Italian Forces

Brand new

Gorizia's airport, summer 1941: perfect lineup of the brand new Macchi MC.202 "Folgore" of 4th Stormo "Francesco Baracca". The Stormo is waiting for departure for North African front with the new fighter wich has replaced the Macchi MC.200 "Saetta" previously employed. The planes haven't again the anti-sand filter mounted afterwards before the transfer in Libya. The first unit of 4st Stormo equipped with the "Folgores" was the 9th Gruppo with the 73nd, 96th and 97th Squadriglia. At the end of September 1941, the 9th Gruppo was transferred in Sicily, at Comiso, and at the end of November, after completation of pilot's training and installation of the filters, 96th and 97th Squadriglia departed for Libya, Martuba airfield, while the 73nd Squadriglia remained temporaly in Sicily. Note the "continental" camouflage and the white nose of airplanes. Victor Sierra