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

S.79s over North Africa

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

A British flag captured in Eastern Africa, 1940. DVX