Keeping out of the very hot desert’s sun this Italian fighter pilots resting in the shadow of the wing of an Fiat G.50 of their unit, the 352nd Squadriglia. In background another G.50 of same Squadriglia. Cyrenaica’s desert, Libya, August 1941. Victor Sierra. 

In the shadow of the wing

In spite of excellent performances in the Spanish Civil War, at the time of declaration of war by Italy to France and Great Britain (Juin 10, 1940), the Fiat CR.32 is a fighter undoubtedly obsolescent. However much CR.32s are again in service in the fighter units of Italian Air Force but very soon transferred at other roles like the assault and the advanced training of fighter pilots. The plane of the photo (year 1940, after the declaration of the war) is a CR.32 of 169th Squadriglia on Aegean front. Victor Sierra

An obsolescent aircraft 

Born in Madrid in 1920, and dead in Rome in 2010. Filippani Ronconi came from an aristocratic family. During the civil war in Spain his family was persecuted by the Republicans and his mother menaced to be shot. Soon back in Italy, he studied eastern religions, traditions and languages. During the war enlisted as volounteer in Granatieri di Sardegna, and was wounded 2 times in north Africa. After the Italian armistice, continued the fight in the SS Italien. At the end of the war he surrendered to Indian troops, surprised to meet a man, Italian, who spoke perfectly their language. After the war he bacame academic professor in the famous Istituto Orientale of Naples, teaching history of religions, eastern languages, and anthropology.