Moonlight, navigation, and the reach of the Fleet Air Arm

A full moon gave navigators enough light to work their charts on the long approach, while the two-seat Swordfish paired the pilot with a navigator. Twenty aircraft continued toward Taranto after one had to turn back, their crews enduring cold, fear, and anticipation during nearly two hours of night flying. On arrival they descended through bursting anti-aircraft shells into the enemy fleet's supposed safe haven. The strike demonstrated that the Fleet Air Arm could reach and attack an enemy battle line at night.