One of the few, twelve according upon sources, former French medium bomber Lioré-et-Olivier LeO-451s seized by Italians on November 1942 and transferred in Italy. The plane was photographed on an Italian airfield (note a Fiat BR-20 bomber in background).The LeO-451s were assigned to a Regia Aeronautica’s bomber unit, the 51st Gruppo Bombardamento Terrestre, but the former Vichy’s bomber never entered on duty with the Italians. Victor Sierra



LeO-451 in Italy

A LeO-451 former Vichy’Air Force with the white Italian cross on the fins. Photo taken perhaps still in France, prior of transfer in Italy. Note the original French roundels of the wings cancelled, but not again replaced by Italian Regia Aeronautica insignias. Beyond a certain numbers of aircrafts find on some Southern France’s airfield, the Italians troops captured 39 LeO-451 in SNCASE factory in Ambérieu-en-Bugey (Lyon). This planes were requested on 1943 to Italian Regia Aeronautica by German Luftwaffe in exchange of a lot of Dewoitine D-520s fighters. Victor Sierra

French bomber seized by Italians

Two Italian Air Force’s non-commissioned officers posing in font of a Regia Aeronautica’s LeO-451. Behind the former French Air Force’s bomber an Italian torpedo bomber Savoia-Marchetti SM-84. This photo was taken certainly in Italy. Victor Sierra