The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, commenced on July 9-10, 1943, with a landing party of 2,200 paratroopers dropped into Gela, Italy. Amphibious landings began in the morning with German aircraft attacking the invasion fleet. Subsequently, USAAF C-47s and C-53s departed from Kairouan, Tunisia, in V formations at low altitude, discharging paratroopers squarely on target. The 52nd Troop Carrier Wing lost 23 of 144 C-47s to friendly fire, resulting in 83 fatalities. The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment suffered 81 casualties.The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, commenced on July 9-10, 1943, with a landing party of 2,200 paratroopers dropped into Gela, Italy. Amphibious landings began in the morning with German aircraft attacking the invasion fleet. Subsequently, USAAF C-47s and C-53s departed from Kairouan, Tunisia, in V formations at low altitude, discharging paratroopers squarely on target. The 52nd Troop Carrier Wing lost 23 of 144 C-47s to friendly fire, resulting in 83 fatalities. The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment suffered 81 casualties.