A Regia Aeronautica’s Macchi MC.200 “Saetta” reading for take-off from an Italian airfield, perhaps on Sicily. Strange the person over the wing near the pilot: on civilian clothes, but with a flight helmet. Victor Sierra

Ready for take-off

Line up of Italian Regia Aeronautica’s MC.200s of 92nd Squadriglia with the yellow engine cowling typical of Italian aircrafts employed on Balkans. Victor Sierra

MC.200s in color

The flight suite for high altitudes of the gunner of an Italian bomber Savoia-Marchetti S.79 at the side station of the 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine gun in the waist mounts. Note the large and certainly heavy and uncomfortable oxygen mask adopted by the Italian Air Force’s crew during the WW2 afterwards replaced with German or (for the Co-Belligerent Air Force) British and American equipment. Victor Sierra