79th (HY) HAA Regiment disembarked from transports at Naples between 27 March and 14 April to join 52 AA Bde defending the Foggia Airfield Complex.
Lt-Col Dickinson was appointed Deputy AADC for the Spinazzola Group of airfields, with batteries of 64th LAA and 106th HAA Rgt under command.
By 3 May the regiment was deployed as follows:
Canosa:
RHQ and GOR
Lesina Airfield (306th Fighter Wing, US Army Air Forces):
L1: A Trp, 246 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
L2: B Trp, 246 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
Venosa Airfield (485th Bombardment Group USAAF):
V1: D Trp, 247 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
V2: C Trp, 247 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
F Trp, 193/64 LAA Bty (6 x Bofors)
Pantanella Airfield (464th and 465th Bombardment Groups USAAF):
P1: F Trp, 398 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
P2: E Trp, 398 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
G & H Trps, 285/64 LAA Rgt (12 x Bofors)
Spinazzola Airfield (460th Bombardment Group USAAF):
S1: A Trp, 332/106 HAA Bty,  (4 x 3.7-inch)
S2: B Trp, 332/106 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
J Trp, 285/64 LAA Bty (6 x Bofors)
In June 1944 the regiment was 'diluted' (as the process was officially described) by Basuto troops from the African Pioneer Corps.
Each battery received 81 ORs from 1932 Dilution Company to be trained as gunners at L1 site at Lesina Airfield.
In practice, Nos 1 and 4 of each nine-man gun crew remained British ORs, the other seven numbers being African.
Twelve British ORs from each battery formed a new plotting detachment while the remaining 190 surplus gunners were transferred to the infantry (those aged under 40) or to other Royal Artillery units or the Royal Signals (over-40s).

In July the regiment was withdrawn from operational duties and began mobile training pending a move to Allied Force Headquarters in northern Italy.
The fully mobile establishment required additional drivers and other specialists, who were obtained from 100th HAA Rgt, which was being disbanded.
The regiment also practised firing against ground targets.
It began moving north on 25 August, reaching the River Arno at Leghorn (Livorno) on 28 August, having detached 398 Bty to take over AA defence of Porto Santo Stefano, some 80 miles down the coast.
The regiment deployed to sites as follows:
246 Bty
A Trp to site W (4 miles south of Pisa) in dual AA/field role
B Trp to site LH7 (immediately east of Leghorn) in AA role
247 Bty
C Trp to site LH4 (northern outskirts of Leghorn) in AA role
D Trp to site Y (7 miles north of Leghorn) in dual AA/field role
As soon as it arrived, D Troop began firing ground shoots in direct support of 39th LAA Rgt acting as infantry, knocking out German 88mm Flak guns (also operating in a dual field role) and in harassing fire tasks.
Calls for ground fire slackened after US IV Corps crossed the Arno on 1 September, and the batteries took up positions on the far side of the river.
The regiment reverted to AA duties, except for No 1 Gun (codenamed 'Arthur Gun') of A Trp, which came under operational command of 71st (Forth) HAA Rgt and was kept busy with observed fire tasks.
B Troop's No 3 Gun took over as 'Arthur Gun' on 14 September, and was in turn relieved by a gun from C Trp.
Before the 'Arthur Gun' detachment was withdrawn on 8 October, its average daily ammunition expenditure was 70 rounds, peaking at 140 on 2 October.

In October the regiment left US Fifth Army and crossed Italy again to join 12 AA Bde in British Eighth Army at Rimini.
The journey on muddy mountain roads was particularly difficult.
On arrival it took over established gun positions, including its first GL Mk.
III radar sets and twin 0.5-inch Browning machine guns to replace the twin Brens.
In November some of the guns were pushed forward to defend a landing-ground at Bellaria and Lt-Col Dickinson became AADC Bellaria and Rimini Landing Grounds and Rimini Railhead.

In January 1945 the regiment learned that it was to be disbanded.
The African ORs transferred to 57th (Wessex) HAA Rgt, the British ORs to the infantry or other RA units.
79th (HY) HAA Rgt with 246, 247 and 398 HAA Btys passed into 'suspended animation on 10 March 1945.
79th (HY) HAA Regiment disembarked from transports at Naples between 27 March and 14 April to join 52 AA Bde defending the Foggia Airfield Complex. Lt-Col Dickinson was appointed Deputy AADC for the Spinazzola Group of airfields, with batteries of 64th LAA and 106th HAA Rgt under command. By 3 May the regiment was deployed as follows:
Canosa:
RHQ and GOR
Lesina Airfield (306th Fighter Wing, US Army Air Forces):
L1: A Trp, 246 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
L2: B Trp, 246 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
Venosa Airfield (485th Bombardment Group USAAF):
V1: D Trp, 247 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
V2: C Trp, 247 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
F Trp, 193/64 LAA Bty (6 x Bofors)
Pantanella Airfield (464th and 465th Bombardment Groups USAAF):
P1: F Trp, 398 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
P2: E Trp, 398 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
G & H Trps, 285/64 LAA Rgt (12 x Bofors)
Spinazzola Airfield (460th Bombardment Group USAAF):
S1: A Trp, 332/106 HAA Bty,  (4 x 3.7-inch)
S2: B Trp, 332/106 HAA Bty (4 x 3.7-inch)
J Trp, 285/64 LAA Bty (6 x Bofors)
In June 1944 the regiment was 'diluted' (as the process was officially described) by Basuto troops from the African Pioneer Corps. Each battery received 81 ORs from 1932 Dilution Company to be trained as gunners at L1 site at Lesina Airfield. In practice, Nos 1 and 4 of each nine-man gun crew remained British ORs, the other seven numbers being African. Twelve British ORs from each battery formed a new plotting detachment while the remaining 190 surplus gunners were transferred to the infantry (those aged under 40) or to other Royal Artillery units or the Royal Signals (over-40s).
In July the regiment was withdrawn from operational duties and began mobile training pending a move to Allied Force Headquarters in northern Italy. The fully mobile establishment required additional drivers and other specialists, who were obtained from 100th HAA Rgt, which was being disbanded. The regiment also practised firing against ground targets. It began moving north on 25 August, reaching the River Arno at Leghorn (Livorno) on 28 August, having detached 398 Bty to take over AA defence of Porto Santo Stefano, some 80 miles down the coast. The regiment deployed to sites as follows:
246 Bty
A Trp to site W (4 miles south of Pisa) in dual AA/field role
B Trp to site LH7 (immediately east of Leghorn) in AA role
247 Bty
C Trp to site LH4 (northern outskirts of Leghorn) in AA role
D Trp to site Y (7 miles north of Leghorn) in dual AA/field role
As soon as it arrived, D Troop began firing ground shoots in direct support of 39th LAA Rgt acting as infantry, knocking out German 88mm Flak guns (also operating in a dual field role) and in harassing fire tasks. Calls for ground fire slackened after US IV Corps crossed the Arno on 1 September, and the batteries took up positions on the far side of the river. The regiment reverted to AA duties, except for No 1 Gun (codenamed 'Arthur Gun') of A Trp, which came under operational command of 71st (Forth) HAA Rgt and was kept busy with observed fire tasks. B Troop's No 3 Gun took over as 'Arthur Gun' on 14 September, and was in turn relieved by a gun from C Trp. Before the 'Arthur Gun' detachment was withdrawn on 8 October, its average daily ammunition expenditure was 70 rounds, peaking at 140 on 2 October.
In October the regiment left US Fifth Army and crossed Italy again to join 12 AA Bde in British Eighth Army at Rimini. The journey on muddy mountain roads was particularly difficult. On arrival it took over established gun positions, including its first GL Mk. III radar sets and twin 0.5-inch Browning machine guns to replace the twin Brens. In November some of the guns were pushed forward to defend a landing-ground at Bellaria and Lt-Col Dickinson became AADC Bellaria and Rimini Landing Grounds and Rimini Railhead.
In January 1945 the regiment learned that it was to be disbanded. The African ORs transferred to 57th (Wessex) HAA Rgt, the British ORs to the infantry or other RA units. 79th (HY) HAA Rgt with 246, 247 and 398 HAA Btys passed into 'suspended animation on 10 March 1945.
79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery