Sicily 1943. Italian Messerschmitt Bf-109 of 150th Gruppo’s 363rd Squadriglia at holding point before the entry on runway for the take-off. Note on this aircraft the absence of individual number and of others emblems hard to fast apply like the Fasces on the fuselage and the Casa Savoia’s coat of arms on the tail. Victor Sierra

Ready to take off

Close up of one of about thirty Messerschmitt Bf-109s, in majority of G version, delivered by Germany to Italian Regia Aeronautica from the end of 1942 t0 the Spring of 1943. With this fighter was equipped two Regia Aeronautica’s fighters unit, 150th Gruppo (Squadriglie 363rd, 364th and 365th) and 3rd Gruppo (Squadriglie 153rd, 154th and 155th) both in Sicily. Almost all the Italian Bf.109s were destroyed during the fierce fighting against the Allied air forces for the Sicily’s defence on June and July. 1943. The aircraft of this photo is a Bf.109G-6/Trop. Victor Sierra

Regia Aeronautica’s Bf-109

Two derelict Messerschmitt Bf.109s on Comiso airfield photographed by USAAF’ 57th Fighter Group’s personnel after the Allied conquest of Sicily, July 1943. The aircraft in foreground without the propeller spinner is a Bf.109G of Italian 3rd Gruppo Caccia with the emblem of “Diavolo Rosso” (Red Devil) on the nose. The other, seemingly in better conditions, is a Luftwaffe’s Bf-109. Victor Sierra