The Italian Duce Benito Mussolini at Ciampino Airport watching the damages suffered by at the time the main Rome’s airfield during the American bombardment of Italy’s Capital on July 19, 1943. One of the last public appearances of Duce before his resign on July 25, 1943. Victor Sierra

After the American raid

Italian bombers Savoia-Marchetti S.79 in flight over a valley on a mountainous region of Italian mainland at the beginning of the war. Victor Sierra

Flying formation

A reconnaissance maritime seaplane IMAM Ro.43 on the bow’s catapult of Italian Navy’s heavy cruiser Pola (Zara Class) on navigation with heavy sea. Note the red and white band over the upper wing of the plane and also over the cruiser’s bow. The photo, taken at beginning of the war, highlight also four of the eight Ansaldo 203/50 mm guns of the Pola built in the OTO shipyard at Livorno, entered service in 1932 and sunk in the battle of Cape Matapan, 29 March 1941. Victor Sierra