A Fiat CR.42 survived to the war and employed by Aeronautica Militare (the new name, still in use, of Italian Air Force after the fall of monarchy) for non-active duties. The aircraft’s state, seemingly on flight conditions, but without the propeller’s spinner and the wheels fairings, predict his unhappy destiny: the scrapping just after the grounding. Behind her the wrecks of former Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force’s Spitfire V phased out just after the end of the war. Victor Sierra

An unhappy destiny

One of about Macchi MC.205s survived at the war. This aircraft is already on the all silver finish adopted by Aeronautica Militare (the new Italian Air Force born after the Italian Republic’s proclamation, June 1946) and is without the unit’s number, but has only the military codes (Matricola Militare or MM) under the tail and the 1st Stormo (Archer) emblem on the fin. Note the absence of wing’s cannons: or the aircraft is a MC.205 1st Series or the cannons was removed like on the plane in background, still camouflaged, with clearly visible the blocking of the weapon housing on the leading edge (the little white disk). Some “Veltros” was in the flight line of 5th Stormo between Summer 1946 and May 1947 at Lecce before of the return on Northern Italy, at Bergamo-Orio al Serio. Here the Macchi fighters were replaced by former RAF’s Spitfire Mk. IX. The last MC.205s were employed until 1951 for fighter training. Victor Sierra

One of last MC.205s

This survivor Fiat CR.42, fuselage code Z-1+2, is an aircraft employed for liaison by Aeronautica Militare’s 1st Zona Aerea Territoriale (Air Territorial Zone), an high command with HQ at Milan, and based on Milan-Linate Airport, on second half of Forty. Also this plane has the wheels spat removed and has the all silver finish typical of post-war Italian aircrafts. Victor Sierra