on the evening of 9 july 1943 (d-1), the 456th pfab under the command of lieutenant colonel harrison harden, departed tunisia to conducte operation husky as part of the 505th parachute infantry regimental combat team. after landing, 45 men led by 1st lieutenant willis from battery c joined the 180th infantry regiment of the 45th infantry division, while 60 others, including three guns from the 456th, participated in capturing the town of vittoria. another 3 guns from the 456th were part of the defense of biazza ridge. during this fighting on 10 july (d-day), a machine gun crew from battery d, 456th pfab destroyed three enemy aircraft.