Runway excursion in Sicily: the SM.79 193-8, an aircraft of 193rd Squadriglia,  87th Gruppo, 30th Stormo Bombardamento Terrestre of Italian Regia Aeronautica landing at Sciacca Airport could not be stopped on the runway and overran into a row of trees beyond threshold running a military ambulance thankfully without driver or persons on board. No serious consequences also for the crew of aircraft. The absence of white strip on fuselage date the photo between the end of 1940 and beginning of 1941. Victor Sierra

Runway excursion 

In the years immediately close to WW2  the Italian Regia Aeronautica fitted out for military purposes a number of airfields in the Plain of Catania, in Sicily, nearby Etna, the major volcano of Europe . During the war, from 1940 until 1943, these airfields were the natural bridge for missions to Libya, Malta and Mediterranean Sea and were also bases for many German air units. The Etna is the background of this photo of most important of those airfield, Catania-Fontanarossa, born in 1924 for use civil and military. Note a fighter aircraft Macchi MC.200 "Saetta" and, behind, a Caproni Ca.133 employed for transport and liason. Victor Sierra

At the foot of Etna

June 16, 1940: six days after the declaration of war of Italy to France and Great Britain, an aircrafty of Italian Regia Aeronautica, the SM.79 number 194-4 M.M. 21305 of 194th Squadriglia, 87th Gruppo, 30th Stormo Bombardamento Terrestre, took off from Sciacca Airport, Sicily, for an armed reconnaissance over the Tunisian airport of El Alouina (Tunis) and Grombalia and Korbe area. During the mission the Italian bomber dropped twelve 50 kg bombs over the airport shooting some ground installations. In the photo, down, one of the bombs droppen over the target. Victor Sierra
