This nearly unknown Italian aircraft is the Fiat G.50V (V for Veloce/Fast), a prototype built coupling the airframe of G.50 “Freccia” with a German in line liquid-cooled Daimler-Benz DB601 engine, now available in Italy, redesigning the fuselage of the aircraft. The G.50V flew for the first time at Turin on August 1941 but in same time the greatly superior Macchi MC.202 was in delivery to fighter units and the project was abandoned. However the tests were useful for the development of new fighters projects developed by Ingegner Giuseppe Gabrielli, designer of G.50 (G for Gabrielli), beginning with the G.55 “Centauro”. Victor Sierra

A nearly unknown Italian aircraft

Another Fairey Swordfish fell into Italian hands was the aircraft K8403 E4M of Fleet Air Arm’s 813 Squadron from HMS Eagle forced to land on Scarpanto Island, at the time, 4 September 1940, occupied by Italians. The K8403 was hit by Italian fighters CR.42s during raid on Maritza airfield, Rhodes, and the crew was take POW. The captured Swordfish was transferred at Guidonia in December 1940 (on the photo). It was kept serviceable till the middle of 1941 using spare parts coming from another captured Swordfish, the K8422 (4H), to it of HMS Eagle and to it lost on raid on Maritza airfield, 4 September 1940. The crew was taken POW by Italians and the aircraft was captured and made serviceable. Flown by 68th Squadriglia of 34th Gruppo Bombardamento for liaison duties until June 1941. Victor Sierra

Swordfish captured by Italians

Italy, the homeland of Ferrari, Nuvolari, Bertone and Farina, produced military vehicles which can (and should!) be declared the icons of Dieselpunk. Let us begin with the venerable Lancia 1Z. This autoblinda (armored vehicle) was designed short before Italy's entry in WWI and still served in colonies in 1940. Here are some Series 3 Lancias in Italian East Africa.

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