British Forces

Mustangs and maritime pines

Imperial War Museum

The typical maritime pines of Romagna’s Riviera are the background of two North American Mustangs of No. 112 Squadron RAF, loaded with 500-lb GP bombs, taxiing to the runway at Cervia, on the Adriatic Coast of Northern Italy, before taking off on a sortie in support of the 8th Army's spring offensive in the Po valley, 1945. A Mark III leads a Mark IV along the taxiway covered with pierced steel planking (PSP). Note the different finish of the two planes: olive drab for the Mark III, all bare metal for the Mark IV. Equipped with Curtiss Kittyhawk, the No.112 Squadron was based on the Italian mainland in September 1943. In June 1944 the Kittyhawk were replaced by the Mustang Mark III and, from February 1945, Mustang Mk IVs. The No.112 Squadron remained in Italy as part of the occupying forces until disbanding on 30 December 1946 at Treviso. Victor Sierra