Bombing of Bahrain in World War II
Encyclopedia
The bombing of Bahrain in World War II
was part of an effort by the Italian Royal Air Force
(Regia Aeronautica
) to strike at the British
interests wherever possible in the Middle East
.
by the time Italy joined the war. The Italian invasion of France
was short-lived and the French signed an armistice with the Italians on 25 June. This left the British and the forces of the Commonwealth of Nations for the Italians to contend with in the Middle East.
bombers attacked American-operated oil refineries in the British Protectorate of Bahrain
. The raid, which also struck Dhahran
in Saudi Arabia, caused little damage.
Rome
declared that their bombers had set a new distance record, covering 3,000 miles on the outgoing trip from bases in occupied Rhodes
. The Italians insisted that the planes had been refueled from submarine tankers though in actuality, the planes had simply been loaded with fuel.
Ettore Muti
, Party Secretary
of the National Fascist Party
, was later indicated to be a participant in this raid and in at least one of the bombings of Haifa.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was part of an effort by the Italian Royal Air Force
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
(Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
) to strike at the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
interests wherever possible in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Background
On 10 June 1940, the Kingdom of Italy declared war on the French Republic and the United Kingdom. During the Battle for France, the French had already been beaten by the GermansNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
by the time Italy joined the war. The Italian invasion of France
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
was short-lived and the French signed an armistice with the Italians on 25 June. This left the British and the forces of the Commonwealth of Nations for the Italians to contend with in the Middle East.
Bahrain
Early on October 19, 1940, four Italian SM.82Savoia-Marchetti SM.82
The Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 was an Italian bomber and transport aircraft of World War II. It was a cantilever, mid-wing monoplane trimotor with a retractable, tailwheel undercarriage...
bombers attacked American-operated oil refineries in the British Protectorate of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. The raid, which also struck Dhahran
Dhahran
Dhahran is a city located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and is a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. Large oil reserves were first identified in the Dhahran area in 1931, and in 1935 Standard Oil of California drilled the first commercially viable oil well...
in Saudi Arabia, caused little damage.
Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
declared that their bombers had set a new distance record, covering 3,000 miles on the outgoing trip from bases in occupied Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
. The Italians insisted that the planes had been refueled from submarine tankers though in actuality, the planes had simply been loaded with fuel.
Ettore Muti
Ettore Muti
Ettore Muti was an Italian aviator and Fascist politician. He was Party Secretary of the National Fascist Party from October 1939 until shortly after the entry of Italy into World War II on June 10, 1940.-World War I and Fiume:Born in Ravenna, Romagna, Muti was banned from any school in the...
, Party Secretary
Party secretary
In politics, a party secretary is a senior official within a political party with responsibility for the organizational and daily political work. In most parties, the party secretary is second in rank to the party leader ....
of the National Fascist Party
National Fascist Party
The National Fascist Party was an Italian political party, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of fascism...
, was later indicated to be a participant in this raid and in at least one of the bombings of Haifa.
See also
- Italian Royal Air ForceRegia AeronauticaThe Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
(Regia AeronauticaRegia AeronauticaThe Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
) - Bombing of Palestine in World War II