Detail of a Fiat G.55 Centauro’s front section of ANR-Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (National Republican Air Force), the air force of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana, or RSI, the Fascist Italian Republic established by Benito Mussolin on October 1943. The aircraft is a G.55 Serie I (Series 1), with two 20 mm Mauser cannons wing mounted replacing two of four machine guns nose mounted, of II Gruppo Caccia’s (Second Fighter Group) 5th Squadriglia "Diavoli Rossi” (Red Devils). Photo taken on 1944 but prior July of this year, when the II Gruppo was equipped with Bf 109G. During this span of time the II Gruppo’s Squadriglie was based at Bresso (Milan), Villa Masone (Reggio Emilia) and Cascina Vaga (Pavia), all on Northern Italy. The “Red Devil” is today the insignia of Aeronautica Militare’s (Italian Air Force) 6th Stormo based at Ghedi (Brescia) and equipped with Tornado-Interdictor Strike. Victor Sierra

“Red Devils”

A serviceman guard duty with the pistol service on the case, likely the classic Beretta, of an Italian fighter Fiat G.55 Centauro (Centaur). The white band on fuselage suggest one of Regia Aeronautica’s aircraft, in this case a G.55 Sottoserie 0 (Sub-Series Zero) without wing cannons but with the weapons on the nose. Note also the absence of the Fascist symbol (Fascio Littorio) under the cockpit, sign of a photo taken after 25 July 1943 (Mussolini’s fall) and prior of 8 September 1943 (Armistice of Italy). Another detail: the plane hasn’t the individual aircraft number and the Squadriglia’s number., perhaps is an aircraft just delivered waiting for the unit’s code. But may be one of few Centauro not delivered to Regia Aeronautica and afterwards embedded in Repubblica Sociale Italiana’s air force. A photo of a G.55 commandeered by the Germans show an aircraft still the white band. In effect it’s impossible in this photo to watch the exactly the lapel badge of the Sahariana’s serviceman: “stellette” (five points little stars) for Kingdom of Italy’s Armed Forces or Gladio (Roman sword) for the RSI’s Armed Forces. Victor Sierra

Centauro’s guarding duty 

Another rare shot of the SLC in training. DVX