One street of Messina ravaged by an Allied bombardment in 1943. Important strategic target for its location, the town of homonym Straits was bombed from sea and from air many times from 1941, but the top was from 29 July and 17 August 1943, last phase of Battle for Sicily. In the first fifteen of August over Messina were dropped 6542 tons of bombs. Victor Sierra

One street of Messina

Attendees at the First International Meeting of Aeronautical Journalists arranged by Italian aeronautical press (controlled by Ministry of Aeronautics) in partnership with Regia Aeronautica and the Italian aeronautical industries at Guidonia, base of experimental and test center of Italian Air Force, on May 1939. The meeting was a chance for display and advertise some of most modern Italian aircrafts although ,any of this were only prototypes. In the photo some of this planes on show at Guidonia. From the left the Caproni-Fabrizi F.5 fighter, the Fiat G.50 fighter, the twin engine assault aircraft Breda Ba.88 and the twin engine dive bomber Savoia-Marchetti SM.85. The large camouflaged aircraft on the end of row is the four engine bomber Piaggio P.50-II. But, except for the G.50, none of this aircraft was produced on large quantities or exceeded the phase of prototype. In background some aircrafts really in service with Italian Air Force like the Fiat CR.42 fighter biplane and the Macchi MC.200 fighter. The white three engine in background is a liner aircraft Savoia-Marchetti S.73. Note also, in foreground, a person, certainly a German, whit the dress of Nazi party. The International Meeting of Aeronautical Journalists was the first, but also the last. Few months after the Meeting of Guidonia, at September 1939, outbreak the Second World War. Victor Sierra