An Italian Regia Aeronautica’s fighter pilot and his serviceman before a take-off. Note the complete pilot’s winter flight suit with flight jacket Marus with lamb fur collar and dark leather helmet. On the pilot’s back the Salvator parachute, standard on Italian Air Force for many years, string not yet hooked. The aircraft is a Macchi MC.202 “Folgore” still equipped with anti-sand filter (left side of the nose) for operations in North Africa. In effect she’s a photo taken surely in Italy. Victor Sierra

Pilot and serviceman

Italian fighter Macchi MC.202 “Folgore” in flight at low altitude. Unit and location unknown, but surely in Italy. Victor Sierra

Fighter’s silhouette

Full equipped for the flight, leather flight helmet, Marus flight jacket and goggles, an Italian Macchi MC.200s fighter pilot is ready for take-off. Note the particular shape of open canopy which replaced the closed and sliding canopy of the MC.200’s first version. On the left, behind the windscreen, the collimator. Victor Sierra