Malta's effectiveness depended on a wider network of bases. Heavy bombers operating from Crete and Malta could have placed almost every important regional target within range. Crete also offered an intermediate air route from Egypt, easing the transfer of aircraft at a time before aerial refuelling. That connection could have made Malta's reinforcement and resupply faster and safer. The Axis victory on Crete broke a potential operational bridge across the eastern and central Mediterranean.
Notable Point · 51:08-53:12
What holding Crete could have added to Malta
An Allied Crete could have linked Egypt and Malta, extending bomber reach and making aircraft movement and island resupply safer.