Operations The Northwest African Ports

Early on the morning of 8 November 1942 British and American forces attacked Northwest Africa. The assault operations consisted of three distinct parts. The Western Task Force, entirely American and combat loaded in the United States, struck the coast of French Morocco in the vicinity of Casablanca. The Center and Eastern Task 

Originally the purpose of smoke operations at Sault Ste. Marie was protection, not testing. Memo, Capt Howard P. McCormick, CWS, for Gen Wilson, 31 Mar 42. 

Forces, mounted in Great Britain, had as their respective targets the Mediterranean ports of Oran and Algiers. The initial French resistance soon ceased, and the British-American forces turned east toward Tunisia. 

By then the United States Army had attained a capability in large area screening which a year earlier would have seemed impossible. A new generator, the Mi, had been devised, units were being activated to operate it, and the doctrine for its employment—the concealment of vital rear area installations—had become an accepted feature in the defense against air attack. The Northwest African campaign was to provide the crucial test of combat for this generator, these units, and this mission. 

Because smoke was not required, no American smoke units participated in the initial landings, a fortunate circumstance in view of the limited number of available units. Elements of the 78th Smoke Generator Company did arrive at Casablanca on 13 November, five days after the shooting began. The company set up a smoke installation on 23 November which served principally for demonstration purposes.  

---