One of the Bf 109 of the Luftwaffe’s JG53 “Pik-As” armed with under wings 20 mm cannon leave the dispersal, concealed under the trees on Italian mainland airfield, 1943. Victor Sierra

Leaving the dispersal

Messerschmitt Bf 109s of the Luftwaffe’s JG53 “Pik-As” (Ace of Spade) on a Sicilian airfield, likely Comiso, 1942, before a mission over Malta. On April 1942 the “Pik-As” Geschwader, operating under command of the Lutftflotte 2, II Fliegerkorps, had at Comiso the Stab/JG 53 (Staff Flight) and two Gruppen: II./JG 53 and III./JG 53 all equipped with Bf 109F-4. Victor Sierra

“Pik-As” in Sicily

Messerschmitt Bf 109Fs of a German fighter units parked on a Sicilian airfield, perhaps Catania, early 1942. The bottom yellow engine cowling suggest airplanes coming from the Balkan’s front still without the fuselage white band typical of the Luftwaffe’s aircraft committed on the Mediterranean Theatre Operational. The “109” in background has the crank for hand start. Two Italian aircraft are in the photo: on the right a Savoia-Marchetti S.79 bomber, on the left a Caproni Ca.100 “Caproncino” (Little Caproni) with civilian registration, likely of the local Aero Club. Victor Sierra