The Savoia-Marchetti SM-82 “Marsupiale” was the backbone of Italian air transport units, in particular of the Servizi Aerei Speciali (Special Air Services) formed in great measure with former civilian airlines crews, during the WW2. This excellent three engines aircraft, employed also by Luftwaffe, was in service with the post-war Italian Air Force, re-engined with Pratt&Whitney engines (SM.82PW) up to 1960. In this photo a SM.82 taxiing on a North African airfield (in background two biplane fighters Fiat CR.42s). Victor Sierra

The backbone of Italian air transport

Developed from the passenger civil transport Cant-Z-506C, the Cant-Z-506B was the most famous seaplane of Italian Regia Aeronautica during the WW2. In the photo one of this three engine float plane, perhaps at Augusta Naval Station on Sicily, still the with the prewar livery all silver. But the white band, in this case with black edge, on the fuselage suggest a photo taken many months after the entry of Italy in war, perhaps on 1941. Victor Sierra

A famous Italian seaplane

Flags and pennants of the courses flying in the wind, officers and cadets of Italian Air Force’s Academy, at this time on Caserta’s Royal Palace, marching on parade Roman pace-stepping. The Roman pace was the parade’s pace of the Italian Armed Forces during the Fascist era. Officers and cadets wearing the Summer time dress: all white or blue jacket and white trouser, cap always white. The Summer time white dress was also used by Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force post-1946) until the Fifties. (For my grandfather, an old Infantry officer of WW1, the Roman pace was the “pace of the kick in the ass”!). Victor Sierra 