The 4,000 mile diversionary circuitous route of 107,000 American and British
troops across the Atlantic was successful.
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.
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.
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.
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.
at Oran and Algiers beachheads along the Mediterranean Sea.
.%20Ordnancemen%20mount%20a%201,000-pound%20bomb%20beneath%20the%20plane's%20belly%20(80-G-30360).png) |
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
and his troops
would now face
their first battle.
As would 80%
of the 35,000
Western Task Force
soldiers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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."
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.
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.
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.
soon pushed back. But then sniper fire began.
%20Nat%20Arch.png) |
| 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.
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.
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.
troops waded in from their boats.
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.
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.
%20BLOG.png) |
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
--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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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