Operation Fustian

Operation Fustian
Part of the Allied invasion of Sicily
Primosole Bridge after capture, with damaged pill box on the right.
Date 13–16 July 1943 Location Primosole Bridge, Catania 37°23′58.27″N 15°3′54.01″E / 37.3995194°N 15.0650028°E / 37.3995194; 15.0650028 Result British victory Initial operational failure Bridge captured with advancing Eighth Army
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Germany  Italy
Commanders and leaders
Gerald Lathbury Sidney Kirkman	Richard Heidrich Carlo Gotti
Units involved
50th Infantry Division 1st Parachute Brigade	1st Fallschirmjäger Division 213th Coastal Division
Casualties and losses
141 dead[nb 1] 168 missing or wounded 11[1][2]Dakota 1 Albemarle 5 Waco gliders	Unknown

Operation Fustian was an airborne forces operation undertaken during the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 in the Second World War. The operation was carried out by Brigadier Gerald Lathbury's 1st Parachute Brigade, part of the British 1st Airborne Division. Their objective was the Primosole Bridge across the Simeto River. The intention was for the brigade, with glider-borne forces in support, to land on both sides of the river. They would then capture the bridge and secure the surrounding area until relieved by the advance of British XIII Corps, which had landed on the south eastern coast three days previously. Because the bridge was the only crossing on the river and would give the British Eighth Army access to the Catania plain, its capture was expected to speed the advance and lead to the defeat of the Axis forces in Sicily.

Many of the aircraft carrying the paratroopers from North Africa were shot down or were damaged and turned back by friendly fire and enemy action. Evasive action taken by the pilots scattered the brigade over a large area and only the equivalent of two companies of troops were landed in the correct locations. Despite this and the defence by German and Italian forces, the British paratroops captured the bridge, repulsed attacks and held out against increasing odds until nightfall. The relief force led by the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, under Major-General Sidney C. Kirkman, which was short of transport, were still 1 mile (1.6 km) away when they halted for the night. By this time, with casualties mounting and supplies running short, the parachute brigade commander, Gerald Lathbury, had relinquished control of the bridge to the Germans. The following day the British units joined forces and the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, with tank support, attempted to recapture the bridge. The bridge was not finally secured until three days after the start of the operation, when another battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, led by the paratroopers, established a bridgehead on the north bank of the river.

The capture of Primosole Bridge did not lead to the expected rapid advance, as by this time the Germans had gathered their forces and established a defensive line. It was not until early the following month that the Eighth Army captured Catania. By this time the 1st Parachute Brigade had been withdrawn to Malta and took no further part in the conquest of Sicily. Lessons were learned from the operation and were later to be put into practice in future Allied airborne operations.

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