Eighty-two years ago today, on July 9, 1943 (June 8, 1943), the Allied forces launched the landing campaign in Sicily. On July 9, 1943, the Allied forces launched the landing campaign in Sicily (code-named "Eskimos"). The first American and British airborne troops were dispatched. The airborne troops were the British 1st Airborne Division and the American 82nd Airborne Division, transported by 1,500 C-47 transport aircraft of the US 52nd Transport Wing. The Allied forces began airborne at midnight, competing with the German and Italian defenders around several transportation hubs such as bridges. After the landing of General Patton and others who commanded the landing in Sicily, the Allied forces occupied Sicily, and since then there has been no hindrance in the Mediterranean Sea, opening the door to landing in Europe.