Augusta, Sicily, Italy, September 1943. A Pilot Officer John of No. 3 (Kittyhawk) Squadron Royal Australian Air Force aboard an Italian CRDA Cant-Z-501 Gabbiano float plane found intact on occupation of this Regia Marina's (Italian Royal Navy) base. Serviced by No. 3 Squadron but when serviceable was ordered to hand it and the floatplane to the Free French. [AWM MEA0311]. Victor Sierra

Italian floatplane sized

In Italy the winters 1943-1944 and 1944-1945 were unusually severes. In the picture a P-51D Mustang of 3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, snowbound on Fano Airport, Marche, Central Italy, winter 1945. (Australian War Memorial MEA2207). Victor Sierra

Snowbound

A Macchi MC.205V "Veltro" captured intact by Australians on Pachino Airfield, in Sicily, Summer 1943. The aircraft is a MC.205 of First Series without the cannons in the wing, but armed with two 12,7mm machine guns in engine cowling syncronized with the propeller and two 7,7mm machine guns on the wings. Victor Sierra