July 1943

Sicily

Gen Alexander orders the US 7th Army to exert maximum pressure eastward along Highways 113 and 120 as soon as possible, leaving elements behind to complete the mop-up of the western part of island. As a result of this order, preparations are made to reinforce the II Corps with 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions and artillery units.

The Americans enter Palermo in strength only to find it badly damaged by Allied bombers earlier in the year. Those bombings had also started the destrucion of the harbor which the Germans completed. There were 44 ships sunk in the harbor which reduces its value as a port to nil. Two engineer regiments are rushed forward to make the port usable as soon as possible. Patton's army can not be sustained being supplied from the small and distant ports on the southern coast.

In the II Corps area, the 157th Industry of Middleton's 45th Infantry Division cuts the northern coastal road (Highway 113) 6 miles east of Termini Imerse at Station Cerca. They move eastward until Campofelice where they encounter Col Max Ulich's 15th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the advance unit of Maj-Gen Walter Fries's 29th Panzer Grenadier Division. The Americans halt and await reinforcements. The 179th Infantry of the 45th Division takes Collesano and advances toward Castelbuono.

The 82nd Airborne and Col Darby's Task Force X begin the task of clearing western Sicily. Darby's men occupy Mazara del Vallo and Marsala on this day

Units of 1st Infantry Division reach Highway 120 east of Petralia in the morning. The village is cleared by 9:00am and units pivot east and begin moving along Highway 120. The initial objective is Nicosia, 20 miles away. The forward units reach Gangi, about halfway, which has been abandoned. It will take 5 more days to advance the last 10 miles.

In British 8th Army area, The XXX Corps is meeting strong resistance as it attempts to drive east from Leonforte.