The morning of July 10, 1943 started very early for the aircrew preparing the aircraft for FAA 880 for the attacks on the air fields on Sicily. As the men of the HMS Indomitable readied to launch the Seafire's; final briefings were taking place in similar ready rooms all across the invasion fleet.
The men of FAA 880 paused just long enough at the door of the ready room for a casual observer to think they were having second thoughts. However in each pilots own way they were remembering those brothers in arms and friends who had died so that they could live and fight for freedom. Each man knew that they may not be coming back from this flight and understood that without sacrifice the battle could not be won.
Operation Husky showed just how fragile the Seafire was. Of the 106 initially deployed less than 50 survived the first 48 hours due to landing accidents and only 23 were serviceable when the operation concluded.
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OPERATION HUSKY: INVASION OF SICILY 1943
ALLIES (BISHOPS)
(Land Based)
P-40E
Spitfire IX (limited bases in North Africa)
Spitfire V
Hurri II C
Hurri II D
Boston III
B-26B (From A74 & 75 only)
B-17G (From A74 & 75 only)
C-47
(Carrier Based)
F4F-4 (From C68 only)
Seafire I (From C60 only)
TBM-3 (From C60 & C68 only)
(Vehicles)
Panzer IVH
Ostwind
M series
LVT's (From Fleets)
PT-Boat (From Fleets & Ports)
AXIS (KNIGHTS)
(Aircraft)
ME-109 F, G-2, G-6
FW-190A-5
MC. 202
MC. 205
ME-110G-2
JU-87D-3
JU-88A-4
C-47
(Vehicles)
Panzer IVH
Tiger (limited to a few air and vehicle bases)
Ostwind
M series
PT-Boat (At ports and fleets)
ARENA SETTINGS
MAP: Sicily
Morning: 6:15, Evening: 18:45
Fuel: 1.5
Dar: 500 ft, Full Friendly
Ack: .7
Downtimes: Ack: 20 minutes, 30 minutes all others.
SET-UP NOTES:
* C60 is designated the RN carrier, C68 the USN carrier.
* Tigers are non perk but to a few air and vehicle bases.
* B-17's & B-26 available only from N. Africa (74 & 75)
