The 12th Air Support Command planned to provide air cover of 12 fighters over Gela during daylight hours, and the fighters arrived at 0501 before sunrise at 0546; but Axis bombers had arrived before first light.
The 12th Air Support Command planned to provide air cover of 12 fighters over Gela during daylight hours, but the number actually available was never more than 8 and sometimes as few as 2. The first Allied fighters arrived at 0501 before sunrise at 0546; but Axis bombers had arrived before first light.