Hi Marion,
Yes, the airborne operation part of Husky went horribly wrong and it was nothing to do with the axis forces. Friendly fire, incomplete planning and lack of pilot training and experience led to missed LZs, aircraft shot down by allied ships and in many cases gliders being released over the sea. D'Este's chapter title for the glider operation is "Flying Coffins" which I think says it all! The military cemeteries at Syracuse and Catania bear witness to this, but so many had no known grave. Of the 147 gliders that left Tunisia 69 crash-landed in the sea and only 12 got to their LZ.
The US airborne force under Colonel James M Gavin fared little better in the parachute landing to support the 7th Army. Weather and aircrew training and experience were again to play a part and this time the Axis forces in the form of the Hermann Goering Division were waiting.
In spite of the above it must be said that all the airborne forces involved played their part in the eventual defeat of the Axis in Sicily and lessons were learnt for future airborne operations.
Colin.
