Today is a lucky day for the Italian "Lightning".

As a matter of fact, Colonel Domenico, commander of the 1st parachute regiment of the "Lightning Division," was somewhat inexplicable ...... the Caproni transport plane used by the "Lightning Division" had a flight range of more than 1,000 kilometers, and Tunisia and Catania were more than 500 miles.

This also means that the "Lightning Division" must take the shortest route to parachute into Catania, otherwise the Caproni transport plane may not be able to return.

The shortest route would inevitably pass over the south coast of Sicily, which was defended by the American fleet.

Colonel Domenico had been worried that their fleet would be spotted and intercepted by the U.S. fleet, and it did crash...... A few pilots saw dozens of warships parked on the sea through the faint starlight.

Colonel Domenico broke out in a cold sweat on the spot.

This is not to say that he was timid, the "Lightning Division" was one of the few units in the Italian army that could fight, and although its members were mostly indigenous Libyan Berbers, the Italian officers and soldiers were equally well-trained...... In fact, not to mention, in the rudimentary parachute conditions of World War II, parachuting itself was very dangerous, and the timid Italians did not even have the courage to join this unit.

Colonel Domenico would be nervous because the "Caproni" transport plane, which was used by the Italian paratrooper division, had a speed of just over 200 kilometers.

If such a slow transport plane is intercepted by the US fleet, it will not be a matter of how many transport planes can fly over Catania, not to mention the completed mission.

However, to Colonel Domeniko's bewilderment, the American fleet did not react...... Not even the beams of the searchlights were there, so they swaggered over the sky.

"What's the situation?" Colonel Domenico couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know, Colonel!" The staff officer looked at the black pressure of the warship below, and looked confused: "Perhaps, today is our lucky day!" ”

Colonel Domenico did not believe in "lucky days", believing that war depended on training and quality, and that "lucky days" were only suitable for the weak to comfort themselves.

But after this night's battle, he completely believed in "Lucky Day".

Because, when the group of Italian paratroopers flew near Catania, Domenico thought that the anti-aircraft guns would soon sound, and then there would be a bloody storm in the air...... At least one-fifth of the paratrooper regiment must be lost in the process of airborne (this is determined by the weak performance of the Caproni transport).

But nothing happened, and then Catania was below, quietly waiting for the Italian army to parachute.

"Did we get it on the wrong course?" Colonel Domenico asked in disbelief: "Is this really Catania?" ”

"It's true, Colonel!" The staff officer replied: "I was born here, and I know everything here!" ”

"Then why ......," Colonel Domenico said, puzzled.

"Like I said!" The staff officer replied: "Today is our lucky day, Colonel!" ”

Saying that, the staff officer shouted: "Catania, I'm coming!" ”

Then he turned around and jumped out of the cabin......

Colonel Domenico did not hesitate and jumped in as well.

Things are so weird, until the moment the "lightning division" landed, no one "paid" to them.

It wasn't until a group of stupid British motormen drove up the car that the gunshots rang out.

Some of the Italian soldiers in the 1st Parachute Regiment of the "Lightning Division" were Catanians, and they were very familiar with the terrain here, and not only that, they could easily ask for information from the local people.

The staff officer knocked on the door of a house with a "bang", and then shouted: "Frugio, Frucho......"

"Who's there?"

"I'm Filipbeto, your tablemate, forgot?"

"Filiberto? Didn't you go to war?! ”

"Yes!"

The door opened, and Fruggio saw his tablemates standing in front of him, all armed.

"Oh God!" Frucho rolled his eyes: "I forgot that this is the battlefield, it seems...... You're back home! ”

"Yes!" The staff officer said: "Frucho, tell me where is the command of the British?" You must know! ”

As a result, while most of the British soldiers were still building defensive lines outside the city, fierce gunfire rang out inside the city.

Moreover, since the British command was terminated by the first division of the "lightning division" within ten minutes, the British troops of a brigade of the defense line outside the city did not know what to do next.

It wasn't until the tank lights of the German 39th Mechanized Infantry Division were lit in front and the shouts of Italian soldiers in the rear that they realized they were surrounded.

The battle of Catania went unexpectedly smoothly, and in just over 20 minutes, an infantry brigade of the British army surrendered as a formation, including the brigade commander, Colonel Will, and more than a dozen war correspondents from various countries who were preparing to grab the news at the first time in Catania.

And it was only then that the transport planes of the real British Airborne Forces sent by Montgomery "rumbled" in the sky.

Because these airborne troops were completely unaware that Catania had been lost, and at the same time did not know that the German mechanized infantry division had arrived, it is conceivable that when they were airborne, another tragedy was inevitable.

It was not until the British Airborne Division was heavily wounded in the dark of night that Montgomery received a report from Colonel Alston, the commander of the British 2nd Airborne Regiment.

"General! There are enemies everywhere, we are surrounded! Colonel Auston's panicked voice came from the microphone: "We need reinforcements, the enemy has tanks and armored vehicles, we can't withstand their attack!" ”

"You can go back to the city!" Montgomery said, "Return to Catania, where Colonel Will's troops will meet you!" ”

Because Catania had fallen so quickly, Montgomery had not yet received information about its loss.

"General, Catania doesn't have our people!" Colonel Alston replied:

"We ran into the Italians, and I believe Catania has fallen!"

"What?" Montgomery even began to tremble in his voice: "This can't be, I was on the phone with Colonel Will not long ago!" ”

"It's true, General! Colonel Auston replied: "We even had a unit that thought they were friendly and went up like that and was captured by them!" ”

Montgomery was still reluctant to believe this fact, until De Guengang told him on the side: "General, we have lost contact with Colonel Will!" ”