Italian Forces

Air Force’s Officers meeting

EAF51

Regia Aeronautica’s Officers on an Italian Mainland base dressed two with the classic dark grey-blue uniform in use until to second half Eighties of XX Century and the two other with the Sahariana, an elegant and handy clothing used by the Italian Armed Forces Officers during the WW2 especially in North Africa (as specified by the name). The Officer on the right fitted with a camera (the mythic Leica?) is a Capitano (Captain) as indicated by the ranks over the sleeve, but isn’t a pilot - notice in effect the absence of the turreted eagle (the “Aquila Turrita”, even now official emblem of the Italian Armed Forces Officers licensed militaries pilots) – likely an Officer of the Administrative Services. The ranks are repeated over the cover, the “bustina” (garrison cap), abandoned by the Officers after the war in favor to the beret, but restored by the modern Italian Air Force’s uniform (but not much loved, the Officer preferring the beret). The Officer in the center of the photo, with a large orange envelope (typical of the Government’s envelopes) is a military pilot, as indicated by the “Aquila Turrita”, with many ribbon amounting to a number of militaries honor plus a military order, is a Maggiore or Tenente Colonnello (Major or Lt. Colonel) with Staff’s task ad indicated by the symbol over the ranks, perhaps an Aiutante di Volo (Flight Adjutant) of High Command General. On the left with the darker Sahariana a high rank Officer, an Air Force’s (grey-blue beret) three star General (Generale di Squadra Aerea, Lieutenant General in US Armed Forces), likely Commander in Chief of an Air Force’s High Command. Difficult discover exactly the rank of the second from left Officer, with the pale Sahariana. The flawless conditions of the prescribed uniform seem indicate a meet on an Italian Mainland base with representative of a Regia Aeronautica’s High Command (the “High Poppies” in the Italian Armed Forces slang). Victor Sierra