North Africa, late 1942: an Italian fighter Macchi MC.202 “Folgore” (Lightning) abandoned after a forced landing wheels up and engine still running and here found by the advancing Allied troops already partially stripped by the souvenirs hunters. Notice an ammunitions belt and one of the fuselage’s fuels tank scattered on the ground. The MC.202 is an aircraft of the 91st Squadriglia, 10th Gruppo, 4th Stormo “Francesco Baracca”. Victor Sierra

An unlucky “Folgore”

An Italian bomber returned to its base with substantial battle damages to left wing and likely with the left engine off (the propeller’s blades conditions seem indicate a not running engine) and undercarriage up with a resulting crash landing who has caused other damages. The plane is a Savoia-Marchetti S.79 of the 59th Squadriglia, 33rd Gruppo, 11th Stormo, based in Sicily, Comiso airfield, who at beginning of the war, June 1940, as part of the 3rd Divisione Aerea “Centauro” (“Centaur” Air Division) of 2nd Squadra Aerea, was committed in the first phase of air offensive against Malta. Very probably the aircraft was hit during a raid over Malta (the livery is that of first months of war) by the AA fire. Victor Sierra

Return from Malta

Giuseppe Torcasio was in the Italian Divisional Artillery (regg. di artigleria) WW II North Africa.