The Italians made considerable use of air transportation in linking up their imperial possessions, transporting food, medical supplies, serious casualties, and small detachments of special troops between Italy, Libya, the Dodecanese, and Italian East Africa. Transport aircraft dropped 43 tons of supplies to the beleaguered Italian garrison in the oasis of Giarabub during February and March 1941. Italian, as well as German, transport aircraft has continued to operate to and from the North African theater.