FRENCH MOROCCO
CURTISS SEAGULL SCOUT PLANE returning from observing and directing naval gunfire on Casablanca. Soon after the action started the radar on the large naval units was put out of commission by the concussion of the high-caliber guns. Spotting planes took over the task of directing fire and did an excellent job in spite of the difficulties caused by smoke over the port area. Battleships and cruisers had their own observation planes, launched by catapults and picked up by cranes. These planes assisted the infantry during the heavy fighting around Port-Lyautey by dropping antisubmarine depth charges on tanks and columns of vehicles. (Scout Observation-Curtiss SOC.)
FRENCH MOROCCO
NAVY DIVE BOMBER ON DECK OF A CARRIER. In the distance are two Army cubs, artillery observation planes. Three of these were brought across on a carrier for Army use and launched from the carrier to land on the race track at Fedala. Army-Navy teamwork was excellent during the invasion. Navy planes, on Army request, broke up enemy formations, bombed and strafed road blocks and strong points, often within an hour after the call had gone out from the forces ashore. Also on Army call, naval guns shelled points along the coast and some distance inland. (Grumman F4F Wildcat.)
FRENCH MOROCCO
THE JEAN BART, THE LATEST BATTLESHIP OF THE FRENCH NAVY. Although it was not finished at the time of the invasion and only one turret of four 15-inch guns had been installed, it opened fire on U. S. naval units at 0703 on D Day. The fire was returned and her battery was silenced within 15 minutes; five hits were made with 16-inch guns and the turret mechanism of the Jean Bart was jammed. Her guns were again operative at the end of D Day but did not fire until the 10th after which a 10-plane formation of dive bombers scored three hits, with 1,000-pounders. Her guns were still able to fire. Plans to bomb and shell the ship on the 11th were abandoned because of the armistice.
FRENCH MOROCCO