In first year of the war, from June 1940 to most part of 1941, the Fiat CR.42 “Falco” was the Italian Air Force’s principal fighter aircraft despite his outdated pattern, biplane, fixed landing gear, radial engine with low power, open flight deck. In the photo, perhaps taken on 1941, a CR.42 of 83rd Squadriglia of 18th Gruppo Caccia (18th Fighter Group). On fuselage the emblem of unit, three withe arrows over a Fascio Littorio dark blue and the motto in Veneto’s dialect “Ocio che te copo!” (“Beware... I'll kill you!). Victor Sierra

An aircraft outdated


A combat air patrol of 85th Squadriglia’s Fiat CR.42 fighters over Genoa’s harbor few days after the entry of Italy in the war (June 1940). In the absence of an airport (the current Genoa’s Airport, Aeroporto “Cristoforo Colombo” di Genova-Sestri, was open in 1962), the fighters were based on a little airstrip in the harbor’s area. In Autumn of same year, October 1940, the 85th Squadriglia was part of unlucky Italian participation to Battle of England. Victor Sierrra


On patrol over Genoa

Under the heavy anti-aircraft fire of the enemies ships an Italian S.79 torpedo bomber aircraft pushing the final approach to the target. It’s the most dangerous phase of the mission: sighted the target, the aircraft flight in straight line at very low level without possibility to deviate from the route before of the available distance for the launch of torpedo and the escape’s route. In this phase the aircraft is a good target for the AA weapons. Today in the modern military terminology referred to interdictor/strike aircrafts, typical the Tornado, this phase is knew like push-point. But today an aircraft attack with the stand-off weapons… Victor Sierra