A priest, surely a military chaplain, address some word to Regia Aeronautica’s personnel at a Southern Italy airport, likely after a religious ceremony. The white liturgical color of the priest’s vestments reveal a high religious festivity. Considering the winter dress of the personnel, is believable or Christmas or, more probable according my opinion, the festivity of the Loreto Virgin, the aviators Celeste Patrona (Celestial Patron), a festivity which fall on 10 December. In this case the date of the photo is 10 December 1942. The fighter aircraft in background is a Macchi MC.202 of the 88th Squadriglia, 6th Gruppo, 1st Stormo “Arciere” (Archer). In background some transport aircraft S.82. Victor Sierra

Chaplain and pilots

A view by the air side of the Mass inside the hangar depicted by the previous photo. The people in foreground are aircraftman and enlisted men arranged behind the NCO while the Officers are lined up in the first rows. Notice the Kingdom of Italy’s national flag just behind the altar and a row of smaller tricolor flags without the Savoia emblem. Notice also the remarkable sizes and the all metal structure of the hangar. Even now many hangar in current use by the Italian Air Force are similar thereto. Victor Sierra

Inside a large hangar

During his 90 year of history the Italian Air Force employed not only aircraft but also some boat mostly used in attendance to seaplane units in the air harbor. In this photo a high-sea rescue motorboat Rama (Motoscafo Soccorso d'Alto Mare Regia Aeronautica) employed by the Regia Aeronautica around later Thirties/early Forties XX Century in the air harbor of Cadimare, near La Spezia, Liguria. This motorboat were able to afford the sea in gale and strong gale conditions. During the East African Campaign, on Summer 1940 three Regia Aeronautica’s motorboat was allocated to Regia Marina (Italian Navy) as reinforcement of the torpedo boat’s line somewhat tatty of the XXI Squadriglia MAS, at Massawa, Eritrea. The Air Force’s boats was modified in loco with torpedo and depth charges. Victor Sierra