John Edward Binnion: 22: Operation Torch D-Day

 

 

The 4,000 mile diversionary circuitous route of 107,000 American and British
 troops across the Atlantic was successful. 

 

Some 350 warships, 500 transport ships and other vessels, 
and 1,000 planes, arrived at their rendezvous point near Gibraltar.  
Undetected. 

 

It was D-Day for Operation Torch:
The invasion of western North Africa where territory was
 defended not by Italian or German troops, but 
by Vichy French Forces who made a deal with Hitler.

  

US Convoy nearing Casablanca, Dawn on November 8, 1942, US Navy

 

One third of the fleet assembled about eight miles* off the Atlantic coast 
of Casablanca. An American fleet of 102 transport ships with 35,000  troops 
was accompanied by Navy warships and minesweepers. 

 

This was the Western Task Force, under Gen. George Patton.

They were to be the first to land, and were to
secure three beachheads near Casablanca, Morocco.

Operation Torch Allied Invasion Map, November 8, 1942, Army Map

 

Once those were secured, the other two Task Forces would begin to land
at Oran and Algiers beachheads along the Mediterranean Sea.

 

Bomber is loaded on the USS Ranger, November 8, 1942, Army Photo

 

Well before dawn, virtually every soldier and sailor were finalizing operations.

Warships with aircraft were readied by the Navy and the Army Air Forces; 
they would secure Safi harbor south of Casablanca 
and then support Infantry landings on all three beaches.  

 

Specialized Army landing forces hoisted jeeps, trucks, 
tanks, artillery, and combat supplies onto ramped transport vessels 
and prepared to ferry them ashore. 

Transfer from ship to landing craft; soldiers climb down a ladder 
while a crate is lowered by cable, November 8, 1942, Army photo

 

 

And each soldier 
geared up with the field 
supply belts, weapons,
 and backpacks 
as they had when training. 

 

2nd Lt. John Edward
and his troops 
would now face 
their first battle.

 

As would 80% 
of the 35,000 
Western Task Force 
soldiers.

 

The men 
clambered down ladders 
or scaled cargo nets 
while crates of 
combat equipment 
were lowered onto 
nearby vessels.

 

One by one, 
John Edward
and his men
moved from the ship
to a landing craft. 

 

 

 

When filled with about thirty soldiers, 
the craft left ship side and crested its first wave. 

 

With the heavy swells on that morning, 
many of the small vessels immediately faced waters 
that rose and crashed over them.  

   

Landing craft faces rough waters as it departs ship for beach, November 8, 1942, Army photo still

  

They would motor for several hours through these ocean waters, 

 traveling the eight to twelve miles to their next 

rendezvous points along the Atlantic Coast of Morocco.

 

Landing craft and ship near Safi, November 8, 1942, National Archives

 

Each group of landing craft were accompanied by 
Navy destroyers and minesweepers.  

 

Reaching the lines of departure, they were some 4,000 yards 
offshore. Another 15-20 minutes away.
The first wave of the Western Task Force was ready.

 

 

Just outside Safi Harbor, her mast removed for this operation, 
the destroyer-transport USS Bernadou led the way.

 

USS Bernadou, Operation Torch, Navy photo

For this battle there were to be no preparatory and protective 
air or naval bombardments: 

Gen. Eisenhower had ordered Americans 
not to fire unless fired upon.
Following months of Allied Intelligence among the Vichy French, 
stationed in North Africa, it was just possible that their Navy would give
no more than token resistance and then join the Allies.

Battleships near Casablanca beaches, November 8, 1942, National Archives

 

USS Bernadou entered Safi harbor at 4:28 am. 

 

With some commanders still loyal to Germany, 
the French Vichy navy and shore battery were ordered to open fire. 
And "all hell broke loose." 

 

Amidst counter-fire, the USS Bernadou barrelled on and charged 
full-speed toward the boom, the harbor's steel-mesh defense barrier. 
With her machine guns and anti-aircraft guns 
sweeping the Safi docks, the Captain 
rammed the ship into the sand and beached there. 

 

USS Bernadou rammed into sand at Safi Harbor, November 8, 1942, Navy photo

 

Still under fire, 197 soldiers trained in night-raiding descended the 
landing net and set off for their counter-sabotage work in Safi. 
The remaining infantry units on that ship immediately followed. 

 

 American troops were on North African soil.

 

Allied counter-fire continued, and the Vichy French Navy was
 soon pushed back. But then sniper fire began. 

F4F-4 Wildcat fighter taking of from USS Ranger, November 8, 1942, National Archives

 

Since Allied Naval guns had little inland visibility in the 
early dawn darkness and cloud cover, aircraft began to take off.

 

On all three Western Task Force beaches,  
24 bombers and fighter planes supported the remaining 
35,000 troops
 as they approached the beachheads.

  

Troops wade toward beach from lowered boat ramps, November 8, 1942, National Archives

 

When a landing craft reached shallow water, 
troops waded in from their boats. 

Tanks and other amphibious vehicles drove off the ramps

of their Higgins Boats and directly onto the beaches.

 

 

Infantry land on a beachhead near Casablanca; there is a tank in back left and a 
ramped landing craft in center; November 8, 1942, National Archives

   

Naval and ground fighting continued throughout the morning. 
However, Gen. Patton wrote in his diary that day: 

"I feel that most of the time they bomb the ocean

 rather than the beach."

 

Vichy French bombs land in water near ship approaching beach near Casablanca, 
November 8, 1942, Army film still

Erratic shelling was one more indication that Allied Intelligence
had laid a solid foundation for cooperation with the Vichy French. 
Both officers and soldiers were reluctant to fight troops
they saw more as liberators than enemies. 

  

 Ammunition for light guns unloaded from a landing craft, November 8, 1942, Navy photo

 

By late afternoon, ammunition, weapons, and medical supplies 
were ferried to the northern and southern beachheads. 
They were secured some 5,000 yards by evening. 

 

But landings were delayed at Fedala, the middle beachhead 
of the Western Task Force. 

Rough waters and waves that reached fifteen feet destroyed 
or damaged over 100 boats when winds 
and waves capsized or crashed them onto rocky beaches.

  

 

Meanwhile, landings had commenced 
along the Mediterranean Coast near Oran and Algeria. 
Near Oran, the Central Task Force faced French Vichy defenses 
for two days before the city was captured. 

 

Operation Torch diagram, US Navy

 

The Eastern Task Force landings near Algiers, however, faced little opposition. 

Free French and Algerian resistance forces who had infiltrated 
the area were soon helping unload weapons and supplies, 
and the city was under Allied control by nightfall. 

Algerians help Eastern Task Force unload petrol, November 8, 1942, British News film still

By D+1, November 9, the French Naval fleet was virtually destroyed.  
Land battles, however, continued throughout the next two days.

 

 

For the Western Task Force, fighting would next focus 
on the capture of Casablanca. 
Lt. John Edward and his men landed 
on one of those three beachheads near Casablanca:  

"Made the Invasion of North Africa, Casablanca."
--John Edward Binnion Military History, ca 1998 

 

  This was most likely at the Fedala Beachhead,
 where the mass of support vehicles, equipment, and supplies 
were to be delivered by the Quartermaster Corps.
These accompanied the bulk of the infantry, who were 
also to land at Fedala and then march on the city of Casablanca. 

 

Artillery hauled up to Fedala beachhead, November 8 or 9, 1942, Army photo

 But rough surf delayed landings at Fedala throughout D-Day and D+1. 

As a result, by midday November 9, less than half of 
those troops were ashore, 
and even less of the combat cargo.  

 

Soldiers guard a transport craft stuck in sand on the Fedala rocky shoreline, November 8-9, 1942 Army photo

  

 What equipment and supplies had been delivered were scattered 
amidst a number of the landing craft stuck in the sand. 
For those who had landed, it was a couple of cold damp nights. 

Soldiers who guarded landing craft, vehicles, and supplies, had only 
detritus for improvised blanket-warmth on the beach.

 

They worked through the 9th and into the 10th freeing craft, 
consolidating the combat equipment and supplies, and 
organizing trucks and jeeps as they landed. 

 

  

 Shortly after noon on the 9th, Patton came ashore at Fedala.

 

Patton on landing craft heading for his first visit to Fedala beachhead, November 9, 1942, Army photo. 
(Photo note: Sgt. George Meeks looks up from center; while the Army was segregated during WWII, Patton brought Sgt. Meeks onto his personal staff.) 

  

Later that day his troops started toward Casablanca and closed in
 on the 10th. They were prepared to attack on the 11th, but the city 
surrendered first. Later that day an armistice was signed.

 

With an armistice signed, U.S. Army tank peacefully drives into Casablanca, 
November 11, 1942, National Archives

 

With the successful launch of Operation Torch, 
there were a number of strategic advantages for the Allies.

They now controlled trade and transport 
throughout the Mediterranean Sea -- essential for the upcoming European Campaign.
And from Northeastern North Africa, where they would soon march to take 
Tunisia, they would be in position to invade Sicily. 
From there, they would enter the European Campaign 
through Italy, "the soft underbelly of Europe." 

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously coined such expressions. 
Regarding Operation Torch, the beginning of the North African Campaign, he said:
"Now this is not the end.
It is not even the beginning to the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

 
 

*More information can be found in Operation Torch, prepared by the US Navy. 
Additional background and stories are readily available on sites such as 
the National Army Museum or the Warfare History Network. 

Thanks for reading.
Find the previous post here. 
And join us soon for the next post.

John Edward Binnion: 21: Operation Torch

 "There seems to be an awful lot of activity
around here -- the eastern seaboard I mean."
-- John Edward, October 17, 1942

 

There was a lot of activity.
Top Secret Operation Torch was underway.

This joint American-British invasion of North Africa
was led by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and
its secrecy was crucial for the success of America’s entry
into the war in Europe.*  

Six days after John Edward wrote his letter, the first troops would depart under
Gen. Patton, commander of the Western Task Force.
Until they were well on their way across the ocean, the troops and
even most officers would not know their destination.

 

Map of World War II in Europe, November 1942, Creative Commons

This joint American-British amphibious assault
would invade Morocco and Algeria, North African colonies
occupied by the Vichy French Regime
(who were Germany collaborators, unlike the Free French underground).

Operation Torch would then march east and invade Axis-occupied Tunisia.
With control of the Mediterranean Sea they would
invade Sicily, then Italy, and move into Europe through
what Winston Churchill called "the soft underbelly of Europe." 

 

Operation Torch diversionary tactics while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Autumn 1942, Army photo

On the 23rd of October, with Naval warships and air protection,
Gen. Patton and the first convoy left Chesapeake Bay. 

It would have been conspicuous for all ships to leave at the same time,
and so diversionary tactics were used. Departure was staggered from various ports
asthe 107 troop transport and cargo vessel ships headed for the
Atlantic coast of Morocco near Casablanca.

 Then, with carefully calculated Naval tables, the convoys zig-zagged in circuitous routes
across the Atlantic. It was only at night that they headed directly toward
the rendezvous point near Gibraltar.

Stuart Tank hoisted above ship hold, November 1942, Army photo

Meanwhile, World War I Naval ships were still being refit,
and civilian ships refashioned to transport vehicles, artillery, and tanks. 

 Some were ready only on the day troops boarded,
their departure from various ports along the Eastern Coast and Bermuda. 

 

   War correspondent Walter Cronkite was on one of the ships in the
first convoy. In his journal he said there was "consensus"
among the Naval crew about the ever-changing route:
"Damned if [it] doesn't confuse us.'"   

'We watch which way the ship is going,' they said, 'and we can pretty well figure out
where we are bound. Before we left Norfolk we figured we were going to Martinique ....
When we zigged northward a little bit we began to decide it was Dakar we were going to,
and some of the boys even thought we might be going around to the Indian Ocean and
up to Alexandria .... Then we zigged again and now we're going straight north.
Damned if that doesn't confuse us.'"  
 

Dog Tags of John Edward Binnion

Not knowing where they were headed,
over 34,000 soldiers boarded ships through early November.

Each wore an identifying Dog Tag hung on a chain
around their neck. It included their name, serial number,
rank, tetanus shot verification and blood type,
followed by next of kin and their address.

For almost all of the troops, this would be
the first time they would enter battle.

John Edward's first Officer's Pay Data Card, October 21, 1942 family scan

2nd. Lt. John Edward and his men
departed from the NYPE,
New York Port of Embarkation.

Carrying a 100 duffle bag, bed roll,
rifle, and helmet, they traveled
by train to New York
and took a ferry to the NYPE.


To vigilantly guard
secrecy of the operation,
most ships were boarded at night.

A soldier on a troop transport ship
described his first experiences:
"Once we had climbed the gangway
and gotten aboard, each of us
simply followed the man in front of us
through a maze of hatches and
companionways until we reached our
assigned area. This consisted of
a forest of steel pipes supporting
canvas strips stretched tightly with ropes.

These hammocks were tiered three high.
Aisles between the hammocks were
extremely narrow and packed with
duffel bags and gear, so we were
constantly climbing over something."

 

He added that days were filled with waiting in long lines for meals.
There were also card games and more card games; time above deck;
and drills, exercises, and inspections.

Operation Torch ship bound for North Africa, Inspection, early November 1942, Army photo

 Showers were taken in salt water. Meals were twice a day.
And for most, there was scarce time above deck.
The first days at sea were smooth waters.

 

The ship convoys soon merged into an armada of 107 ships under the
command of General George Patton and Rear Admiral Henry Hewitt.
They were "a sight to behold:"

The force included 3 Navy battleships and several dozen safe passage minesweepers,
tankers, and destroyers, as well as aircraft for air cover and reconnaissance.
Casablanca would first be attacked by the additional
91 Naval Assault Force vessels and 171 Army Aircraft,
which completed the Western Task Force.

5th Army airman photographs fleet crossing Atlantic, early November, 1942, National Archives photo

Radio silence was maintained for this enormous formation, its columns
spread some 20 to 30 miles across the ocean. 
Command, however, remained in full control, and "a flag hoist
on Rear Admiral Hewitt's ship could reach the entire fleet in ten minutes."

Overall, transit was smooth steaming across 4,000 miles of the Atlantic.
But there were a few stormy days with fierce winds as the fleet neared Casablanca.
For the seasick in close quarters below deck, it was torturous.
For others, enlisted men and officers alike, it was nearly as agonizing,
confined as they were with heaving bunk-mates.

 

Rear Admiral Hewitt watched the weather and considered the threat of rough surf
on the coast of Morroco, then signaled "proceed on service assigned." 

The rendezvous of American and British forces at Gibraltar
on November 7 was successful.

Allied leaders "marveled" that they remained undetected given
the complexity and scale of the operation:
combined forces had included 350 warships
and 500 transports that carried over 107,000 troops.

Map of the 3-pronged plan for Operation Torch, November 8, 1942, Army map

 

From Gibraltar, final preparations were made for Operation Torch to
commence its 3-pronged assault on Vichy French controlled North Africa.
Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft began anti-U-boat and
reconnaissance patrols along coast llines and over naval bases. 

 

Royal Navy submarines then used infra-red signals to guide the three convoys
into position just off the coasts of Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers.
Before dawn of November 8, all task forces were in position;
the American arm, the Western Task Force,
lay ready just off the Atlantic coast of Morocco.

 

*More information can be found in Operation Torch, prepared by the US Navy. 
Additional background and stories are readily available on sites such as 
the National Army Museum or the Warfare History Network. 

Thanks for reading.
Join us here
for the next post.