Italian Forces

The Duce and the first Folgores

IMC Archives

The Duce Benito Mussolini going over the Regia Aeronautica’s 4th Stormo just re-equipped with the brand new Macchi MC.202 Folgores. The 4th Stormo received his first Folgore on July 1941 on his base at Gorizia Airport, North-East Italy, and on November of the same year returned in Libya with the new fighter. This white nose fighters have the unit’s insignia, but not again the Squadriglia’s and the aircraft individual number. The aircraft are again still the “Metropolitan” camouflage and without the anti-sand filter. In this photo back to Duce is the general Francesco Pricolo, Regia Aeronautica’s chief of staff, and, with the flight jacket and flight helmet, the 4th Stormo’s commander. Note also on the left a high rank Luftwaffe’s officer. Victor Sierra