Italian Forces

Take off from desert

Take off from an aisrtrip of Libyan desert for a combat mission of two Macchi MC.202s "Folgore" of 88th Squadriglia, 6th Gruppo of 1st Stormo Caccia Terrestre (note the coat of Stormo, the "Archer", 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 "Folgore" 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