The Viceroy and Governor-General of the Italian East Africa and also Commander-in-Chief of Italian armed forces in this theater, Prince Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta, Duca d’Aosta (Duke of Aosta), going down on an Italian East African airfield from its personal aircraft: the IMAM-Romeo Ro.37bis fuselage code 110-12 in service with the 110th Squadriglia Ricognizione Terrestre (Land Reconnaissance). At the time of the choice of the markings for the Ro.37bis of its Vigna di Valle’s Museum, a wreck discovered in Afghanistan and completely restored, the Italian Air Force has decided to give to this aircraft the same colors and insignias of the Duke of Aosta’s airplane. Victor Sierra

The Duke of Aosta’s airplane

The wind sleeve indicate strong wind on Italian airfield during the WW2. In background a landing Macchi MC.202 fighter aircraft. Another image of ages ago when, without radio or control tower, were mandatory control the wind speed and direction through the wind sleeve and the runway in use trough the T landing. In theory the wind sleeve and the other ground signals still existing, but in fact are superseded and cancelled by the size of the modern airports, the radio communications and the radar control. Victor Sierra

Wind sleeve

The guard of honor deployed on an Italian East African airfield, perhaps Addis Ababa, for the arrival of the Viceroy Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta, Duca d’Aosta (Duke of Aosta), clearly visible on the right and identifiable because his tall height (over 1,90 meters), followed by many high rank Italian Armed Forces officer. The aircraft assigned to the Duke as personal airplane is a special VIP version of the three engines bomber Savoia-Marchetti S.79 “Sparviero” with two windows on each side of the fuselage for better passenger’s comfort. The plane is owned by the Regia Aeronautica, military registration MM 21154 (MM for Matricola Militare/Military Registration), but has also a civil registration, I-ABNE. On the Italian Civil Register the aircraft is indicated as Savoia Marchetti SM.79TP “Sparviero IV”, Certificate of Registration number 2373, date of release 25 February 1939. The aircraft has a complete camouflage and tricolor bands on the fuselage and the wings seeming a photo taken before the entry in war of the Italy but likely after the outbreak of the WW2. Note also the absence of the dorsal machine guns. Date likely late 1939-beginning 1940. The Duca d’Aosta Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta, third Duke of Aosta, (baptismal name Amedeo Umberto Isabella Luigi Filippo Maria Giuseppe Giovanni di Savoia-Aosta) born 21 October 1898, dead POW in Kenya 3 March 1942, first cousin of the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, was an enthusiast and well experienced airplane’s pilot. Artillery soldier during WW1, Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta rejoined on 1932 the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) and during his career into the Air Force, as Colonel, was the leader of the 4th Stormo Caccia, one of the best Regia Aeronautica’s fighter units, achieving afterwards the maximum rank of Generale di Squadra Aerea (Air Marshal/Lt. General). Amedeo d’Aosta was Viceroy and Governor-General of the Italian East Africa and also Commander-in-Chief of Italian armed forces in this theater, replacing the General Rodolfo Graziani, from 1937 until the Italian forces surrender (with honors of war by the British Army) on the Amba Alagi, 18 May 1941. In the modern Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) the Duke of Aosta’s memory is still great. Today the 4th Stormo, based on Grosseto, first Italian Air Force’s unit equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon, is dedicated to the memory, awarded with the gold medal, of its ancient commander. Victor Sierra