Modern/Post-War Photos

The return of Ro.43

Stato Maggiore Aeronautica

On November 17, 2011, the only floatplane IMAM Ro.43 still existing is returned at Italian Air Force Museum of Pratica di Mare, Bracciano Lake, near Rome, after the restoration performed, on two years of work, by the Section Restoration and Maintenance of Museum itself. This Ro.43, military code MM2705, was part of a batch of 23 aircrafts built by IMAM-Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Meridionali SpA at Naples in the first half of year 1937. During its career with the Regia Aeronautica was employed like maritime recce plan by the Italian Navy on board of some cruisers and took part at Battle of Punta Stilo on 9 July 1940. Afterwards was assigned to Scuola Osservatori Marittimi (Maritime Observer School) of Orbetello and took the code ORB-23 (Orbetello Number 23). Missing after the phasing out, ORB-23 was discovered and recovered, still with code ORB-23, at Rome-Centocelle on 1972. In the photo the Ro.43 ORB-23 after the restoration on the slipway of the air harbor of Vigna di Valle, site of Italian Air Force Museum. Victor Sierra