Two Macchi MC.202 fighters of the Italian Regia Aeronautica co-belligerent waiting for the overhaul and the repair at the workshop on Galatina airfield, Lecce, end 1943/early 1944. Note the conditions of this planes, with two different camouflage, showing the signs of the wear and the long operational activity. Victor Sierra

Waiting for the overhaul

In this photo the classic flight crew’s composition of a three engines Italian bomber Savoia-Marchetti S.79 “Sparviero” (Sparrowhawk): on the left the 1st pilot, which is also the aircraft’s commander, always an officer, on the right the 2st pilot, an officer or a NCO, in the center the flight engineer, a NCO, usually responsible for the engine’s running. In front of 1st pilot the gun sight of the upper fixed machine gun forward firing operated directly by the same 1st pilot (but often removed). Note the pulled parasol curtain over the 1st pilot’s seat. Victor Sierra

Italian bomber: inside the cockpit

Macchi fighter’s fuselage lined up in the large hangar of the Lecce-Galatina airfield during the work of re-establish of the flight conditions. Note the tricolor roundels adopted by the Regia Aeronautica after the armistice with the United Nations and the declaration of the war to Germany by the Kingdom of Italy. The Lecce’s maintenance base was established on Autumn 1943 when the SRA-Squadra Riparazione Aeromobili (Aircraft Repair Team) of Brindisi, Manduria and Monserrato was assigned to Stormi 4th, 5th and 51st (all with the co-belligerent Regia Aeronautica) and afterward organized on the STC-Servizio Tecnico Caccia (Fighter Technical Service) inside the Lecce’s Raggruppamento Caccia (Fighters Grouping). The STC is the direct ancestor of the today Italian Air Force’s 10th Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli (Aircraft Maintenance Unit), or 10th RMV, the centre of excellence for maintenance, check and overhaul of all the Aeronautica Militare’s Alenia Aermacchi MB-339 (A and CD) primary and advanced trainer included the MB-339PAN of the “Frecce Tricolori”, the well-acquainted Italian aerobatic team. Victor Sierra