Supermarine Walrus "Spotter of Spartivento", one of the spotting aircraft used during the battle of Capo Spartivento, 27 November 1940, and the naval bombardment of Genoa, 9 February 1941, prepares to be launched from the catapult on cruiser HMS Sheffield. Two crew members can be seen in the cockpit whilst a large crowd, included some civilians, has gathered in the background to watch the launch. Victor Sierra



Spotter of Spartivento

Vickers Wellesley Mark I, L2645, on the ground at an airfield in the Middle East, probably while in service with No. 117 Squadron RAF, flying the West African Reinforcement Route from Khartoum, Sudan, to Egypt. L2645 had previously served with Nos. 14 and 47 Squadrons RAF in Eritrea. Victor Sierra

Vickers Wellesley

Supermarine Walrus crews of C Flight, No. 624 Squadron RAF, in conference prior to a mine-reconnaissance flight from Leghorn, Italy, Spring 1945. The unit was supporting operations carried out by the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla for marking the boundaries of enemy minefields in the Gulf of Genoa (notice in the photo, center, a Royal Navy’s Lieutenant). Formed in North Africa, 20 June 1943, the No 624 Squadron carried ou special duties operations into Italy, Southern France, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia including supplies dropping and the insertion of agents to the resistance at first with Lockheed Ventura and Handley Page Halifax and later Short Stirling Mk.IV. As a result of the allied advances in France and Italy, the need for 624 squadron in this role had declined and it was therefore disbanded on 5 September 1944. However the No 624 Squadron however was reformed on 28 December 1944 at Grottaglie, Apulia, Southern Italy. Equipped with Walrus amphibians, it was now tasked with the role of mine-spotting along the Italian and Greek coasts with many detachment and bases in Italy. The No 624 Squadron finally disbanded on 30 November 1945. Victor Sierra