German Air Force

Huge aircraft in Rome

Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Me 323 “Gigant” (Giant) landed on one of Rome’s area airports, probably Ciampino, able to accommodate a large aircraft of this type (motorized version of the huge transport glider Me 321 with six radial engines). The Me 323 entered in service on the Mediterranean theater in November 1942 for delivery supplies to German troops in North Africa. Likely the plane is landed on Rome for a stop during the ferry flight from Germany to Sicily, base for supplies flight to North Africa, or vice versa. In the photo, taken in Autumn 1942 or early 1943, the Me 323’s technical crew inspecting the plane under the eyes of Luftwaffe’s officer on the left and of Italian Regia Aeronautica’s personnel probably of the local Airport Command: serviceman and NCOs together a civilian, perhaps an employee of Ministero dell’Aeronautica (Air Ministry). Victor Sierra