Italian Forces

Return to flight conditions

Stato Maggiore Aeronautica

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