Approaching Taranto through light and flak

A pilot first sees the glow of Taranto and realizes that the apparent fireworks are anti-aircraft fire. As the flare aircraft break away toward the oil depot, the first strike's fires and the newly lit flares intensify the defenders' response. The formation begins to break apart in the barrage, but that does not end the attack because the ships are stationary and individual crews can still make their runs. The moment captures the shift from a carefully planned formation operation to independent action inside the harbour defences.