Description:

INVASION OF SICILY AND SALERNO INVASION CHARTS
A superb set of four highly detailed charts nautical charts heavily annotated and used in the American and British invasion of Sicily and the American landings at Salerno. The charts are from the estate of Rear Admiral Charles A. Buchanan (1905-2001), a Navy Cross awardee who served as Operations Officer and Assistant Chief of Staff for the amphibious task force that made those landings, as well as in the Marshall Islands and at Guam. He also coordinated completion of the Pearl Harbor Memorial over the USS ARIZONA. Buchanan labeled each of these standard-sized charts on their versos. They include: Sardinia to Malta including Sicily, with convoy and landing ship routes from North Africa and Malta to several points on the west and south coasts of Sicily traced out, which Buchanan notes was used in planning the landings. He marked the map: "Important do not swipe this chart. C.A.B. BIGOT [Secret]HUSKY"; a map of Malta and the southern coast of Sicily, again showing much plotting and locations of two warships, labeled on verso: "Actual chart used and navigational cuts plotted by Task Group navigator...[Buchanan]of 'JOSS' force which landed 3rd U.S. Army Division at Licata"; a map titled "FIUME NARO TO MANFRIA" with Buchanan's plotting and indication of the exact landing beach ("Joss"), marked by his as "Final approach chart..."; and the final chart shows Tyrrhenian Sea including Sardinia, Sicily and part of the coast of North Africa. Routs from Bizerte, Tunisia, the Gulf of Palermo, and the Straits of Messina all converge upon the Gulf of Salerno and Naples. A few vessels are identified, including the USS ALBACORE, HMS ANTWERP, and HHMS PINDOS (upon which this cataloger's father served!). Buchanan again notes on this map that it was used by him as Task Group Navigator during the actual landings, in this case putting ashore the British 46th Div. on "Uncle Beach" on left flank at the Gulf of Salerno. All four maps bear folds and slight soiling consistent with use, else very good. The landings at Licata were completely successful, with the Americans capturing the crucial airfield and port facilities there. The port was larger and more compatible to cargo handling than previously thought, and would prove extremely valuable during the Sicilian Campaign. At Salerno, the British 46th met determined resistance and had to fight their way ashore with the help of naval bombardment. The depth and intensity of German resistance, including a Panzer division, forced British commanders to concentrate their forces, rather than driving for a linkup with the Americans to the south.

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June 4, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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