Why, in 1945, were the Allies not the first to bomb Venice from the air? That honour goes to the Austrians. In 1849, they launched a series of small balloons, like 19th-century drones. They were supposed to explode above Venice. The attack thankfully flopped when the wind blew them off course.

Why Venice was a target, the stakes could not have been higher for both the Allies and the Nazis.

How the remarkable leadership of Commander George Westlake DSO honed the skill and raised the morale of brave pilots from New Zealand, Australia, the United States and South Africa, to achieve ultimate victory - against all odds.

How the aeroplanes - Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Thunderbolts - and the evolving air technology enabled such precise, seemingly impossible dive bombing.

Why Operation Bowler was an outstanding military and strategic success, with no historic buildings or paintings damaged, nor Allied pilots and (as far as we know) innocent civilians killed.

How Operation Bowler effectively handed victory to the Allies in Italy.

How cockups and strategic incompetence arguably prolonged the fighting in Italy and ultimately rendered the risky bombing of Venice necessary. Even the decision to invade Italy in the first place is questionable. The Americans favoured landing in the South of France. Find out why.

Why did US General Mark Clark delay victory by liberating Rome, thereby disobeying a direct order? Had he not done so, the Allies would have defeated the Nazis in Italy months before March 1945. Riskily Bombing Venice may not have been necessary.