Race to Messina Challenge
The Race to Messina Challenge covers 250 miles as a symbolic route from Patton’s landings in Gela, moving west to Agrigento, north to Palermo, and east to Messina. PARTICIPANTS HAVE FROM 9/15/23 until 1/15/24 TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE.
On July 10, 1943, the Allied armada set sail for Sicily. By July 13, more than 3,000 ships landed over 150,000 ground troops, aided by more than 4,000 aircraft. The Americans landed to the south with the goal to sweep west and then advance east. The British landed in the east and would move to the north. The goal for both armies was the northeastern city of Messina.
Lieutenant General George S. Patton landed with the US Seventh Army at Gela, while the General Bernard Montgomery, led the British Eighth Army in the east. The rivalry spilled into the Race to Messina. Patton would eventually beat Montgomery to Messina, arriving on August 17, 1943.
