![]() Although the Italian Army was not very formidable, aircraft operating from mainland Italy and Sicily could strike at the strategically vital island of Malta. Nazi Germany, with no overseas possessions and no significant surface navy, was a major land power in Europe but posed no serious threat to the British empire. In doing so, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini opened a dangerous new front. Italy declared war on Great Britain on June 10, 1940. The events of the next few hours would change the balance of power in the Mediterranean, and set the stage for the world-shaking events of December 7, 1941, on the other side of the world at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The aircraft were lumbering Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm their target: Italian Navy warships anchored at the port of Taranto. ![]() On the evening of November 11, 1940, 21 obsolete biplanes took off from the British aircraft carrier Illustrious.
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