The Bristol Beaufighter Mk IC X7887 of No 252 Squadron RAF landed by mistake during a flight from Malta on Augusta airfield, Sicily, 6 January 1942, and immediately captured by Italians. The aircraft, in the photo already with the Regia Aeronautica’s insignias, was tested by the Guidonia’s Flight Test Center and afterwards assigned to 253rd Squadriglia deployed on Northern Italy. The Italian Beaufighter was destroyed on take-off from Venegono airfield on 23 January 1943 because a pilot’s mistake with the hand throttle (at this time over the Italian aircraft the hand throttle’s position were inverted respect the German and Allies planes). Victor Sierra

Italian Beaufighter

Some Balkan Air Force’s Spitfires Vc Trop just handed over to Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force on Autumn 1944 waiting for receive the Italian colors. The aircraft of the photo, still with the original British and Yugoslav insignias, were of No 249 Squadron RAF and of No 352 (Yugoslav) Squadron. The Spitfires was assigned to 20th Gruppo of 51st Stormo (“Black Cat”) at this tame based at Canne della Battaglia and Lecce-Galatina, Apulia. The first war mission of Italian Spitfires date to 23 October 1944. Victor Sierra

Waiting for receive the Italian colors

An unusual camouflage characterize this Italian Air Force’s S.79s of 18th Squadriglia, 27th Gruppo, 8th Stormo flying over North Africa on 1941. The 8th Stormo reached the Libya early April 1941, staying fully operational until the repatriation on the next month of December. In this period, the 8th Stormo was the only Regia Aeronautica’s bomber unit on North Africa equipped with the S.79. Victor Sierra