Christopher O’Connor, a Virginia-based author, has released his debut historical novel, Taranto: The Raid, The Observer, The Aftermath, published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.
The book sheds light on the historic raid by the British Royal Navy against the Italian Navy during World War II, which took place on the night of November 11, 1940. This operation marked the first-ever all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack, a precursor to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor over a year later.
The novel delves into the surprise attack on the Italian Fleet anchored in Taranto harbor, executed by the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Historians have long regarded this attack as a significant precursor to the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor, which would take place on December 7, 1941. Notably, the book also highlights a lesser-known fact: an officer from the U.S. Navy was aboard the British aircraft carrier during the attack, relaying vital intelligence back to Washington, D.C. for the Office of Naval Intelligence.
Taranto: The Raid, The Observer, The Aftermath explores the raid’s details and uncovers several common misconceptions surrounding the event. The book provides a thorough examination of how 21 planes launched from HMS Illustrious inflicted significant damage on the Italian fleet, aided by cutting-edge radar and aircraft control techniques developed during the Battle of Britain. The successful use of aerial torpedoes in the shallow waters of Taranto harbor, as well as daily reconnaissance flights by the Royal Air Force, are also discussed in depth.
O’Connor, who began developing the book based on a footnote in At Dawn We Slept by Gordon W. Prange, draws from original research conducted at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. This is his first published book, although he has written articles for hospital management journals and op-ed pieces for newspapers. Prior to his writing career, O’Connor worked as a hospital administrator for 15 years before transitioning to a full-time father of five. He resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia with his wife, Susan, a practicing dentist.
Taranto: The Raid, The Observer, The Aftermath is available in paperback for $15.00, with an eBook edition priced at $10.00. The 132-page book (ISBN: 979-8-89127-758-8) is published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
