In spite of excellent performances in the Spanish Civil War, at the time of declaration of war by Italy to France and Great Britain (Juin 10, 1940), the Fiat CR.32 is a fighter undoubtedly obsolescent. However much CR.32s are again in service in the fighter units of Italian Air Force but very soon transferred at other roles like the assault and the advanced training of fighter pilots. The plane of the photo (year 1940, after the declaration of the war) is a CR.32 of 169th Squadriglia on Aegean front. Victor Sierra

An obsolescent aircraft 

Macchi MC 202s “Folgore” of 164th Squadriglia, 161st Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre (Autonomous Fighter Group) Italian Regia Aeronautica at Reggio Calabria Airfield during the operations against the Allied invasion of Sicily, July 1943. Note the condition, today inconceivable for a modern air force base, of the airfield. Victor Sierra

Calabria 1943

Keeping out of the very hot desert’s sun this Italian fighter pilots resting in the shadow of the wing of an Fiat G.50 of their unit, the 352nd Squadriglia. In background another G.50 of same Squadriglia. Cyrenaica’s desert, Libya, August 1941. Victor Sierra. 