Editing Bernhardt Line (section)

==Air battle==
Even with the MAAF ([[Mediterranean Allied Air Forces]]) order going into effect on 20 December, the actions were the same as the days before. It would be on 1 January that operations would grind to a halt because of the official command changes. From 17 December to 15 January, the Allies also suffered very few scrubbed missions because of great weather, which permitted missions, unlike from November to December, when several days prevented any operational sorties by any air forces of the Allied forces.
  
From 17 December to 15 January, the period between the interdiction of the Bernhardt Line, allowed for an in-depth analysis for interdiction. The major targets included Rome, Pescara, [[Civitavecchia]], [[Arezzo]] and [[Cassino]]. The area around Rome was often targeted by fighter bombers of the USAAF and RAF, and the towns of Arezzo and Civitavecchia, as well as the gun positions around the town, were also targeted by those fighter bombers. However, the railways in and around Pescara were targeted by Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) light and medium bombers. They were highly effective in damaging the marshalling yards and railways. 
 
At [[Cassino]], both fighter bombers and medium bombers attacked and often tried to soften up the defences. That was especially common as the [[Fifth United States Army|Fifth US Army]] approached the [[Rapido River]] near [[Cassino]] in early January to prepare for the first attack. Also, gun positions in the [[Mignano Gap]] and German troops on Mount Trocchio were also targeted on a handful of missions. Notably, the harbor facilities at Anzio were attacked as well.

Unofficially, [[Operation Strangle (World War II)|Operation Strangle]] would begin on 15 January as the Bernhardt Line fell as a major air interdiction campaign. The MATAF took advantage of the moment to harass the retreating Germans by attacking them directly and also by severing their supply line in the world’s first major and intentional air interdiction campaign. The planning for Operation Strangle ensured that it would be delayed as the mechanics of [[air interdiction]] could be studied, and units prepared and used to that form of combat.