Operation Bathtub II - Special Forces in World War 2

September 13^th, 1943 – October 6^th, 1943

Operation Bathtub II

Objectives

Contacting the headquarters of the King of Italy and establishing a liaison with General Bodaglio of Allied Headquarters.
Persuading General Basso to launch an attack against the German military during their evacuation from Sardinia, focusing on routes to the north of the island, across the island, and the straits of Bonifaccio toward Corsica.
Gaining approval to deploy OSS, Operational Group units into Sardinia to assist in harassing and destroying the enemy forces.

Operational Area

Sardinia

Unit Force

Detachment, Operational Group A

Opposing Forces

Italian Forces

Operation

In late August 1943, the initial group of Italian Operational Groups (OGs) arrives at their overseas base in Algiers. At this time, General Donovan is present in Algiers, involved in introducing the OGs to the Allied Military Command. Lieutenant Colonel Serge Obolensky is also there, hoping to receive approval for the deployment of a French OG contingent operating out of England, under his command.

General Donovan assigns Lieutenant Colonel Obolensky to lead a mission on the island of Sardinia. The mission’s objectives include:

Parachuting into Sardinia to establish contact with General Basso, the commanding officer of the Italian Army in Sardinia.
Contacting the headquarters of the King of Italy and establishing a liaison with General Bodaglio of Allied Headquarters.
Persuading General Basso to launch an attack against the German military during their evacuation from Sardinia, focusing on routes to the north of the island, across the island, and the straits of Bonifaccio toward Corsica.
Gaining approval to deploy OSS, Operational Group units into Sardinia to assist in harassing and destroying the enemy forces.

This mission signifies a strategic move to leverage Sardinia’s position and resources in the broader Allied operations against Axis forces.

Operational Plan

The operational plan for the mission to Sardinia, led by Lieutenant Colonel Serge Obolensky, is meticulously structured and revolves around two critical letters. The first letter, from General Castellano, is addressed to General Basso, the commanding officer of the Italian Army in Sardinia, and is to be personally delivered by Obolensky. The second letter, from General Eisenhower, confirms that Lieutenant Colonel Obolensky carries a special message from His Majesty, the King of Italy and General Badaglio, to the Commanding General of the Troops of Sardinia.

Upon successful parachuting into Sardinia, the plan requires the mission’s two radio operators, Lieutenant James Russell and British Army Sergeant William Sherwood, to remain at the landing site for 48 hours. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Obolensky, accompanied by First Lieutenant Michael Formichelli as an interpreter, is tasked with proceeding to the nearest Italian military base. Their objective is to secure immediate transportation to the Italian Army Headquarters.

In the event Obolensky and Formichelli fail to make contact with the radio operators within the 48-hour window, the radio operators, who also possess copies of the letters, are instructed to execute the mission. Should the mission encounter failure, and if escape is possible, a contingency plan is in place for a submarine pickup at a prearranged location and time along the coast. This plan highlights the strategic precision and the high stakes involved in this operation, aiming to leverage Sardinia’s position in the broader Allied campaign against Axis forces.

September 13^th, 1943

At 21:00 hours, Lieutenant Colonel Serge Obolensky, the commanding officer, alongside First Lieutenant Michael Formichelli as an interpreter, Second Lieutenant James Russell, a radio operator, and Sergeant William Sherwood of the British Army, also a radio operator, depart Algiers on a Halifax bomber. They parachute around 23:30 hours into a drop zone in the foothills of Sardinia, about 25 kilometres from Cagliari.

September 14^th, 1943

Once they find a suitable hiding place for the radio equipment and operators in the foothills, Obolensky and Formichelli set off on foot towards Cagliari. They encounter locals and three soldiers who inform them that German troops had left the area around noon the previous day. They also learn of an Italian Army base at Decimomannu.

Reaching a nearby railway station by 09:00 hours, they contact a Carabinieri officer who connects them with Colonel de Martiri, Chief Engineer Officer of the Italian Air Force, at the Decimomannu Airport. Colonel de Martiri immediately contacts General Basso’s headquarters at Bordigali and arranges for an armed escort for Obolensky to Bordigali.

Before leaving, Obolensky sends Formichelli back to the foothills to bring the two radio operators and their equipment to Bordigali. Traveling with a platoon of Carabinieri in trucks equipped with machine guns, Obolensky safely arrives at General Basso’s Headquarters by 17:00 hours on the same day. He is courteously received by Colonel A. Bruno, Chief of Staff, and is then taken to meet General Basso.

Upon presenting General Castellano’s letter, Obolensky communicates to General Basso that Allied Headquarters desires his forceful action against the Germans during their evacuation from Sardinia. He mentions the availability of special American units – describing the activities of the Operational Groups – to assist in this pursuit. However, General Basso responds that he is already exerting maximum effort to expel the Germans from Sardinia and has instructed his troops to apply pressure wherever possible. Yet, he expresses reluctance to involve American special units. Subsequent information leads Obolensky to believe that General Basso’s hesitance stems from concerns over potential conflicts between Italian and American troops working in conjunction.

To prevent any potential incidents, General Bruno, the Chief of Staff, advises Obolensky to remain indoors for the next two to three days to avoid detection by lingering German patrols in the area. They agree to meet twice daily for updates on the progress of the German evacuation.

The arrival of Formichelli and the two radio operators during the evening spurs immediate efforts to establish communication with Algiers Headquarters.

September 16^th, 1943

Due to initial transmission issues and the need for new batteries, which the Italians later provide, regular radio contact is not established until the morning of At this point, reports prepared by Obolensky and Formichelli, detailing the mission’s progress and local situation, along with papers from Colonel A. Bruno, are transmitted to Headquarters.

September 18^th, 1943

Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. arrives in Sardinia as a special representative of the Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ). He is accompanied by two Operational Group (OG) officers, First Lieutenants Rocco J. Benedetto and Joseph J. Benucci, who are tasked with serving as interpreters, fostering goodwill with the Italian military, and gathering intelligence from the military and local Sardinian populace.

General Roosevelt appoints Lieutenant Colonel Serge Obolensky as his Executive Officer during their stay in Sardinia. Their mission involves conducting a thorough survey of local infrastructure such as airfields, ports, and mines. The insights gained from this extensive survey and their reports to Headquarters lead to the rapid deployment of Airforce engineers, Communications, Naval, Economic, Railway, and Roads missions to Sardinia.

October 6^th, 1943

Following General Roosevelt’s recommendation, Brigadier Boulnois, head of the economic mission, is appointed by the Allied Force Headquarters to lead the Allied Forces in Sardinia. Consequently, on the same day, General Roosevelt and Lieutenant Colonel Obolensky return to Algiers.

It is noted in available reports that only General Roosevelt and Colonel Obolensky are documented as returning to Algiers. However, it is probable that Lieutenant Formichelli and Lieutenant Russell, along with Sergeant Sherwood from the original mission, as well as Lieutenants Benedetto and Benucci who joined with General Roosevelt, also return to Algiers at this time.

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