Co of the 325th FG, Mateur, Tunisia, Sept. 1943 - The Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) was originally called North African Theater of Operations (NATO) and is an American term for the conflict that took place between Allies and Axis powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II. US operations in the theater began with the Allied Expeditionary Force, which landed on the beaches of northwest Africa on November 8, 1942, in Operation Torch. They ended in the Italian Alps some 31 months later, with the German surrender in May 1945. Lt. Col. Robert Baseler scored his five victories in this specially modified Warhawk, before it was repainted in this striking scheme and taken off operations. The out-board guns were removed , along with other nonessential items, to lighten the airplane in the hope of making it capable of reaching high altitude German photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Although its performance was improved, Baseler never did catch one of the high-flying raiders. Baseler added one more victory while flying a P-47, to bring his total to six.