An young and well dressed Italian military pilot boarding on a fighter aircraft Macchi MC.202 “Folgore”. Note an immaculate flying jacket Marus weared over an uniform well pressed and boat polished: a great difference with the pilots at the front. Victor Sierra

The flying school’s product

A basic trainer two seat, dual control Breda 25 (left) and an advanced trainer IMAM Ro.41 in version single seat of Capua’s Flying School at eve of entry of Italy in the war. Note the Ro.41 with two tone camouflage as the Breda 25 is in silver livery. The Flying School based at Capua Airfield, not far from Naples, was until September 1943 the School of Italian Air Force’s Academy (Accademia Aeronautica) at the time in the Royal Palace of Caserta. The enduring of flying training of Italian Aeronautical Academy at the time was of three years on two phases with a total of 72 flight hours: 42 for pilot license and 30 for military pilot license. 

Pilot’s factory

Savoia-Marchetti S.79s transferred from the operational line to the Scuola Bombardamento di Aviano (Aviano’s Bombardment School). As on the other combat planes transferred to Schools, also on this S.79s the armament was removed. Note the acronym AVI (for Aviano) on fuselage. The aircraft in foreground (AVI-5) has a camouflage different from the other and the Italian tricolor on the rudder replaced by the white cross after the Italy’s declaration of war. In background the Eastern Alps. Aviano is today a large of US Air Force Europe. Victor Sierra