Ingram
4 PT boats
Romeo Unit
HMCS Prince David, HMS Prins Albert, HMS Princess Beatrix
4 PT boats
Screen
8 PT boats
Minesweeper Group
5 British: HMS Larne, HMS Clinton, HMS Octavia, HMS Stormcloud, HMS Welfare
4 minelayers
1 danlayer: HMS Kintyre

Alpha Force

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Landings near St. Tropez, 15 August

Alpha ground forces

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3rd Infantry "Rock of the Marne" Division

Main article: 3rd Infantry Division (United States)
John W. O'Daniel as a lieutenant general

Major General John W. O'Daniel

Organic Units

HHC & Special Troops
3rd Military Police Platoon
3rd Signal Company
3rd Quartermaster Company
3rd Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
3rd Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop
703rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
10th Engineer Combat Battalion
3rd Medical Battalion
Infantry
7th Infantry Regiment
15th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment
Artillery
9th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
10th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
39th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
41st Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

Alpha naval forces

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Task Force 84[15]

Rear Adm. Frank J. Lowry
United Kingdom Light cruiser Ajax
United States Fleet tug Hopi

Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry in Coast Guard cutter Duane

Force Flagship Group
1 Coast Guard cutter: Duane
1 fighter director ship: HMS Ulster Queen
1 LCI-953
1 subchaser: PC-1169
Assault Groups
Red Beach Assault Group
46 LCI, 25 LST, 7 LCC, 43 LCT, 11 LCM, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 7 LCS, 4 British AM, 5 PC
Yellow Beach Assault Group
2 attack transports: Samuel Chase, Henrico
2 transports: Anne Arundel, Thurston
3 attack freighters: Oberon, Andromeda, HMS Highway
6 SC, 4 PC, 3 LCC, 6 LST, 9 LCI, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 17 LCT, 9 LCM, 6 LCS, 4 British AM
Gunfire Support Group (Rear Admiral J. M. Mansfield, RN)
1 battleship: HMS Ramillies
1 heavy cruiser: Quincy
5 light cruisers: HMS Orion, HMS Aurora, HMS Ajax, HMS Black Prince, French Gloire
6 destroyers
4 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Livermore, Eberle, Kearny, Ericsson
2 T-class: HMS Terpsichore, HMS Termagant
Minesweeper Group
4 Auk-class: Prevail, Seer, Dextrous, Pioneer
6 SC, 10 YMS, 8 British and 6 French AM, 2 LCC, 2 danlayers
1 minelayer: Barricade
Salvage and Firefighting Group
Fleet tug Hopi, 1 ATA, British tugs Empire Spitfire, Empire Ann, 1 boom vessel, 1 ATR, 1 YTB, 1 YTL, 1 FT

Delta Force

[edit]

Landings near St. Maxime, 15 August

Delta ground forces

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45th Infantry "Thunderbird" Division

Main article: 45th Infantry Division (United States)

Major General William W. Eagles

William W. Eagles

Organic units

HHC & Special Troops
45th Military Police Platoon
45th Signal Company
45th Quartermaster Company
45th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
45th Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop
700th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
120th Engineer Combat Battalion
120th Medical Battalion
Infantry
157th Infantry Regiment
179th Infantry Regiment
180th Infantry Regiment
Artillery
158th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
160th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
171st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
189th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

Delta naval forces

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Task Force 85[16]

Rear Admiral Bertram J. Rodgers
Battleship USS Nevada bombarding the French coast during Operation Dragoon
French light cruiser Montcalm

Rear Admiral Bertram J. Rodgers in amphibious force flagship Biscayne

Force Flagship Group
Force flagship: USS Biscayne
1 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery) destroyer: USS Forrest
1 fighter-director tender
Transport Group (Captain R.A. Dierdorff)
6 transports: USS Elizabeth C. Stanton, Lyon, SS Marine Robin, SS Santa Rosa, Barnett, Joseph T. Dickman
2 attack freighters: USS Procyon, Arcturus
British LSP Dilwara, LSI HMS Ascania, Landing Ship Gantry RFA Ennerdale (carrying LCM).
3 destroyers
2 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): USS Baldwin, Carmick
1 Benson-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): USS Madison
2 Buckley-class destroyer escorts (3 × 3-in. main battery): USS Marsh, Haines
Assault Groups
Red Beach Assault Group: 10 LST, 6 LCI, 7 LCT, 1 LCG, I LCF, 4 LCS, 2 LCM(R), 2 SC, 2 LCC; 1 LCM
Green Beach Assault Group: 5 LST, 5 LCI, 7 LCT, 4 LCS, 2 LCM, 2 SC, 1 LCC
Yellow Beach Assault Group: 2 LST, 2 LCI, 26 LCVP, 4 LCS, 4 LCT, 3 LCM, 1 SC, 1 LCC
Blue Beach Assault Group: 1 LST, 26 LCVP, 16 LCT, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 4 LCS, 3 LCM, 1 PC, 1 LCC, 1 LCI
Corps and Division Reserve Groups: 5 LST, 20 LCI, 18 LCT, I FT
Gunfire Support Group (Rear Admiral C.F. Bryant)
2 battleships: Texas, Nevada
1 light cruiser: Philadelphia
2 French light cruisers: Montcalm, Georges Leygues
8 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery) destroyers: Ellyson, Hambleton, Rodman, Emmons, Macomb, Forrest, Fitch, Hobson
3 French large destroyers: Le Fantasque, Le Terrible, Le Malin
Minesweeper Group
8 minesweepers
2 Auk-class: Sway, Symbol
6 British: HMS Rinaldo, HMS Antares, HMS Arcturus, HMS Brave, HMS Rosario, HMS Spanker
2 danlayers: Satsa, Calm
Combat and Firefighting Group
5 fleet tugs: Narragansett, Pinto, HMS Aspirant, HMS Athlete, HMS Charon
1 ATA, 2 YTL

Camel Force

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Landings at St. Raphael, 15 August

Camel ground forces

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36th Infantry "Arrowhead" Division

Main article: 36th Infantry Division (United States)
Maj. Gen. John E. Dahlquist

Major General John E. Dahlquist

Organic units

HHC & Special Troops
36th Military Police Platoon
36th Signal Company
36th Quartermaster Company
36th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
36th Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop
736th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
111th Engineer Combat Battalion
111th Medical Battalion
Infantry
141st Infantry Regiment
142nd Infantry Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
Artillery
131st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
132nd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
133rd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
155th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)

Camel naval forces

[edit]

Task Force 87[17]

Attack cargo ship USS Cepheus
Heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa
Light cruiser HMS Argonaut underway
Destroyer USS Boyle

Rear Admiral Spencer S. Lewis

Force Flagship Group
1 attack transport: Bayfield
British LCH-3l5
Assault Groups
Red Beach Assault Group
2 attack transports: Charles Carroll, Thomas Jefferson
3 transports: Dorothea L. Dix, Florence Nightingale, General G. O. Squier
3 attack freighters: Cepheus, Achernar, Betelgeuse
5 LCI, 3 LST, 21 LCT, 20 LCVP, 9 LCS, 3 LCC, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 2 LCM, 3 SC, 2 PC; 1 LSI (Br.), 1 LSD (Br.)
Green Beach Assault Group
23 LCI, I LCH, 14 LST, 21 LCT, 7 LCVP, 7 LCS, 3 LCC, 1 LCG, 1 LCF, 2 LCM, 2 PC, 2 SC
Blue Beach Assault Group
5 LST, 1 LCI, 3 LCS, 2 LCT, 2 SC, 1 PC
Escort and Screening Group
Destroyers from Bombardment Group
6 PC, 10 SC, 1 LST, 2 LCF, 1 LSF, 1 LCC, 5 LCS, 5 LCVP, 1 LCT, 2 LCM
Bombardment Group
Rear Admiral Morton L. Deyo
1 battleship: Arkansas
1 heavy cruiser: Tuscaloosa
5 light cruisers: Brooklyn, Marblehead, HMS Argonaut, French cruisers Duguay-Trouin, Émile Bertin
11 destroyers
8 Benson-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Boyle, Champlin, Parker, Kendrick, MacKenzie, McLanahan, Nields, Ordronaux
3 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Woolsey, Ludlow, Edison
Minesweeper Group
4 Auk-class: Strive, Steady, Speed, Sustain
6 YMS, 6 BYMS, 2 danlayers, 6 British ML, 12 British AM, HMS Product
Salvage and Firefighting Group
2 fleet ocean tugs: Moreno, Arikara
1 U.S., 2 British ATA, 1 YTB, 3 LCI, 1 LCT, 4 LCM, 1 boom vessel, 1 YTL

Allied air forces

[edit]

Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force

[edit]
John K. Cannon as a full general

Major General John K. Cannon

XII Tactical Air Command

[edit]
See also: XII Tactical Air Command
American Fighters
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
British Fighters
Supermarine Spitfire
Bristol Beaufighter

Brigadier General Gordon P. Saville[18]

1st Fighter Group (Lockheed P-38 Lightning) (on loan to MATAF 12–20 August 1944)
14th Fighter Group (P-38 Lightning) (on loan to MATAF 12–20 August 1944)
27th Fighter Group (Republic P-47 Thunderbolt)
57th Fighter Group (P-47 Thunderbolt)
79th Fighter Group (P-47 Thunderbolt)
86th Fighter Group (P-47 Thunderbolt)
324th Fighter Group (P-47 Thunderbolt)
No. 251 Wing RAF (Supermarine Spitfire IX)
No. 322 Wing RAF (Supermarine Spitfire IX)
No. 324 Wing RAF (Supermarine Spitfire IX)
47th Bombardment Group (Douglas A-20 Havoc)
111th Reconnaissance Squadron (F-6A Mustang)
415th Night Fighter Squadron (Beaufighter VI)
No. 225 Squadron RAF (Spitfire V)
II/33 Escadrille (Spitfire V)
Quartieme Escadre (P-47 Thunderbolt)
57th Bombardment Wing
310th Bombardment Group (North American B-25 Mitchell)
321st Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell)
340th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell)
5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (F-5 Lightning)
23d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (F-5 Lightning)
No. 682 Squadron RAF (Supermarine Spitfire XI)
42d Bombardment Wing
17th Bombardment Group Martin B-26 Marauder
319th Bombardment Group (B-26 Marauder)
320th Bombardment Group (B-26 Marauder)
31e Escadre (B-26 Marauder)
31st Fighter Group P-51 Mustang (Escorts for airborne operations)
325th Fighter Group P-51 Mustang (Escorts for airborne operations)

Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force

[edit]
Air Vice-Marshall Hugh Pughe Lloyd
Bell P-39 Airacobra
Supermarine Walrus launching from HMS Bermuda

Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd[19]

63rd Fighter Wing

No. 326 (GC 2/7 Nice) (Spitfire V and IX)
No. 327 (GC 1/3 Corse) (Spitfire IX)
No. 328 (GC 1/7 Provence) (Spitfire V and IX)
417th Night Fighter Squadron (Beaufighter VI)
VOC-01 (Grumman F6F Hellcat, Grumman TBF Avenger)
350th Fighter Group
345th Fighter Squadron (Bell P-39 Airacobra)
346th Fighter Squadron (P-39 Airacobra)
347th Fighter Squadron (P-39 Airacobra)
No. 272 Squadron RAF (Beaufighter X)
414th Night Fighter Squadron (Beaufighter VI)
No. 256 Squadron RAF (Mosquito XII and XIII)
No. 153 Squadron RAF (Beaufighter VI)
No. 458 Squadron RAAF (Wellington XIV)
No. 36 Squadron RAF (Wellington XIV)
No. 17 Squadron SAAF (Lockheed Ventura V)
4S Squadron (Supermarine Walrus)
No. 14 Squadron RAF (Marauder I, II and III)

Provisional Troop Carrier Air Division

[edit]
Brig. Gen. Paul L. Williams
Row of Douglas C-47s in England

Brigadier General Paul L. Williams[20]

50th Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain)
439th Troop Carrier Group
440th Troop Carrier Group
441st Troop Carrier Group
442d Troop Carrier Group
51st Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain)
60th Troop Carrier Group
62nd Troop Carrier Group
64th Troop Carrier Group
53rd Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain)
435th Troop Carrier Group
436th Troop Carrier Group
437th Troop Carrier Group
438th Troop Carrier Group

Axis forces

[edit]

Army Group G

[edit]
Main article: Army Group G
Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz

Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz

Nineteenth Army
General der Infanterie Friedrich Wiese
IV Luftwaffe Field Corps
716th Infantry Division
198th Infantry Division
189th Infantry Division
LXXXV Army Corps
General der Infanterie Baptist Knieß
338th Infantry Division (Generalleutnant René l'Homme de Courbiére)
244th Infantry Division (Generalleutnant Hans Schaefer)
LXII Army Corps
General der Infanterie Ferdinand Neuling
242nd Infantry Division (Generalleutnant Johannes Baessler)
148th Reserve Division (Generalmajor Otto Fretter-Pico)
LXIV Army Corps[j]
159th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) as 159th Reserve Division
Army Reserve
11th Panzer Division (Generalmajor Wend von Wietersheim)
157th Reserve Division
158th Reserve Division[k]

Air forces

[edit]
Main article: Luftflotte 2
2nd Flieger-Division
[edit]

Kommandierender Admiral der französische Südküste

6. Sicherungsflotille

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Had led Americal Division and XIV Army Corps during closing weeks of Guadalcanal Campaign; died of pneumonia approx. 5-1/2 months after the end of the war in Europe.
  2. ^ Later successfully led French forces against the Việt Minh in the First Indochina War.
  3. ^ Neither diversionary operation succeeded in fooling the Germans about the location of the main assault.[10]
  4. ^ Noted Hollywood actor before and after war
  5. ^ HQ and four batteries of four 75mm pack howitzers
  6. ^ Formed in July, 1944, in Rome, specifically for this operation. Since the 442nd became available while the 552nd was in training and took very little time to train on the British 6 lb. guns need for gliders, it went in first. But the 552nd was always on the complement of troops slated for this operation (and the 1st ABTF) and relieved the 442nd mid-October 1944 supporting the 1st ABTF member units still in the area. From documents from the National Archives.
  7. ^ Attached 22 August 1944 to replace the British 2nd Parachute brigade; later assigned
  8. ^ In reserve
  9. ^ Mortally wounded in kamikaze attack off Manila Bay, January 1945
  10. ^ Swapped units with the IV Luftwaffe Corps in September.
  11. ^ In transition forming the 16th Infantry Division.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Morison, pp. 223-225
  2. ^ Morison, p. 223
  3. ^ Morison, p. 226
  4. ^ Morison, p. 223
  5. ^ Morison, p. 221
  6. ^ Morison, pp. 263-264, p. 265
  7. ^ Morison, p. 267
  8. ^ "645th Tank Destroyer Bn. Combat History". 45th Infantry Division.
  9. ^ Morison, p. 338
  10. ^ Morison, pp. 249-250
  11. ^ Morison, p. 342
  12. ^ Morison, pp. 342-343
  13. ^ "The 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) Unit History". The U.S. Airborne During WWII.
  14. ^ Morison, pp. 338-339
  15. ^ Morison, pp. 339-340
  16. ^ Morison, pp. 340-341
  17. ^ Morison, pp. 341-342
  18. ^ Jackson, p. 221
  19. ^ Jackson, p. 222
  20. ^ Warren, p. 87

Sources

[edit]
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