Red Light - Green Light – Red Devil – Green Devil: Op FUSTIAN - 19 January 2026
Operation FUSTIAN – The Airborne Battle for the Primosole Bridge
Sicily, 13 July 1943… The Red Devils of British 1st Parachute Brigade prepare to jump into battle on the Catania Plain below. Their objective, to secure the Ponte Primosole, a strategically important box girder bridge over the River Stimeto. The parachute brigade supported by a wave of Horsa gliders must secure their objective in advance of the tanks of Monty’s Eighth Army. This is Britain’s first major parachute operation, it must succeed. The Red Devils are ready for anything; the red light is on… waiting for green… anything than can go wrong is about to go wrong!
A twist of fate is about to create one of the most dramatic coincidences in airborne history. The Drop Zones identified by British planners for their Op FUSTIAN drop have also been identified and used by the Green Devils of Germany’s 1st Fallschirmjäger Division. Just a few hours before the British drop, elite German paratroopers have also jumped into Sicily using the same Drop Zones.
In the half-light of dusk British paras drifted down into fields occupied by their battle-hardened counterparts. The three-day battle that followed was the only time both airborne forces parachuted into battle against each other. The Catania plain erupted as two highly trained airborne units fought an intense and bloody battle for control of the Ponte Primosole. Using his knowledge of Sicily and interviews with veterans of the battle, Historian Mike Peters will bring the story of the battle to life.
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Operation FUSTIAN – The Airborne Battle for the Primosole Bridge
Sicily, 13 July 1943… The Red Devils of British 1st Parachute Brigade prepare to jump into battle on the Catania Plain below. Their objective, to secure the Ponte Primosole, a strategically important box girder bridge over the River Stimeto. The parachute brigade supported by a wave of Horsa gliders must secure their objective in advance of the tanks of Monty’s Eighth Army. This is Britain’s first major parachute operation, it must succeed. The Red Devils are ready for anything; the red light is on… waiting for green… anything than can go wrong is about to go wrong!
A twist of fate is about to create one of the most dramatic coincidences in airborne history. The Drop Zones identified by British planners for their Op FUSTIAN drop have also been identified and used by the Green Devils of Germany’s 1st Fallschirmjäger Division. Just a few hours before the British drop, elite German paratroopers have also jumped into Sicily using the same Drop Zones.
In the half-light of dusk British paras drifted down into fields occupied by their battle-hardened counterparts. The three-day battle that followed was the only time both airborne forces parachuted into battle against each other. The Catania plain erupted as two highly trained airborne units fought an intense and bloody battle for control of the Ponte Primosole. Using his knowledge of Sicily and interviews with veterans of the battle, Historian Mike Peters will bring the story of the battle to life.
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