on cockpit of Regia Aeronautica’s former Yugoslav Do-17Ka-3 on Tirana Airport on 1941. Note the shape of Do.17’s glazed nose and an Ala Littoria’s airliner Caproni Ca.308 Borea. The most differences of Yugoslav Do-17s compared to German aircrafts were the engines, the French radial 870 HP-Gnome-Rhône Mistral Major, and the machine guns, the Belgian FNs 7.9 mm. Victor Sierra

Italian pilot on board of Do-17

Two officers of Regia Aeronautica’s technical services – note the absence of military pilot’s insignia (eagle with crown towered) on uniform – standing in front of the former Yugoslav Air Force’s Do-17Ka-3 seized by Italians. Note a CR.42 fighter in background. The number of German bombers purchased by Yugoslavia varying upon the sources, the most reliable is 70 among the aircrafts delivered by Dornier and aircrafts built in Yugoslavia under license by a factory in Kraljevo. Victor Sierra

Italian Do-17

Side view of the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force’s Dornier Do-17Ka-3 commandeered by Italian Regia Aeronautica in the Spring 1941. At the beginning of German invasion of Yugoslavia, on April 1941 the Royal Yugoslav Royal Air Force had some 60 Dornier Do-17Ks in service with the 3 Vazduhoplovni Puk (3rd Bomber Regiment) composed by two groups: the 63rd Bomber Group at Petrovac near Skopje and the 64th Bomber Group at Mileševo near Priština. The Luftwaffe destroyed 26 of these Yugoslav Do-17 in the initial assault. Total Yugoslav losses stood at four destroyed in aerial combat and 45 on the ground. Other five Yugoslav Dorniers escape in the Greece not again occupied were destroyed at Paramythia Airfield by an attack of Italian aircraft. Victor Sierra