The Slaughter And Cover Up of The 82nd Airborne In Sicily (Operation Husky)
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- In what remains one of the worst friendly fire incident involving US forces, Operation Husky called for the 82nd Airborne to drop into Sicily to support the American and British ground forces in July 1943. It was until March 1944 that the US pubic were made aware of the tragedy.
My Dad was there, Navy Amphibious Force. No one talked about this incident. Toward the end of his life he told me about some of his experiences in the war. He said this was worse than D-Day by far because of friendly fire results. US Paratroopers bodies floated to the surface for days afterward. It was and is heart wrenching. He said Navy brass blamed it on quick trigger-finger inexperienced Navy Reserve officers and men. But as your clip mentioned, he also said, once it started everyone fired.
Yes I remember reading that the army informed the families that their loved ones had washed up on the shore.
The urge to play with a new toy outweighs the necessity to utilize common sense, same old story.
Yesterday I made comment on how difficult and complex airborne operations can be. When I was involved Huskey was used as a lesson in not how to do deconfliction!
Is this what Dick Winters meant when he said; "This is about officers crapping out on their training"?
I can’t imagine how awful the gunners must have felt when they found out what had happened.
As the war progressed, amphibious operations were getting bigger, more complex and required more coordination. It seems Patton issued warning orders about the airdrop but then as I listened to the narration, he highlighted a breakdown in communication as dissemination of his message had failed at several subordinate levels. It would seem that somewhere in the chain of command the officers responsible for carrying out Patton's orders had failed to get the message out. Even if the equipment fails it doesn't absolve them of the responsibility to deliver the message as ordered. The end result was as you heard......disastrous. The fact that the Luftwaffe had launched an unexpected night raid near the same time frame only seemed to have raised the level of risk considerably. A lot of friendlies ended up paying the price.
Out of a hundred and thirty gliders sixtynine were released too early or shot down and went down in the sea and husky the courses were too complex.
“If it flies it dies “after receiving so much friendly fire that is what ground troops thought about seeing unknown planes at this time.
I don't understand why the C-47s didn't fly the paratroopers into Sicily during daylight hours. After all, the airfield already was in Allied hands. So, what am I missing here?
Possibly avoiding axis fighters?
@dillonhunt1720
Enemy aircraft were also involved in the airborne snafu, that aspect was down played as with Operation Tiger and Slapton rehearsal landings, enemy torpedo gun boats were involved but for long time it was played off as training accident and friendly fire.
Rehearsal for later operations.....D Day?
Even in combat the military conducts train-ups knowing they will have other and larger operations.
What works? What doesn't? How long? Etc.?
I imagine it was to avoid Luftwaffe fighter sweeps. That raid probably highlighted that if the RAF and USAAF didn't have full air supremacy over Southern Sicily even at night so imagine the danger during daytime. Also it wouldn't have necessarily fixed the problem of lack of air identification to the AA gunners, who might mistake the general shape of a C-47 in the air with a He-111 or Ju-88 or even a Ju-52.
@@Trekpanther
Italian night fighter s and a German recon flight allegedly sparked off fleets AA defences, the enemy aircraft receded but oncoming airborne transports passed over about same time as enemy aircraft veered away after being engaged by fleet AA. Wars are always a mess.
The training itself is hazardous without enemy presence. Hard hat area so to speak.
I agree with lonzo461 . My first thought was that with the airfield in friendly hands, then use it. I love how common sense is so uncommon.
The Navy was told. The blood of the 504th is on their hands.
Remember folks, you can't have friendly fire without the word - friend.
This is - something that could have been avoided - logistics and coordination are the backbone of any operation - military or civilian.
Fantastic to see something about my old unit the 82nd and the 505. Jim Magellas deserves at least one if not more videos. Thanks again!
Oh! The nazis were to blame, they wouldn’t have been there if they didn’t act up.
WHO was held accountable for this?? I bet a lot of officers NEVER had this on their records either.....
Notice how the COMMAND OFFICERS NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY for the incident and that says VOLUMES.
Its probably the worst allied incident I have come across. And for nobody to be held accountable was just a slap in the face to all the guys who died.
I think Indy Neidell mentioned this in passing.
Thank you for this detailed video.
Operation Cobra. I read about it in WWII History magazine.
I think if you did a video on it would be cool.
I will take a good look at it.
Hi mate
This is a well forgotten tragedy that was swept under the carpet!
You should do a story on the ‘Friendly fire incident’ that occurred at Saint Lo 6/7th July when US bombers dropped their payloads on the town after they had dropped leaflets trying to warn the town’s population to evacuate, and also during the Normandy hedgerow campaign ‘Operation Cobra’ 24/25th July which killed and injured numerous soldiers as well as Lt. general McNair!
Thanks mate Ill keep that in mind for the Subscriber Sunday video. I think it was the worst of WW2 from memory?
I was curious enough, after seeing the photo of Bradley, Patton, and Ike, to look up dates of rank of Bradley and Patton. Bradley is wearing 4 stars on his helmet and Patton 3 stars on his. According to two sources, Bradley was promoted to temporary 4-star rank in March 1945 (permanent rank in January 1949). Patton was promoted to 4-star rank in April 1945. Therefore, that photo in the presentation had to have been taken in France or Germany rather than Sicily -- not to suggest that the photo credits claim the shot was taken in Sicily.
Good research. Yeah sometimes it's hard to get the photo you need with the correct time. I don't title the photos much anymore because when the source material is incorrect I get bombarded with corrections.
I didn't know about this. What an awful incident.
This incident almost killed future Airborne Operations. This is Also when the iconic stripe and stars on C47 where implemented to minimize potential friendly fire.
RUclips should require a label on all AI videos. Lazy bullshit.
I'm deaf so its the only way I can make videos. Do you want disabled people to not have the same opportunities?
Sounds like a total breakdown in communication. My son's unit in the 101st experienced the same on a much smaller scale in Iraq. A convoy was sent out to deliver an officer to another location. They were driving at night with no headlights using night vision goggles. No one bothered to notify or they did not know a platoon of combat engineers were at a worksite on the same route
They hear vehicles with no lights headed their way. Of course they opened fire at least one American was killed and wounded. A lack of communication at the company and battalion level. Both units were in the brigade.
Thats a terrible story. I cant even imagine having a child in combat.
And then Ike replaced Patton for slapping sick soldiers with an out of depth guy who directly caused his own friendly fire disaster in Normandy.
Great narration...with a human voice!
It made me feel sick the first time I learned of this friendly fire 🔥 disaster. I still feel sick. At least some of the pilots thought quickly enough to return with their cargo of elite paratroopers on board.
Wow.
Another great video. I enjoy your writing style, you are a good storyteller and narrator.
Thank you! 😊