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The island of Malta was under heavy fire by the Italian military. Although it was midnight, the sky was lit with anti-aircraft fire and dogfights between British and Italian fighters. Despite the numerical advantage of the Axis air forces, they had failed to establish air superiority. The reason behind this was the Hal Far Fighter Flight, a well-coordinated but small force of RAF Gloster Gladiators. The unit had less than 18 operational aircraft of this outdated biplane design. However, it was still inflicting heavy casualties on the Italians. The British pilots were so comfortable with the Gladiator that they would go on to defend the island for over 10 days without additional air support. When picturing a biplane fighter, it is usually in the context of World War 1 aces. However, even though after the 1930s, the use of biplanes was in decline, the Gloster Gladiator still had enough fight in it to become a fearsome sight against more modern aircraft. No matter the overwhelming odds and incredible danger of the situation, the biplane would charge into battle in several theaters of World War 2 with great success. And through it all, the Gladiator would prove itself a true hero of the skies. --- Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between. As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.
