Western Desert, likely Autumn 1942: Bristol Bisleys (Blenheim Mk V) of No. 15 Squadron South African Air Force attack a Junkers Ju 52 German transport aircraft with bombs and machine gun fire after forcing it down in the desert. The Bisleys, escorted by four Bristol Beaufighters of No. 252 Squadron RAF, intercepted the German transport aircraft while returning from a strike on an enemy train. The Beaufighters shot down a Ju 52 and damaged one of the escorting Messerschmitt Bf 110s, while the Bisleys forced down a second Ju 52 and subsequently destroyed it with their bombs. One of the Bisleys was shot down by return fire. Victor Sierra

Bisleys in action

This no doubt in poor conditions “Chirri” fighter biplane, in the markings of the Ejército del Aire, the new Spanish Air Force established on 7 October 1939 after the end of the Civil War, is may be one of last airplane of this type employed in Spain. The “Chirri”, built by Hispano Aviación from 1939 to 1942, as HA-132-L (Spanish military designation C-1), is the Spanish version of the Italian Fiat CR.32, the most important Nationalist fighter during the Civil War. Hispano produced about 100 “Chirris” added to the Italian CR.32s still in Spain after the end of the Civil War and transferred by the Italian Air Force to Ejército del Aire and to the planes of same type directly purchased in Italy by the Franco’s Government. The last “Chirris” was phased out on 1953 and the plane of this photo is may be the same aircraft which, restored as the 3-52 of the Civil War, is today in Spanish Air Force Museum on Cuatro Vientos airfield, near Madrid. Ironically also the CR.32 of the Italian Air Force Museum, itself in the Spanish Civil War’s colors, is a Spanish-made Hispano “Chirri” given to Italian Air Force from the Spain around half-Fifties. Victor Sierra

One of the last “Chirris”?

Oblique aerial photograph showing buildings in the medieval castle at Banja Luka, Yugoslavia, today Bosnia-Herzegovina, burning from an attack with rocket projectiles by Bristol Beaufighter of Nos 16 and 19 Squadrons South African Air Force from August 1944 based at Biferno, Southern Italy, as part of the Balkan Air Force. According the IWM’s photo description German troops had established a stronghold in the castle, following the reduction of which the town was conquered by Partisan forces on 22 April 1945. Victor Sierra