Macchi MC.205 "Veltro" of 1st Gruppo Caccia of Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR), the air force of Fascist Repubblica Sociale Italiana, waiting for the next mission over an airport of Northern Italy, 1944. Note the pilot's flying helmet on the radio mast and the parachute type Salvator on the tail. The first combat of 1st Gruppo Caccia (Squadriglie Ist «Asso di Bastoni», IInd «Vespa Arrabbiata», IIIrd «Arciere»), from Lagnasco Airfield (Cuneo, Piedmont), date back to 3 January 1944 when some MC.205s, leaded from captain, after major, Adriano Visconti, intercepted, over Turin area, a formation of American bombers escorted by P-38s Lightning. The Italian fighters shot three Lightning without loss. Victor Sierra

Waiting for next mission

Italian officers evaluating a captured M3 AT gun. Tunisia, 1943.
The particular shape of the shield indicates that it was originally mounted over an half truck or a Dodge truck. 
DVX

Captured M3 gun

Two ground crew members checking the engine area of a Macchi 205 &quot;Veltro&quot; of 1st Squadriglia &quot;Asso di Bastoni&quot;, an emblem famous in Italian fighter aviation from the Spanish War, of 1st Gruppo Caccia ANR (Aeronautica Nazionaled Repubblicana) on airport of Northern Italy, spring 1944. The ANR, air force of RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italian), employed more 140 MC.205, nearly 30 former Regia Aeronautica and the other fresh factory. But the raid of Allies bombers over Aermacchi, one at March 1944, the other at May of same year, stopped the production and other losses they were maked from air combats, air attacks on airports and accidents. At the end of May 1944, the 1st Gruppo begin to transit to Fiat G.55 &quot;Centauro&quot; and, in Summer 1944, to Messerchmitt 109.  Few MC.205s were also employed by ANR for advanced training of fighter pilots from the Squadriglia Addestramento Caccia and from Nucleo Comando (Command Unit)n of 3rd Gruppo. Victor Sierra