Today in World War II History—November 8, 1942

Map of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French Morocco and Algeria, 8 November 1942 (US Military Academy)
80 Years Ago—Nov. 8, 1942: Operation Torch: 400,000 American and British troops land in Morocco and Algeria in three main forces.

US troops and equipment landing at Z Beach, Arzeu, Algeria, 8 November 1942 (US National Archives: 195516)

American troops aboard a landing craft en route to the beaches near Oran, Algeria, 8 Nov 1942 (Imperial War Museum: 4700-01 A 12661)
In Naval Battle of Casablanca, US ships sink nine Vichy French warships.

Battleship USS Massachusetts maneuvering off Casablanca, Morocco, 8 Nov 1942, as seen from destroyer USS Mayrant (US National Archives: 80-G-K-2133)
Nurses from US 48th Surgical Hospital land with Torch forces, the first and last time women land with the assault during the war.

Nurses of the US 48th Surgical Hospital marching from the Arzeu docks, Algeria, 9 November 1942 (US Army Medical Department)