Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt (left), became the Commander of Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet in April 1942, and planned the North African operation. General Mark Clark (right), was charged with gauging the level of French reaction to the American invasion.  Traveling by UK submarine to the coast, he narrowly evaded capture by pro-Vichy units a number of times but was able to secure a supposed promise from French Vichy Admiral Jean Darlan that the French would not fight.

US ARMY SIGNAL CORP PHOTO - NAT'L ARCHIVES