North African Combined Operations

(23 Nov 1942) Cameramen at all points have gathered from front-line positions. These Movietone pictures of the most momentous "Combined Operation", which gives us control of the Western Mediterranean.
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Torch was, for propaganda purposes, a landing by U.S. forces, supported by British warships and aircraft, under the belief that this would be more palatable to French public opinion, than an Anglo-American invasion. For the same reason, Churchill suggested that British soldiers might wear U.S. Army uniforms, and No.6 Commando did so.[26] (Fleet Air Arm aircraft did carry US "star" roundels during the operation,[27] and two British destroyers flew the Stars and Stripes.[26]) In reality, the Eastern Task Force-aimed at Algiers-was commanded by Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson and consisted of a brigade from the British 78th and the U.S. 34th Infantry Divisions, along with two British commando units (No. 1 and No. 6 Commandos), together with the RAF Regiment providing 5 squadrons of infantry and 5 Light anti-aircraft flights, totalling 20,000 troops. During the landing phase, ground forces were to be commanded by U.S. Major General Charles W. Ryder, Commanding General (CG) of the 34th Division and naval forces were commanded by Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Burrough