Italian Forces

An “Italian” Albacore

IMC Archives

This aircraft is one of two British Fairey Albacore captured by Italians on North Africa. The X9154 of 821 Squadron failed to return from a bombing raid on a landing ground, force landed at Fuka and captured by the Italians, 5 August 1942, and his crew was taken POW. The Albacore was repaired and flown by 9th Gruppo of the 4th Stormo. The photo depict the aircraft already with the white band on the fuselage, like the other planes of Italian Air Force, and, over the band, the 9th Gruppo’s emblem (black "Prancing Horse). During the retreat from the Lybia on Autumn 1942, the aircraft was eventually abandoned in Tripoli unusable. Previously, on the night from 23 to 24 January 1942, the Italians captured the X8941 of 828 Squadron based at Hal Far, Malta, which failed to return from a night operation. The wreck was present at Guidonia Flight Test Center, June 1942. Victor Sierra