Campoformido airport, near Udine (North-East Italy), 1942: also the other Gruppo of 4st Stormo &quot;Francesco Baracca&quot;, the 10th Gruppo, has received the brand new Macchi MC.202 &quot;Folgore&quot; in replacement of its ageing MC.200 &quot;Saetta&quot;. The aircraft already are equipped with the anti-sand filter and ready for transfert to Libya. The MC.202 is the plane of leader (note the white star on the nose, not standard in Regia Aeronautica) of 84th Squadriglia of the 10th Gruppo. Note the insigna of Stormo, the  black &quot;Cavallino Rampante&quot;  of Italian ace of aces in First World War Francesco Baracca, on the white strip over fuselage. Victor Sierra

Ready for combat

Catania-Fontanarossa, Summer 1943, after the Allied landing in Sicily: effect of heavy Allied bombardment. In foreground a destroyed Macchi MC.202 of 4th Stormo. Victor Sierra.

Catania airport bombed

Take off from an aisrtrip of Libyan desert for a combat mission of two Macchi MC.202s &quot;Folgore&quot; of 88th Squadriglia, 6th Gruppo of 1st Stormo Caccia Terrestre (note the coat of Stormo, the &quot;Archer&quot;, over the white strip on fuselage), 1942. Remarkable the great amount of sand raised by propellers wich force to mount the anti-sand filter (on the MC.202 on left side of cowling). The 1st Stormo was the first unit of Regia Aeronautica equipped with the &quot;Folgore&quot; from May 1941, beginning with 17th Gruppo transferred in Libya at November 1941, soon reached by the other, the 6th Gruppo. Within 1942 with the MC.202 was equipped the entire first line of fighter of Regia Aeronautica. Victor Sierra