Operation Slapstick was the code name for a British landing from the sea at the Italian port of Taranto during the Second World War. The operation, one of three landings during the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943, was undertaken by airborne troops of the British 1st Airborne Division, commanded by Major-General George Hopkinson.
Aerial view of Taranto.
Taranto naval base in the 1930s.
German paratroops (Fallschirmjäger) of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1.
British paratrooper armed with Sten gun, May 1943.
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied amphibious landing on mainland Italy that took place from 3 September 1943, during the Italian campaign of World War II. The operation was undertaken by General Sir Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group and followed the successful Allied invasion of Sicily. The main invasion force landed on the west coast of Italy at Salerno on 9 September as part of Operation Avalanche, while two supporting operations took place in Calabria and Taranto.
Troops and vehicles being landed under shell fire during the invasion of mainland Italy at Salerno, September 1943.
Salerno D-Day plan
Men of the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, part of 17th Brigade, wait to board landing craft at Catania for the invasion of Italy, 2 September 1943.
Lieutenant General Mark Clark on board USS Ancon during the landings at Salerno, Italy, 12 September 1943.
