Italians & British POW's

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

The Viceroy’s airplane

Ursel, Belgium, Late Autumn 1940, base of the Italian Air Force’s 56th Stormo during the Italian air operations over the Britain: a mess attendant, a large pot with a contents little definable (a soup? Certainly not “spaghetti” or “fettuccine”), an as large dipper, bread on the basket, mess tins in hand, and the lunch is served, on plein-air despite the harsh climate of this regions (no problems, greatcoat and wool cap). And as finish a cigarette. The background is a Fiat CR.42 fighter aircraft. Victor Sierra