The red baby elephant, the insignia of 10th Gruppo’s 90th Squadriglia, of the Italian Regia Aeronautica, on the engine cowling of a Macchi MC.202 “Folgore” of this unit, Libya 1942. The red is also the color of the propeller’s tip. Note the large anti-sand filter and the typical “African” camouflage. Victor Sierra

With a red baby elephant on the nose

Tirana Airport, Albania, December 1940: the large Ala Littoria’s hangar with some Breda 44s (an Italian version of the British de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide) of the airline transferred, after the Italy’s entry in the war, to 611st Squadriglia Trasporto of the Comando Aeronautica Albania (Air Command Albania) for liaison and light transport within the Albania and from the Albania to South Eastern Italy. The planes are still the civil registration, but has the military registration, colors and markings. The fate of the I-ORSA, military registration MM 60426, the plane on the foreground, was tragic: on 9 March 1941 in flight to Tirana to Valona (Vlorë), with a load of 50 small oxygen cylinders, crashed after only 15 minutes from the take-off and burned on impact with the terrain. All the three people on board, pilot, air mechanic and a Carabinieri’s office was killed. Note in the photo, left, a Luftwaffe’s transport aircraft Junkers Ju 52. Victor Sierra



Tirana Airport

Pre-flight check by an Italian fighter pilot, aided by his aircraftman, seated on the his Macchi MC.202 Folgore’s cockpit. In evidence, on front to pilot, the armored glass windscreen and, over the instrument panel the San Giorgio gun sight. In back of the pilot the armor plate, part of the pilot’s protection. Victor Sierra