Two Italian officers walking in front of a Regia Aeronautica’s airplane line on Addis Ababa airport after the conquest, 1936, of Ethiopian capital. The aircraft in foreground is a Caproni Ca.111 reconnaissance/light bombardment plane, in background observation biplanes IMAM Ro.37. Victor Sierra

Addis Ababa airport in Italian hands

“Confections for Abyssinians”: sarcastic, but cruel caption of this photo depicting the bombs loading on board of an Italian Air Force’s Caproni bomber during the Italo-Abyssinian War (October 1935-May 1936). During the war the Italians made substantial use of mustard gas, in both artillery and aerial bombardments, in violation of 1925 Geneva Protocol that Italy had signed. Victor Sierra

Confections for Abyssinians

Italian fighters Fiat CR.42 on backlight. At beginning of the war this Italian fighter biplane was the natural contender of Gloster Gladiator which was comparable. But when come the British forces fighter monoplanes, like Hurricanes and P-40s, the CR.42 was immediately outdated. Victor Sierra