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 and lights out. Allied forces opened fire on the shoreline from naval vessels and shore troops upon the arrival of the next formations. The 52nd Troop Carrier Wing lost 23 of 144 C-47s to friendly fire, resulting in 83 fatalities, and 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 and lights out. Allied forces opened fire on the shoreline from naval vessels and shore troops upon the arrival of the next formations. The 52nd Troop Carrier Wing lost 23 of 144 C-47s to friendly fire, resulting in 83 fatalities, and the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment suffered 81 casualties.