Italian Forces

Duce’s official visit

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The Duce Benito Mussolini in official visit to Regia Aeronautica’s 30th Stormo at Poggio Renatico airfield, near Ferrara, 1936. The very high officer alongside Mussolini is the General Amedeo di Savoia Duca d’Aosta (Duke of Aosta), first cousin of the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, at this time commander in chief of the Regia Aeronautica’s Divisione Aquila (Eagle Division). The two other high rank officers are, from the left, the General Francesco Pricolo, commander in chief of the 2nd Zona Aerea Territoriale (Air Territorial Zone), one of the Italian Air Force’s high commands, and future chief of staff Italian Air Force, and the General Giuseppe Valle, under-secretary for Aeronautics and chief of staff Italian Air Force. The officer on the right is likely the Stormo’s commander. Note also, on the left, a NCO photographer, commissioned for take the official photos of the event. Very probably the photos was taken when the 30th Stormo, transformed from maritime bombardment unit to land bombardment unit, was transferred to Poggio Renatico, a former airship’s base during the WW1, and equipped with Savoia-Marchetti S.81 at this time the most modern Regia Aeronautica’s bomber aircraft. In the photo the planes are two different finish: white ivory and two tones camouflage. Re-equipped with S.79, the 30th Stormo on April 1939, from his new base at Forlì, was engaged for the invasion of the Albania. Transferred afterwards on Sicily, Sciacca airfield, the 30th Stormo was engaged in the WW2. Victor Sierra