July 1943

Final Preparations for Invasion of Sicily

July 1-5, 1943
The first few days of July were spent making final preparations for the first invasion of foreign shores using the "New Ship of War", the Landing Craft Infantry (Large). During this time LCI 35 conducted speed trials, some shipmates attended school, 3 foot numbers (35) were painted on both sides of the hull and the Commanding Officer went ashore for final instructions before departing Bizerte for the invasion of Sicily.

LCI 35 in Bizerte in Preparation for the Invasion of Sicily

Photo from Time Life Books

On July 5th Group 4 including LCI 35, joined Flotillas 1, 2, and 4 in loading soldiers and equipment aboard ships bound for Sicily. The photo below shows the preparations that were underway in Bizerte. Other information regarding the preparations is also below.

BIZERTE HARBOR
Preparing for the Invasion of Sicily

The photo of Bizerte Harbor above appears in the introduction of a video clip highlighting the 77th Medical Evacuation Hospital's preparation for the Sicily Invasion.  Also shown in the short clip are LCIs underway for Sicily and the LCI 36 disembarking troops.

July 6-7, 1943

Sousse, Tunisia

At 0450 on July 6th, while anchored in Bizerte Lake, LCI 35 noted that a plane was shot down in the sea. The Group 4 War Diary noted that 3 planes were shot down and several bombs just missed hitting LCIs 5 and 10.

At 0545 the convoy got underway with LCI 35 falling in a column behind LCI 231. The ships passed an island and the entrance to Tunis harbor at Cape Bon. At 2300 LCI 35 dropped anchor outside the entrance to Sousse. The following morning at 0615 LCI 35 hoisted its anchor and went into Sousse and tied alongside LCI 13 to allow the soldiers to disembark at 0900. The soldiers disembarked with rations, water, guns and ammunition probably to hike. At 1500 the soldiers returned and LCI 35 got underway and dropped anchor in Sousse harbor.

July 8, 1943

Underway for Sicily
At 2300 on July 8th, the convoy for the invasion of Sicily got underway. LCI 35 fell behind LCI 231 while underway. LCI 35 was part of the force to land at Licata, Sicily.

MAP OF THE CONVOY ROUTE FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY

From Samuel E. Morison's History of US Naval Operations in World War II

Operation "Husky"- Invasion of Sicily July 10th, 1943
Background Information
Additional detailed information on the Invasion of Sicily can be found by visiting the World War II Summaries for the Italy and Italian Campaigns.

In May 1943, the “Americans still wanted to concentrate on planning the cross-Channel invasion of France, but at the Casablanca Conference somewhat reluctantly agree to go ahead with the Sicily landings.” The British were effective in demonstrating the need to keep the Mediterranean open to Allied shipping. The final plan for the landings were approved in mid-May and within a month the first troop convoys headed across the Atlantic.

The following details are relevant for Flotilla 2 and USS LCI (L) 229 and USS LCI (L) 35 since these two ships participated in the Licata landings (JOSS Area Molla Attack Group). The map, obtained from Vol. IX of Samuel Eliot Morison's History of US Naval Operations in World War II, shows the landing area for the Molla Attack Group.

LANDING AREA
Gulf of Gela, South Coast

FORCES LANDING
US 7th Army – General Patton (66,000 troops)

DEPARTURE FROM
Tunisia (LCI 229 and LCI 35)

WESTERN NAVAL TASK FORCE COMMANDER
Rear Admiral H K Hewitt USN

SHIPS
5 Cruisers, 48 Destroyers, 98 other Warships, 94 Troopships, Supply Ships LSIs, 190 Landing Ships and Craft


The LCI 35 was part of Task Group 86.8 of the Molla Attack Group (Green) under the command of Imlay. Included in this reserve group were: LCI 32* which served as the Regimental Combat Team Headquarters Ship and Flagship. Also included in this group were the following LCIs: 12, 13, 14, 35, 214, 215, 216, 219, 229, 231, 232*

LCI 33 served in the Replacement Group in case an LCI was needed due to a last minute casualty.

*LCI 32 was sunk at Anzio on January 26, 1944 and LCI 232 was sunk at Normandy on June 6, 1944

The LCI 33 underway out of Bizerte leading another LCI

From the Deck Log of the USS LCI 35 (From National Archives)

July 9, 1943 (Friday)
 

July 10, 1943 (Saturday)
 

July 11, 1943 (Sunday)
 

July 12, 1943

Return to Bizerte

At 0800 on July 12th, while still in the convoy with LSTs and with fuel running low, a noticeable knock in the port engines was noted. The sound appeared to be caused by a cable tangled around the shaft. However, with "just enough fuel to make it" LCI 35 anchored in Bizerte Lake at 1400. After performing routine duties at the docks in Bizerte the ship anchored for the night in Bizerte Lake tied to PT Boat 217.

The Action Report that follows details the success of LCI (L) 35 in shooting down 1 of the 3 planes that participated in the last air raid noted in the ships deck log above

Operation Husky – Invasion of Sicily
July 14, 1943 - Anti-Aircraft Action Report

At Licata, Sicily Attacked by German Messerschmitt on 11 July 1943 Opened Fire and Destroyed Enemy Plane

Action Report by Commanding Officer of LCI #35 – Samuel P. Strickland Jr.

Anti-aircraft Action by Surface Ships July 11 Licata, Sicily, Attack of 0910. Paragraph (11-23)

(1) At 0910 a German Messerschmitt 109 (similar to the one pictured on the right) came converging down from a hill on a true heading of approximately 270 degrees true, to make a run on our shipping, past about 750 yards forward of our bow. No. 1 gun opened fire two points off our port bow followed by the firing of NO. 2 and 3 guns as it passed in their line of bearing off the starboard bow. Upon immediate hit the plane attempted to make a vertical climb. At this time fire was seen in the cockpit, the plane immediately looped over completely out of control on a bearing of 315 degrees and crashed into the sea at a distance of 1 mile and about 1 point off of our starboard bow.

(2) As it was noticed no other ship opened fire until plane made loop and started down. It is definitely assumed that the gun fire from our ship brought down the plane.

(3) Immediately following crash of the plane our ship steamed to spot where the plane crashed and found nothing but large traces of oil and gas slick.

- From National Archives

EARL EICHORN

Photo of Earl Eichorn standing next to the marking signifying the shooting down of the German Messerschmitt 109.
 

CLARENCE ROBINS

Photo of Clarence Robins standing next to the marking signifying the shooting down of the German Messerschmitt 109.

July 15, 1943

More Beaching Exercises
At 0950 on Wednesday July 15th LCI 35 beached in the Lake Bizerte area to test its port ramp. After testing the port ramp, the LCI 35 stayed on the beach with the ramp lowered. The crew performed routine duties the next day and at 2000 one-half of the crew was granted liberty, climbed aboard an Army truck, and attended Army movies. On Saturday July 17th LCI 35 got underway from the beach and tied to the docks in Bizerte when, after the men got paid at 1300, the ship returned to the beach at 1500. The round trip to and from the beach and docks was repeated on Sunday July 18th, but the LCI 35 then stayed on the beach with its ramp lowered until Wednesday July 21st. The crew performed routine duties on Wednesday until work was stopped at 1300 due to the extremely hot weather (Deck Log indicated that it was 88 degrees at 1200). The LCI 35 was informed that it was to accompany a convoy the next day so the LCI 35 moved to deeper water and anchored for the night at 1850.

Other Ship References in LCI 35 Deck Log

During the period July 15th to July 21st the LCI 35 Deck Log contained notations related to the following LCIs or other ships: LCI 32, and PT Boat 217.

July 22 - August 15, 1943

Repairs - Tunis, Tunisia (At La Goulette)
At 0510 on Thursday July 22nd LCI 35 got underway for Tunis, Tunisia following LCI 11 and arriving at 1530 where she tied up to the barges in Tunis. LCI 35 remained in Tunis for repairs until August 15th when she returned to Bizerte.

During the time spent in Tunis, the ship's port ramp was ordered removed and given as a replacement to another LCI on July 29th and other repairs were delayed until August 3rd due to the unavailability of spare parts. LCI 35 entered dry dock on August 8th where work began on the screws and shafts. During this same time the ship's hull was painted. Work on the ship was completed on Saturday August 14th. While in Tunis, the crew of LCI 35 were granted liberty whenever possible.

General Alarm

On Saturday August 7th at 0430 a general alarm was sounded, but the LCI 35 did not fire her guns since the bombing attack appeared to be in the vicinity of Bizerte Lake.

Other Ship References in LCI 35 Deck Log

During the period July 22nd to August 14th the LCI 35 Deck Log contained notations related to the following LCIs or other ships: LCI 11, LCI 88, HM LCI 313, LCI 232, LCI 9, LCI 95, HMS ML1163, and US SC 691.

August 15, 1943

Return to Bizerte, Tunisia - Eclipse of the Moon Noted
At 0805 on Sunday August 15th LCI 35 left dry dock in Tunis and got underway for Bizerte arriving and anchoring in Bizerte Lake at 1840 tied to LCI 32. At 2100 an eclipse of the moon was noticed by the crew.

On Monday August 16th LCI 35 tied up to LCI 32 both in Bizerte Lake and at the docks in Bizerte. In addition, LCI 35 tied up to the repair ship USS Delta in Bizerte Lake.
 

Newspaper or Signal Corps Telephoto Coverage of the Sicily Invasion

LCI 317 disembarking troops during the Invasion of Sicily.

-Widely available photo  

Earl Eichorn

The Invasion of Sicily was particularly significant for Earl Eichorn who vividly remembers the LCI 35 Licata landing since it occurred on his 18th birthday. Earl also recalls the explosion and burning of the L.S.T. that was struck by the bomb on July 11, 1943.

GERMAN MESSERSCHMITT 109

Photo from World War II - A Visual Encyclopedia

This was the type of German plane that the LCI 35 got credited for shooting down on July 11, 1943 and described in the July 14, 1943 Action Report.