The Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force ( Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana , or ACI ), or Air Force of the South ( Aeronautica del Sud ), was the air force of the Royalist " Badoglio government" in Southern Italy during the last years of World War II . The ACI was formed in Southern Italy in October 1943 after the Italian Armistice in September. As by this point the Italian Kingdom had defected from the Axis and had declared war on Germany, the ACI pilots flew for the Allies .
103-646: A small part of the Italian Royal Air Force ( Regia Aeronautica ) remained under German control. This was known as the National Republican Air Force ( Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana , or ANR), ostensibly part of the forces of Benito Mussolini 's Fascist state in northern Italy, the Italian Social Republic ( Repubblica Sociale Italiana ). The ANR pilots flew with the Axis . By
206-506: A humid continental (Dfb) microclimate. Summers are typically cool to mild across Labrador and very rainy, and usually last from late June to the end of August. Autumn is generally short, lasting only a couple of weeks and is typically cool and cloudy. Winters are long, cold, and extremely snowy, due to the Icelandic Low . Springtime most years does not arrive until late April, with the last snow fall usually falling during early June. Labrador
309-549: A land claim for portions of Labradorian land in 1977. In 1988, the Labrador Inuit Association, the government of the province of Newfoundland, and the government of Canada began negotiations based on the land claim. An agreement-in-principle was achieved in 2001, and on May 26, 2004, the agreement was ratified by over 75% of eligible voters subject to the land claim. On January 22, 2005, the Inuit of Nunatsiavut signed
412-561: A 1999 resolution of the Assembly of First Nations claimed Labrador as a homeland for the Innu and demanded recognition in any further constitutional negotiations regarding the region. Labrador's Innu became status Indians under the Indian Act in 2002. Natuashish became a federal Indian reserve in 2003. Sheshatshiu became a federal reserve in 2006. The Labrador Inuit Association had filed
515-708: A Portuguese explorer who sailed along the coasts of the Labrador Peninsula in 1498–99. Labrador's name in the Inuttitut / Inuktitut language (spoken in Nunatsiavut ) is Nunatsuak ( ᓄᓇᑦᓱᐊᒃ ), meaning "the big land" (a common English nickname for Labrador ). Labrador has a roughly triangular shape that encompasses the easternmost section of the Canadian Shield , a sweeping geographical region of thin soil and abundant mineral resources. Its western border with Quebec
618-792: A major part of the British land and air forces were diverted there giving the Italian forces time to recover. New Italian aircraft and units were supplemented by the arrival of the German Afrika Korps , and the attached Luftwaffe contingent deployed almost 200 airplanes in Libya and another 600 in Sicily. Working with the Luftwaffe, the Regia Aeronautica performed better due to the exchange of tactical doctrine and
721-748: A project with Memorial University of Newfoundland to better understand their past through the Community-University Research Association (CURA). Following research by CURA, the "Labrador Metis" were understood to be a continuation of the Inuit of southern Labrador. In 2010, the Labrador Metis Association changed its name to reflect their newly discovered heritage, and became the NunatuKavut Community Council . The Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut , who are also seeking self-government, have their land claim before
824-574: A small French Navy fleet shelled the Ligurian coast on 15 June, the Italian air force was not able to prevent this action or attack the French ships effectively, showing a lack of cooperation with the Regia Marina , Italian navy. The Regia Aeronautica carried out 716 bombing missions, with Italian aircraft dropping a total of 276 tons of bombs on French fortifications, military bases, and airfields (some of
927-627: A successful strike on the port of Oran . The only unit of the Regia Aeronautica to fly the Piaggio P.108 was the 274th Long-Range Bombardment Group, which was formed in May 1941 as the first machines came off the assembly lines. Training and achieving full operation strength took far longer than anticipated, and the 274th only became operational in June 1942. When the Greco-Italian War started on 28 October 1940,
1030-519: A total of 19,000 km (11,800 miles) with Savoia-Marchetti S.55 flying boats . This Decennial Air Cruise included stops in Amsterdam , Derry , Reykjavík , Labrador , Montreal , Chicago , Brooklyn , and Washington D.C. , with the highlight being a landing in Lake Michigan in front of Chicago Navy Pier and a procession through the city before crowds of thousands of Americans to coincide with
1133-506: A war of attrition. By 31 January, Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta , reported that the Italian military forces in East Africa were down to 67 operational aircraft with limited fuel. By the end of February, the Regia Aeronautica had only 42 aircraft left in East Africa, and the British now had the upper hand. In March, surplus personnel of air force units had to fight as infantry. By the end of
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#17328480353491236-585: Is Nain . Nunatsiavut is an Inuit self-government region in Labrador created on June 23, 2005. The settlement area comprises the majority of Labrador's North Coast, while the land-use area also includes land farther to the interior and in Central Labrador. Nain is the administrative centre. Central Labrador extends from the shores of Lake Melville into the interior. It contains the Churchill River ,
1339-537: Is a geographic and cultural region within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador . It is the primarily continental portion of the province and constitutes 71% of the province's area but is home to only 6% of its population. It is separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle . It is the largest and northernmost geographical region in the four Atlantic provinces . Labrador occupies most of
1442-510: Is a very cloudy place, with sunshine levels staying relatively low during spring and summer due to the amount of rain and clouds, before sharply dropping off during September as winter draws nearer. Labrador is home to a number of flora and fauna species. Most of the Upper Canadian and Lower Hudsonian mammalian species are found in Labrador. Notably the Polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) reaches
1545-733: Is also home to the Iron Ore Company of Canada , which operates a large iron ore mine in Labrador City . Together with the small community of Wabush , the two towns are known as "Labrador West". From Hamilton Inlet to Cape St. Charles / St. Lewis , NunatuKavut is the territory of the NunatuKavummiut or Central-Southern Labrador Inuit (formerly known as the Labrador Métis ). It includes portions of Central and Western Labrador, but more NunatuKavummiut reside in its South Coast portion: it
1648-564: Is also the location of four 16th-century Spanish galleons. The lighthouse at Point Amour is the second-largest lighthouse in Canada. MV Kamutik , a passenger ferry between the mainland and St. Barbe on the island of Newfoundland , is based in Blanc Sablon, Quebec , near the Labrador border. L'Anse-au-Loup is the largest town on the Labrador Straits. L'Anse-au-Clair is a small town on
1751-612: Is classified as subarctic . Labrador can be divided into four geographical regions: the North Coast, Central Labrador, Western Labrador, and the South Coast. Each of those regions is described below. From Cape Chidley to Hamilton Inlet , the long, thin, northern tip of Labrador holds the Torngat Mountains , named after an Inuit spirit believed to inhabit them. The mountains stretch along the coast from Port Manvers to Cape Chidley ,
1854-608: Is of an inferior alignment, and from there to 570 kilometres (350 mi), the provincial border, is an accident-prone section notorious for its poor surface and sharp curves. Quebec in April 2009 announced major upgrades to Route 389 to be carried out. Route 389 and the Trans-Labrador Highway were added to Canada's National Highway System in September 2005. Labrador constitutes a federal electoral district electing one member to
1957-566: Is peppered with tiny Inuit fishing communities, of which Cartwright is the largest. From Cape Charles to the Quebec/Labrador coastal border, the Straits is known for its Labrador sea grass (as is NunatuKavut) and the multitude of icebergs that pass by the coast via the Labrador Current . Red Bay is known as one of the best examples of a preserved 16th-century Basque whaling station. It
2060-532: Is the drainage divide of the Labrador Peninsula. Lands that drain into the Atlantic Ocean are part of Labrador, while lands that drain into Hudson Bay are part of Quebec. Labrador's extreme northern tip, at 60°22′N, shares a short border with Nunavut on Killiniq Island. Labrador also has a maritime border with Greenland. Northern Labrador's climate is classified as polar , while Southern Labrador's climate
2163-652: The Skrælings . In 1499 and 1500, the Portuguese explorers João Fernandes Lavrador and Pero de Barcelos reached what was probably now Labrador, which is believed to be the origin of its name. Maggiolo's World Map , 1511, shows a solid Eurasian continent running from Scandinavia around the North Pole, including Asia's arctic coast, to Newfoundland-Labrador and Greenland. On the extreme northeast promontory of North America, Maggiolo place-names include Terra de los Ingres (Land of
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#17328480353492266-748: The Spirit of St. Louis inspired the Regia Aeronautica to embark on a longer transatlantic voyage with stops in West Africa and Brazil . Possibly the most brilliant successes were the floatplane world speed record of 709 km/h (440.6 mph) achieved by Francesco Agello in the Macchi-Castoldi MC-72 in October 1934 and the long-range formation flight to the United States and back to Italy in 1933,
2369-731: The Allied forces . In northern Italy, the National Republican Air Force ( Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana , or ANR) flew for the Italian Social Republic and the Axis . The first ANR fighter unit was the 101st Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre , based in Florence . Aircraft of the Royal and Republican air forces never fought each other. The ACI operated in the Balkans and the ANR in northern Italy and
2472-538: The Balkans ( Yugoslavia or Albania ). This was to avoid any possible encounter between Italian-crewed aircraft fighting on opposite sides. During the entire history of ACI, no encounter, let alone combat, was ever reported between ACI and ANR aircraft. The ACI formed the basis of the post-war Air Force of the Italian Republic ( Aeronautica Militare Italiana ). Regia Aeronautica The Royal Italian Air Force ( Regia Aeronautica Italiana ) ( RAI )
2575-647: The British Empire , the matter was referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London). Their decision set the Labrador boundary mostly along the coastal watershed, with part being defined by the 52nd parallel north . One of Newfoundland's conditions for joining Confederation in 1949 was that this boundary be entrenched in the Canadian constitution. While this border has not been formally accepted by
2678-583: The Century of Progress Exhibition. This pioneering achievement was organized and led by General of Aviation Italo Balbo . During the latter half of the 1930s, the Regia Aeronautica participated in the Spanish Civil War , as well as the invasions of Ethiopia and Albania . The first test for the new Italian Royal Air force came in October 1935, with the Second Italo-Ethiopian War . During
2781-555: The Cold War . In October 1943, a German U-boat crew installed an automated weather station on the northern tip of Labrador near Cape Chidley, code-named Weather Station Kurt ; the installation of the equipment was the only-known armed German military operation on the North American mainland during the war. The station broadcast weather observations to the German navy for only a few days, but
2884-599: The French and Indian War . By the Treaty of Paris (1763) , which ended the war, New France (including Labrador, though excluding the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon southwest of Newfoundland) was transferred to the British, who administered the northern portion of it as the Province of Quebec until splitting it in two in 1791, with Labrador located in Lower Canada . However, in 1809,
2987-548: The Grenfell Mission (see Wilfred Grenfell ). Throughout the 20th century, coastal freighters and ferries operated initially by the Newfoundland Railway and later Canadian National Railway / CN Marine / Marine Atlantic became a critical lifeline for communities on the coast, which for the majority of that century did not have any road connection with the rest of North America. Labrador was part of New France until
3090-578: The House of Commons of Canada . Due to its size, distinct nature, and large Aboriginal population, Labrador has one seat despite having the smallest population of any electoral district in Canada. Formerly, Labrador was part of a riding that included part of the Island of Newfoundland. Labrador is divided into four provincial electoral districts in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly . In 1809, Labrador
3193-580: The Pinetree Line , Mid-Canada Line and DEW Line systems. Today, the remaining stations are automated as part of the North Warning System ; however, the military settlements during the early part of the Cold War surrounding these stations have largely continued as local Innu and Inuit populations have clustered near their port and airfield facilities. During the first half of the 20th century, some of
Italian Co-belligerent Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue
3296-691: The Regia Aeronautica before the truce with the Allies was the defence during the United States Army Air Forces ' bombings of Frascati and Rome on 8 September 1943. After the Italian armistice , the Regia Aeronautica was briefly succeeded by two new Italian air forces. Headquartered at Salerno in southern Italy, the Royalist Italian Co-belligerent Air Force ( Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana , or ACI) fought alongside
3399-466: The Regia Aeronautica fielded 193 combat aircraft, which initially failed to achieve air superiority against the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF), which had 128 operational aircraft out of a total of 158. The poor infrastructure for Albania air bases hindered communications and movements between the Italian flying units. Only two airfields – Tirana and Valona – had macadam runways , so autumn and winter weather made operations more difficult. There
3502-433: The Regia Aeronautica fought side by side with the German Luftwaffe in the Western Desert . Although the air campaign in Libya was seriously limited because of desert conditions, the Italian Royal Air Force managed to retain a force of nearly four hundred airplanes. During the first British counter-offensive, the Regia Aeronautica had suffered heavy losses (over 400 aircraft) until the Axis attack on Greece began, when
3605-406: The Regia Aeronautica was seen as splendid air arm, holding no fewer than 33 world records, which was more than Germany (15), France (12), the United States (11) Soviet Union (7), Japan (3), the United Kingdom (2) and Czechoslovakia (1). When World War II began in 1939, Italy had a paper strength of 3296 machines. While numerically still a force to be reckoned with, it was hampered by
3708-413: The Regio Esercito , sometimes dropping poison gas bombs against the Ethiopian army. After the end of hostilities on 5 May 1936, for the following 13 months the Regia Aeronautica had to assist Italian forces in fighting Ethiopian guerrillas. During the Spanish coup of July 1936 , Italian pilots in Spanish Foreign Legion uniforms airlifted Francisco Franco 's Army of Africa from Spanish Morocco to
3811-584: The Spanish Nationalists and took part in training and joint operations with the pilots of the German " Condor Legion ". Mussolini sent to Spain 6000 aviation personnel as well as about 720 aircraft, including 80-90 Savoia-Marchetti SM 81 , 100 Savoia Marchetti SM.79 bombers and 380–400 Fiat CR.32 biplanes that dominated the air, proving superior to the Soviet Polikarpovs of the Spanish Republican Air Force . The Aviazione legionaria achieved approximately 500 aerial victories, losing 86 aircraft in air combat and about 200 flying personnel. But more important than
3914-426: The Spanish mainland . During the Spanish Civil War Italian pilots fought alongside Spanish Nationalist and German Luftwaffe pilots as members of the Aviazione Legionaria (" Aviation Legion "). This deployment took place from July 1936 to March 1939 and complemented an expeditionary force of Italian ground troops called the " Corps of Volunteer Troops ". In Spain, the Italian pilots were under direct command of
4017-399: The Stalingrad area. In mid 1942 the more modern Macchi C. 202 was introduced to operations in Russia. The CSIR was subsumed by the ARMIR in 1942 and the ARMIR was disbanded in early 1943 after disaster during the Battle of Stalingrad . The Air Corps pulled out of operations in January 1943, transferring to Odessa . From 1944 to 1945, Italian personnel operated from the Baltic area and in
4120-413: The Torngat Mountains National Park in the northern area of the land claim. The agreement was ratified by the Labrador Inuit, the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador , and the Parliament of Canada , where it received Royal Assent on June 23, 2005, whereafter elections would be held for the Nunatsiavut Assembly and self-government would begin. In the late 1970s, the Labrador Metis Association
4223-506: The Trans-Labrador Highway was built in stages to connect various inland communities with the North American highway network at Mont Wright, Quebec (which in turn is connected by a highway running north from Baie-Comeau , Quebec). A southern extension of this highway has opened in stages during the early 2000s and is resulting in significant changes to the coastal ferry system in the Strait of Belle Isle and southeastern Labrador. These "highways" are so called only because of their importance to
Italian Co-belligerent Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-425: The Western Desert Campaign was a near equal struggle between the Regia Aeronautica and the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Early on, the fighters available to both sides were primarily older biplanes, with Italian Fiat CR.32 and Fiat CR.42s flying against British Gloster Gladiators . After the Italian disasters during Operation Compass and the arrival of General Erwin Rommel and his German Africa Corps ,
4429-629: The air offensive on the British controlled island of Malta along with the German Air Force in an attempt to protect the Axis sea routes from Sicily, Sardinia, and Italy to North Africa. Up to the end of 1940, the Regia Aeronautica carried out 7410 sorties against the island, dropping 550 tons of bombs, but losing 35 aircraft. The Italians claimed 66 British planes in these first six months of combat, but these claims were exaggerated. In 1941, Regia Aeronautica carried out further attacks on Malta, but less intensely than in 1940. The Italian airmen started to fear Maltese fighters and AA artillery, so much that
4532-451: The " Italian Army in Russia " ( Armata Italiana in Russia , or ARMIR) were known as the "Italian Air Force Expeditionary Corps in Russia" ( Corpo Aereo Spedizione in Russia ). These squadrons, initially consisting of 22° Gruppo CT with 51 Macchi C.200 fighters and 61° Gruppo with the Caproni Ca.311 bomber, supported the Italian armed forces from 1941 to 1943. They were initially based in the Ukraine and ultimately supported operations in
4635-463: The 1949 terms of union would be amended to remove ferry service from Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques across the Cabot Strait . Although a highway link has, as of December 2009, been completed across Labrador, this route is somewhat longer than a proposed Quebec North Shore highway that presently does not exist. Part of the "highway", Route 389 , starting approximately 212 kilometres (132 mi) from Baie-Comeau to 482 kilometres (300 mi),
4738-430: The BR.20s did not cause much material damage, moreover aircraft were needed on the Greek front and in Cyrenaica so in January 1941 the bombers and CR.42s started to be withdrawn to Italy. Just two squadrons of G.50s remained until mid-April 1941. During this campaign, Regia Aeronautica lost 36 planes, (including 26 in accidents) and 43 aircrew personnel, without achieving a single confirmed air victory. Initially,
4841-491: The British Operation Crusader , while inflicting heavy losses on RAF bombers. During Rommel's second offensive, the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe suffered considerable losses due to stronger Allied resistance during air battles over El Alamein and bombing raids over Alexandria and Cairo. The Regia Aeronautica , having suffered heavy losses in Egypt, was withdrawn progressively to Tobruk, Benghazi, Tripoli and, eventually, Tunisia. The Regia Aeronautica participated in
4944-481: The British 150 kills. Actually the air war against Greece cost the Italians just 65 losses (but 495 damaged) while RAF losses in the Greek campaign were 209 aircraft, 72 in the air, 55 on the ground, and 82 destroyed or abandoned during the evacuation. In August 1941 the Regia Aeronautica sent an Air Corps of 1,900 personnel to the Eastern Front as an attachment to the " Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia " ( Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia , or CSIR) and then
5047-472: The British Imperial government detached Labrador from Lower Canada for transfer to the separate, self-governing Newfoundland Colony . As part of Newfoundland since 1809, Labrador was still being disputed by Quebec until the British Privy Council resolved their border in 1927 . In 1949, Newfoundland entered into confederation , becoming part of Canada (see above articles for full information). Labrador played strategic roles during both World War II and
5150-466: The British Protectorate of Bahrain . In Italian East Africa the Regia Aeronautica performed better than in other war theaters. In June 1940, the Italian Royal Air Force had here 195 fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, plus 25 transport planes. Some of these aircraft were outdated, but the Italians had Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 (12 examples) and Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 bombers and Fiat CR.42 fighters. In relative terms, these were some of
5253-418: The British crown colony of Gibraltar and its important naval base from July 1940. In 1942, Italian Piaggio P.108 bombers attacked Gibraltar from Sardinia , flying a number of long-range night raids. Up to October 1942, the Regia Aeronautica carried out 14 raids with a total of 32 bombers. The last raids on Gibraltar were flown during the 1943 Allied landing in Algeria , when those bombers also made
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#17328480353495356-399: The English), and Terra de Lavorador de rey de portugall (Land of Lavrador of the King of Portugal). Further south are the phrases Terra de corte real e de rey de portugall (Land of the Royal Court and of the King of Portugal) and Terra de pescaria (Land for Fishing). In the 1532 Wolfenbüttel map, believed to be the work of Diogo Ribeiro , along the coast of Greenland, the following legend
5459-403: The Government of Canada. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador refuses to recognise or negotiate with the Inuit of NunatuKavut until their claim has been accepted by the Government of Canada. The Labrador region, with its 26,655 population, is lower than any of the Northern Canada territories, Yukon , Northwest Territories and Nunavut . Newfoundland Island contains the majority of
5562-451: The Italian and German air forces and claimed almost 1,500 Axis planes, three times the real losses: up to November 1942, the Luftwaffe admitted to losing 357 aircraft and the Regia Aeronautica 210. But during the siege, the RAF's losses were even heavier, amounting to 547 in the air (including some 300 fighters) and 160 on the ground, plus 504 aircraft damaged in the air and 231 on the ground. The Regia Aeronautica began its attacks on
5665-438: The Italian flag colors across the full span of the undersides of the wings, making numerous record-breaking flights. Between 1 April 1939 and 1 November 1939, Italian airmen established no fewer than 110 records, winning world championships in round trips, long-range flights, high speed and altitude flights. After successful long-range flights around the Mediterranean Sea , Charles Lindbergh 's successful transatlantic flight in
5768-593: The Labrador Inuit Lands Claims Agreement with the federal and provincial governments covering 72,520 km (28,000 sq mi) of land, including the entire northern salient of Labrador north of Nain as well as a portion of the Atlantic coast south of there. The agreement also includes 44,030 km (17,000 sq mi) of sea rights. Although the Inuit will not own the whole area, they were granted special rights related to traditional land use, and they will own 15,800 km (6,100 sq mi) designated Labrador Inuit Lands. The agreement also establishes
5871-455: The Labrador side of the border. Most of Labrador (from Cartwright north and west) uses Atlantic Time (UTC−4 in winter, UTC−3 in summer). The south eastern tip nearest Newfoundland uses Newfoundland Time (UTC−3:30 in winter, UTC−2:30 in summer) to stay co-ordinated with the more populous part of the province. Most of Labrador has a subarctic climate ( Dfc ), but northern Labrador has a tundra climate (ET) and Happy Valley - Goose Bay has
5974-423: The Province of Newfoundland. Muskrat Falls is 45 km (30 miles) west of Happy Valley-Goose Bay on the Grand River (Newfoundland name: Churchill River). A transmission line began construction in October 2014 and was completed in 2016 that delivers power down to the southern tip of Labrador and underwater across the Strait of Belle Isle to the Province of Newfoundland in 2018. From the 1970s to early 2000s,
6077-754: The Quebec government, the Henri Dorion Commission ( Commission d'étude sur l'intégrité du territoire du Québec ) concluded in the early 1970s that Quebec no longer has a legal claim to Labrador. In 2001, Parti Québécois cabinet ministers Jacques Brassard and Joseph Facal reasserted that Quebec has never recognized the 1927 border: Les ministres rappellent qu'aucun gouvernement québécois n'a reconnu formellement le tracé de la frontière entre le Québec et Terre-Neuve dans la péninsule du Labrador selon l'avis rendu par le comité judiciaire du Conseil privé de Londres en 1927. Pour le Québec, cette frontière n'a donc jamais été définitivement arrêtée. [The ministers reiterate that no Quebec government has ever formally recognised
6180-438: The Second World War and the Cold War, the base was also home to American, British, and later German, Dutch, and Italian detachments. Today, Serco, the company contracted to operate CFB Goose Bay is one of the largest employers for the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay . Additionally, both the Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Air Force built and operated a number of radar stations along coastal Labrador as part of
6283-421: The Smallwood Reservoir after Joey Smallwood , the first premier of Newfoundland. The flooding of the reservoir destroyed large areas of habitat for the threatened Woodland Caribou. A hydroelectric generating station was built in Labrador as well as a transmission line to the neighbouring province of Quebec. Construction of a large hydroelectric dam project at Muskrat Falls began in 2012 by Nalcor Energy and
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#17328480353496386-540: The area around the Baltic Sea . From 10 June 1940 up to 8 September 1943, the Regia Aeronautica lost 6483 aircraft (other sources report 5201 ), including 3483 fighters, 2273 bombers, torpedo-bombers and transports, plus 227 reconnaissance planes. The Royal Italian Air Force itself claimed 4293 enemy aircraft, including 1771 destroyed on the ground. Personnel losses suffered during the conflict consisted of 3007 dead or missing, 2731 wounded and 9873 prisoners of war. The Regia Aeronautica tended not to keep statistics on
6489-449: The area led to the Allies' Syria-Lebanon Campaign . In one of the lesser known incidents of the war, starting in July 1940, Italian aircraft bombed cities in the British Mandate of Palestine . This was aimed at pushing the British back and retaking the greater Mediterranean, as in ancient Roman times. The bombing of Tel Aviv on 10 September killed 137 people. In mid-October, the Italians also bombed American-operated oil refineries in
6592-432: The area's population comprises people from all groups and regions of Labrador. Central Labrador is also home to Happy Valley-Goose Bay . Once a refuelling point for plane convoys to Europe during World War II , CFB Goose Bay is now operated as a NATO tactical flight training site. It was an alternate landing zone for the United States' Space Shuttle . Other major communities in the area are North West River and
6695-461: The arrival of more modern aircraft. In mid-1942, during the Battle of Bir Hakeim (26 May 1942 – 11 June 1942) the new Macchi C.202 fighter outperformed all of the Desert Air Force 's fighters, achieving an unprecedented ratio kill/loss of 4.4/1, better than that of famed Messerschmitt Bf 109s (3.5/1) fighting the same battle. During Rommel's first offensive, the Italians managed to divert RAF attacks from his forces and covered his retreat during
6798-547: The bay, which they called Butus and is now named Red Bay after the red terracotta roof tiles they brought with them. A whaling ship, the San Juan , sank there in 1565 and was raised in 1978. The Moravian Brethren of Herrnhut , Saxony , first came to the Labrador Coast in 1760 to minister to the migratory Inuit tribes there. They founded Nain, Okak, Hebron, Hopedale and Makkovik. Quite poor, both European and First Nations settlements along coastal Labrador came to benefit from cargo and relief vessels that were operated as part of
6901-491: The best aircraft on hand to either side at the beginning of the East African Campaign . In addition, the Italian aircraft were often based at better airfields than those of the British and Commonwealth forces. When the war began, Italian pilots were relatively well trained and confident of their abilities. At the beginning of the hostilities, Regia Aeronautica achieved aerial superiority and occasionally skilled Italian pilots, flying their Fiat biplanes, managed to shoot down even
7004-485: The bombs were dropped on the targets. Despite this misuse of resources, the bombing missions made possible and supported the limited Italian advance into southern France by the Regio Esercito , with the Italian air force retaining its fame until the Battle of Britain showed its limitations. After the war, there was a widespread rumour in France, especially between Paris and Bordeaux , of Italian aircraft strafing civilian columns, with many people claiming to have seen
7107-683: The colonization of Libya in 1911, it made the first reconnaissance flight in history on 23 October, and the first ever bombing raid on 1 November. During World War I , the Italian Corpo Aeronautico Militare , then still part of the Regio Esercito (Royal Army), operated a mix of French fighters and locally built bombers, notably the gigantic Caproni aircraft. The Regia Marina (Royal Navy) had its own air arm, operating locally built flying boats. The Italian air force became an independent service—the Regia Aeronautica —on 28 March 1923. Benito Mussolini 's fascist regime turned it into an impressive propaganda machine, with its aircraft, featuring
7210-448: The drawing of the border between Quebec and Newfoundland in the Labrador peninsula according to the opinion rendered by the London Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1927. For Quebec, this border has thus never been definitively defined.] A Royal Commission in 2002 determined that there is some public pressure from Labradorians to break from Newfoundland and become a separate province or territory. After decades of negotiation with
7313-447: The dwindling numbers of the Greeks. However, this advantage did not stop the Hellenic Army from forcing the Regio Esercito onto the defensive and back into Albania. In early 1941, the tide was turned as the German Wehrmacht launched its simultaneous invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece . For the 11-day campaign against Yugoslavia, the Regia Aeronautica deployed 600 aircraft, claimed five air victories (plus 100 planes destroyed on
7416-578: The eastern part of the Labrador Peninsula . It is bordered to the west and south by the province of Quebec . Labrador also shares a small land border with the territory of Nunavut on Killiniq Island . The indigenous peoples of Labrador include the Northern Inuit of Nunatsiavut , the Southern Métis of NunatuKavut , and the Innu of Nitassinan . Labrador is named after João Fernandes Lavrador ,
7519-412: The end of 1943, 281 Italian warplanes had landed at Allied airfields, but most were no longer useful for combat. The crews of these aircraft were re-equipped with Allied aircraft and engaged in transport, escort, reconnaissance, sea rescue, and limited tactical ground support operations flying 11,000 missions from 1943 to 1945. The ACI never operated over Italian territory, its objectives being always in
7622-773: The fame of the Italian air force and the heated and confused climate. Regia Aeronautica aircraft were involved in the Middle Eastern theatre almost from the start of Italian involvement in World War II. During the Anglo-Iraqi War , German and Italian aircraft of "Flyer Command Iraq" ( Fliegerführer Irak ) stopped to refuel in the Vichy French -controlled Mandate of Syria as they flew to Iraq . These masqueraded as Iraqi Air Force aircraft and were painted as such en route . Continued concern over German and Italian influence in
7725-415: The faster and better armed Hawker Hurricane monoplanes. However, during the first three months, Regia Aeronautica lost 84 aircraft and had 143 aircrew personnel killed and 71 wounded, but the losses did not halt Italian operations. Cut off from Italy as they were though, problems with lack of fuel, munitions, spare parts and replacements became a serious problem and the Regia Aeronautica was worn down in
7828-472: The final stages of the war, the Regia Aeronautica deployed up to 386 aircraft, operating from Eritrea and Somalia . The Italian aviators did not have any opposition in the air, as the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force had just 15 transport and liaison aircraft, only nine of which were serviceable. However, the Regia Aeronautica lost 72 planes and 122 aircrew while supporting the operations of
7931-401: The flight to the besieged island became known as the rotta della morte , the "route of death". In 1942, for its operations against Malta, between 1 January and 8 November, the Regia Aeronautica had 100 more aircraft lost in action. Malta suffered heavy loss of equipment, ship, and vehicles, and was to the edge of starvation. However the besieged island managed to withstand the attacks from
8034-459: The following month, Italians had only 13 serviceable aircraft left in East Africa. At last, on 24 October 1941, about one month prior to the final Italian surrender, the last Italian aircraft of the campaign, a Fiat CR.42, was shot down. On 10 September 1940, an independent air corps for supporting Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain was established. It was named Corpo Aereo Italiano , or CAI. It
8137-646: The ground) and suffered five losses. However, from that point on, the role of the Regia Aeronautica in the Balkans Campaign was primarily that of supporting the Luftwaffe . This support role continued during the occupation of Greece and Yugoslavia that followed. The Regia Aeronautica claimed 218 aircraft shot down plus 55 probables against the RHAF and RAF, while the Greeks claimed 68 air victories (plus 23 probables) and
8240-485: The individual level, instead reporting kills for a certain unit, attributed to their unit commander. However, pilots were able to keep personal log books, so the few that survived through World War II give individual statistics. Here is a list of the aces attributed with ten or more kills: The Regia Aeronautica was succeeded by Aeronautica Militare when Italy became a republic on 2 June 1946. Labrador Labrador ( / ˈ l æ b r ə d ɔːr / LAB -rə-dor )
8343-453: The land of the labourer. European settlement was largely concentrated in coastal communities, particularly those south of St. Lewis and Cape Charles, and are among Canada's oldest European settlements. In 1542, Basque mariners came ashore at a natural harbour on the northeast coast of the Strait of Belle Isle. They gave this "new land" its Latin name Terranova . A whaling station was set up around
8446-601: The large Innu reserve known as Sheshatshiu . The highlands above the Churchill Falls were once an ancient hunting ground for the Innu First Nations and settled trappers of Labrador. After the construction of the hydroelectric dam at Churchill Falls in 1970, the Smallwood Reservoir has flooded much of the old hunting land—submerging several grave sites and trapping cabins in the process. Western Labrador
8549-399: The largest iron ore deposits in the world were discovered in the western part of Labrador and adjacent areas of Quebec. Deposits at Mont Wright , Schefferville , Labrador City, and Wabush drove industrial development and human settlement in the area during the second half of the 20th century. The present community of Labrador West is entirely a result of the iron ore mining activities in
8652-451: The largest river in Labrador and one of the largest in Canada. The hydroelectric dam at Churchill Falls is the second-largest underground power station in the world. Most of the supply is bought by Hydro-Québec under a long-term contract. The Lower Churchill Project will develop the remaining potential of the river and supply it to provincial consumers. Known as "the heart of the Big Land",
8755-660: The local aircraft industry which was using obsolete production methods. In reality, only 2000 aircraft were fit for operations, of which just 166 were modern fighters (89 Fiat G.50 Freccias and 77 Macchi MC.200s ), both slower than potential opponents as the Hawker Hurricane , the Supermarine Spitfire and the Dewoitine D.520 . The Regia Aeronautica also had neither long-range fighters or night fighters. Technical assistance provided by its German ally did little to improve
8858-503: The material losses were the wrong conclusions drawn from air war in Spain. The Air Ministry, blinded by the success of the Fiat CR.32, persisted in its belief that the biplane could still dominate the sky, and ordered large numbers of Fiat CR.42 Falcos , the last war biplane in history. The Regia Aeronautica played a limited role during the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939. In July 1939,
8961-661: The northern part of the Eastern Front under the direct command of the Luftwaffe under the name Air Transport Group 1 (Italian: 1° Gruppo Aerotrasporti "Terracciano" , German: 1° Staffel Transportfliegergruppe 10 (Ital) ). This group was part of the National Republican Air Force of the Italian Social Republic . By the time of the Tunisian Campaign , the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe rarely enjoyed parity let alone air superiority in North Africa . The Regia Aeronautica
9064-409: The northernmost point of Labrador. The Torngat Mountain range is also home to Mount Caubvick , the highest point in the province. This area is predominantly Inuit, with the exception of a small Innu community, Natuashish . The North Coast is the most isolated region of Labrador, with snowmobiles , boats, and planes being the only modern modes of transportation. The largest community in this region
9167-495: The provincial and federal governments, the Nunatsiavut region of northern and northeastern Labrador was created in 2005 as an autonomous region with its own elected Assembly and executive drawn from members of the region's Assembly. Some of the Innu nation would have the entirety of Labrador become a homeland for them, much as Nunavut and Nunatsiavut is for the Inuit , as a good portion of Nitassinan falls within Labrador's borders;
9270-536: The region. The Iron Ore Company of Canada operates the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway to transport ore concentrate 578 km (359 mi) south to the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec , for shipment to steel mills in North America and elsewhere. During the 1960s, the Churchill River (Labrador name: Grand River) was diverted at Churchill Falls , resulting in the flooding of an enormous area – today named
9373-456: The region; they would be better described as roads, and were not completely paved until July 2022. A study on a fixed link to Newfoundland, in 2004, recommended that a tunnel under the Strait of Belle Isle , being a single railway that would carry cars, buses and trucks, was technologically the best option for such a link. However, the study also concluded that a fixed link was not economically viable. Conceivably, if built with federal aid,
9476-510: The situation. On 10 June 1940, during the closing days of the Battle of France , Italy declared war on France and the United Kingdom. On 13 June, Fiat CR.42s attacked French Air Force bases and escorted Fiat BR.20s that bombed the harbour of Toulon . Two days later, CR.42s from 3° Stormo and 53° Stormo attacked again French air bases and clashed with Dewoitine D.520s and Bloch MB.152s , claiming eight kills for five losses. But when
9579-547: The southeast of Labrador on its seasonal movements. Early settlement in Labrador was tied to the sea as demonstrated by the Innu (formerly called Montagnais) and Inuit, although these peoples also made significant forays throughout the interior. It is believed that the Norsemen were the first Europeans to sight Labrador around 1000 AD. The area was known as Markland in Greenlandic Norse and its inhabitants were known as
9682-545: The targets being Toulon, Briançon, Traversette, and Cap San Martin); during this short war, Regia Aeronautica lost 10 aircraft in aerial combat and 24 aircrew personnel, while claiming 10 kills and 40 French planes destroyed on the ground. According to a book published after the war by Generale Giuseppe Santoro , critical of the unplanned use of the Air Force, which had not been prepared for operations of aerial bombing against fortifications, only about 80 long tons (81 t) of
9785-412: The tricolour roundels painted on them. These allegations have been disproved, as the Italian aircraft did not have the range to hit such distant targets and concentrated on short-range military objectives ( Regia Aeronautica wing roundels had three fasci littori , having replaced the tricolour ones). It was concluded that this was nothing more than a myth, arising from the reaction to the Italian attack,
9888-567: Was added: As he who first sighted it was a farmer from the Azores Islands, this name remains attached to that country. This is believed to be João Fernandes. For the first seven decades or so of the sixteenth century, the name Labrador was sometimes also applied to what is now known as Greenland. Labrador ("lavrador" in Portuguese) means husbandman or farmer of a tract of land (from "labor" in Latin) –
9991-570: Was also the usual lack of co-operation between the Italian Navy and Army. Finally, just few days after the start of the war, Italian pilots were confronted by No. 80 Squadron , led by the outstanding ace Marmaduke Pattle and equipped with Gloster Gladiators , No. 30 Squadron , No. 211 Squadron and No. 84 Squadron with Bristol Blenheims , and No. 70 Squadron with Vickers Wellingtons . Gradually, Italian air power (including Squadriglie flying from Italian air bases) grew to over 400 aircraft against
10094-418: Was created by the inhabitants of Labrador's southern coast to gain recognition as a distinct ethnocultural group, as at the time despite a pre-existing treaty protected under the constitution, the "Inuit-Metis" were considered to be merely the descendants of Inuit who had joined Western society. Little was known about the history of the "Inuit-Metis" of the time. In 2006, the Labrador Metis Association initiated
10197-609: Was forced on the defensive during the Sicilian Campaign . Italian pilots were constantly fighting against Allied efforts to sink Regia Marina ships. Just before the Allied invasion, a huge Allied bomber offensive struck the airfields in Sicily in an effort to gain further air superiority. This left the Regia Aeronautica very weak, but aircraft continued to arrive from Sardinia , southern Italy , and southern France . The last mission of
10300-633: Was not discovered until 1977 when a historian, working with the Canadian Coast Guard , identified its location and mounted an expedition to recover it. The station is now exhibited in the Canadian War Museum . The Canadian government built a major air force base at Goose Bay , at the head of Lake Melville during the Second World War, a site selected because of its topography, access to the sea, defensible location, and minimal fog. During
10403-620: Was the air force of the Kingdom of Italy . It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic , whereupon the name of the air force changed to Aeronautica Militare . At the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy was at the forefront of aerial warfare: during
10506-480: Was transferred from Lower Canada to the Newfoundland Colony, but the inland boundary of Labrador had never been precisely stated. Newfoundland argued it extended to the height of land, while Canada, stressing the historical use of the term "Coasts of Labrador", argued the boundary was 1 statute mile (1.6 km) inland from the high-tide mark. As Canada and Newfoundland were separate Dominions , but both within
10609-815: Was under command of Generale Rino Corso Fougier . It comprised approximately 170 aircraft including 80 Fiat Br.20 bombers and 98 Fiat G.50 Freccia and CR.42 fighters. The transfer of the planes was completed by 19 October. The CAI was based in Nazi-occupied Belgium . Bad weather and planes inadequate to that war theater hindered effective action by the CAI. The CR.42s clashed with British Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires just two times, in November. The Italians claimed five victories and nine probables, but five Fiat biplanes were shot down. The RAF, however, reported no losses. The 17 bombing raids carried out by
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