Italian Forces

Asso di bastoni

Two ground crew members checking the engine area of a Macchi 205 "Veltro" of 1st Squadriglia "Asso di Bastoni", an emblem famous in Italian fighter aviation from the Spanish War, of 1st Gruppo Caccia ANR (Aeronautica Nazionaled Repubblicana) on airport of Northern Italy, spring 1944. The ANR, air force of RSI (Repubblica Sociale Italian), employed more 140 MC.205, nearly 30 former Regia Aeronautica and the other fresh factory. But the raid of Allies bombers over Aermacchi, one at March 1944, the other at May of same year, stopped the production and other losses they were maked from air combats, air attacks on airports and accidents. At the end of May 1944, the 1st Gruppo begin to transit to Fiat G.55 "Centauro" and, in Summer 1944, to Messerchmitt 109. Few MC.205s were also employed by ANR for advanced training of fighter pilots from the Squadriglia Addestramento Caccia and from Nucleo Comando (Command Unit)n of 3rd Gruppo. Victor Sierra