An Italian pilot explain a maneuver at his comrades. Note the leather helmets of two different colors: white and natural leather. This helmet’s types were wear by Italian pilots likewise from the operational theatre. For all the classic Marus flight jacket. Photo’s location unknown, but likely the Italian mainland in autumn or winter time. Victor Sierra

Explaining the maneuver

Three Italian fighter pilots just dressed for the mission inspecting a document perhaps an aeronautical chart taking on board. Note on the right the very young pilot likely newly appointed to unit wearing a complete life-jacket. Behind the leather helmet, complete of earpieces, the wire for the onboard radio. The aircraft is a Macchi fighter, likely a MC.200. Victor Sierra

A very young pilot

Voluntarily I repost this picture because I had found new and most exactly elements of the events therein depicted.
The location, indicated as “an airfield in Sicily”, is actually the Reggio Calabria airfield, in far Southern Italy on the other side of Messina Straits, while the “Malta-based aircraft” strafing with cannon fire this Italian Macchi 200s fighter are two Bristol Beaufighter Mark ICs of No. 272 Squadron RAF Detachment flying from Luqa, Malta. Date? Likely late 1942 or beginning 1943. In effect the No 272 Squadron moved to Malta, Ta Kali airfield, in November 1942. MC.200’s unit? Perhaps 8th Gruppo of 2nd Stormo Caccia or 54th Stormo both on Reggio Calabria on Summer and Autumn 1942. Victor Sierra
