The Strategic Situation
The Axis held the Tunisian coastal plain, while the Allies occupied the fringe of mountains to the west. To secure his position von Arnim needed:
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To entrench himself against British pressure in the rough country around Mateur.
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To take Medjez-el-Bab, the key to the great valley which led to Tunis
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To capture the range between Pont-du-Fahs and Pichon, then held by the French, which threatened the plain at its narrowest point opposite Enfidaville and Sousse.
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To drive the Americans from Sbeitla and Gafsa, where we stood poised for a drive on the Gabes-Sfax-Sousse road so vital to the communications of Rommel, who was retreating northwestward from Tripolitania.
The last two weeks of 1942 saw a lull in ground activity while both sides strove to build up the level of their supplies. Flying weather was bad and airfields were bogged down by rains, yet our bombers sought to hamper enemy communications by strikes on ports and depots.
From 1 December repeated bombing attacks had been made on El Aouina airdrome by B-17's, A-20's, and Bisleys. On the 1st, six A-20's and 13 B-17's were followed at dawn by six Bisleys and nine more A-20's. The hangars were damaged and about 30 out of 60 parked aircraft were destroyed. Later that day 15 more parked aircraft were destroyed by 12 B-26's. December also saw attacks on Sidi Ahmed airdrome at Bizerte by B-17's, Bisleys, and P-38's. In addition, there were attacks on Mateur, and on Sidi Tabet, west of El Aouina.
Fifteen Fortresses began the day attacks on the port of Tunis on 6 December. Other raids occurred on the 13th, 14th, and 15th, respectively, by 17 B-17's, 15 B-17's, and 17 B-24's from the Ninth Air Force. On the night of 15 December, 27 Malta-based Wellingtons set at least 20 fires which were burning briskly the next day when more bombers came over. Tunis remained a favorite target throughout December, by day and night.
The port of Bizerte also received attention. Fortresses and Marauders of the Twelfth and Liberators of the Ninth took turns by day, and toward the end of December the new Wellingtons of the Eastern Air Command flew over at night in their maiden operation. There were many hits on docks, warehouses, and ships, and many fires were started.
Northwest African aircraft cooperated with Western Desert, Ninth, and Malta-based in bombing Sousse and Sfax, Rommel's supply warehouses. On the 19th, 11 U. S. mediums bombed the Sousse marshalling yards and hit the station and a freight train. The same evening light bombers struck the Sfax marshalling yard. On the 27th Sousse was attacked in turn by aircraft from Algeria, Egypt, Malta, and Egypt again. Fighter-bombers and bombers struck heavily at enemy transport at Massicault, and on the roads around Tunis and Kairouan, and destroyed upward of 100 vehicles.
