Page:Charles Robert Anderson - Algeria-French Morocco - CMH Pub 72-11.pdf/24



set battle continued the rest of D-day.

On the east the 5,608 troops of the 16th Team got off to an even faster start, taking two villages ahead of schedule. By early afternoon it had overcome an Algerian unit and set a defensive line eight miles inland. The beachhead clear, General Oliver's tanks roared ashore, found a road, and headed directly for Tafaraoui airfield, twenty-five miles inland. Coordinating with armored infantry, the tankers quickly overran the airfield and took 300 prisoners. By 1630 Twelfth Air Force Spitfires from Gibraltar were landing, although they had to fight their way through French planes. As night fell on D-day, the Americans were well established at three beachheads and held one of two airfields. Despite the and airborne setbacks, General Fredendall was in good position to complete the seizure of Oran.

On 9 November the French mounted more determined opposition to General Allen's troops. A strong infantry attack hit the 16th Team at the eastern end of Beach Z, while a lesser assault slowed the 26th Team between Beach Y and Oran. Both thrusts were turned back by midafternoon with less difficulty than expected. A more serious threat developed near Tafaraoui airfield, where French tanks met Oliver's armor. A platoon of tank destroyers proved of decisive advantage to the Americans; the French withdrew, leaving fourteen ruined tanks. Shortly after this action, at La Senia airfield, the French flew away most of their planes