"The 60th Week of The War in the Air" proclaimed the magazine's regular feature, and it was, in its small way, a momentous one. For this was the week The Aeroplane confirmed the entry of Italy's Regia Aeronautica into the Battle of Britain. The Italian elements came from the specially formed Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI), comprising fighter and bomber units based in Belgium. Its establishment can be seen today as a political decision as opposed to a military one, as Benito Mussolini wishing to make a token contribution to Germany's aerial campaign, but it was a case of far too little, far too late. The Aeroplane knew relatively little of the specifics - it said the aircraft involved were Savoia-Marchetti SM79s - but its dismissive report was accurate in tone. "The use of Italian aeroplanes is of little significance" it said. "It does not imply that the Germans are short of aeroplanes, but rather that Mussolini hopes to throw a sop to Italian opinion growing restless under continued attack on North Italy by the RAF."
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