Description
Object description
A single-story edition of United News from July or August 1943, depicting the Allied invasion of Sicily in Operation Husky
Content description
United News main titles. 'The Invasion of Sicily!'; footage of invasion force preparing to sail and commentary emphasising Allied unity. Lieutenant-General George Patton receives a new battle flag from Admiral (Harry Kent) Hewitt. Commentary claims perfection of planning. Disembarking assault troops. Commentary names British, American, French and Canadian troops. Naval bombardment. Footage from the beach with American troops wading ashore 'to much less resistance than expected'. Use of 'giant invasion boats' (Landing Ship Tanks, LSTs) apparently unloading 'huge amphibious tanks capable of rolling right up the enemy's beach'. More US troops come ashore and vehicles are unloaded. First objective for US troops named as Gela, later taken by US Army Rangers. General Patton climbs down a rope ladder to a landing craft to take command ashore. Patton comes ashore. 'Sicilians...gaze in wonder at the tremendous vehicles and weapons being brought to their shore'. Gela the scene of a 57-hour battle before falling 'to an American division' (probably US 1st Infantry Division). Footage of tanks and troops advancing through the town; a jeep emerges from a narrow alley. A DUKW amphibious truck, named 'Lydie' passes at speed. A brick chimney marked 'Duce'. A Sherman medium tank passes. Allied forces repulse Axis counterattacks. A wrecked Italian armoured train is shown as proof of the accuracy of Allied shelling. Damage to the town ascribed to German bombing. American troops search houses and 'are quite at home' with the civilian population. Italian prisoners 'apparently quite willing to be captured' pass by. Allied forces link up and drive on Messina; a self-propelled gun passes. American engineers clear a minefield. Major-General Lucian Truscott is seen. Licata airfield (on the southern Sicilian coast) with US Army Air Forces Spitfire Mk V's parked (HL:M and HL:D of 308 Fighter Squadron, 31 Fighter Group are seen). A camouflaged hangar. The parked aircraft are refuelled. Aircraft take off; HL:X serial ES290 takes off over camera. Driving along a road with enemy dead at the roadside and shattered vehicles. A German Tiger tank at the roadside. Commentary states the fighting is ongoing but that 'combined forces of the United Nations are sweeping forward'. American mortarmen in action. An M7 105mm self-propelled gun in action (it is decorated with an image of bikini-clad 'GI Annie'). Troops on the march. End title.
Physical description
35mm