It was still dark at 06:15 that day, when "Ranger"—stationed northwest of Casablanca—began launching her aircraft to support the landings made at three points on the Atlantic coast of North Africa (Operation Torch). Nine of her Wildcat fighters attacked the Rabat and Rabat-Sale aerodromes, headquarters of the French air forces in Morocco. Without loss to themselves, they destroyed seven planes at one field, and 14 bombers at the other. Another flight destroyed seven planes on the Port Lyautey field. Some of "Ranger"s planes strafed four French destroyers in Casablanca Harbor, while others strafed and bombed nearby shore batteries.