Sciacca airfield, Sicily, July 1943: a mix of fighters of any types, modern and obsolescent, gathered by the Italians of the last, desperate defence of the Sicilian skies against the air attacks immediately before the Allied landing in the Island. In foreground a Messerschmitt 109 of the 364th Squadriglia, 150th Gruppo, on the right a Macchi MC.200 and, in background, two Macchi MC.202. Victor Sierra

Last defence

The Fiat CR.42 aircraft number 14 of the 85th Squadriglia of the Regia Aeronautica’s 18th Gruppo Caccia Terrestre (18th Land Fighter Group) in flight over the clouds. At the Italy’s entry in the war, 10 June 1940, the 18th Gruppo “Frecce” (Arrows), motto in Venetian dialect «Ocio che te copo!..» (Beware... I'll kill you!), leader Maggiore Ferruccio Vossilla, based at Alessandria and Novi Ligure, North-Western Italy, was part of 3rd Stormo Caccia Terrestre. At the moment of the transfer in Belgium, Autumn 1940, for take part to air operations over the Channel against the Britain, an unlucky and useless mission requested by Mussolini but not by the Germans, the 18th Gruppo was deployed at Maldegen. Likely the aircraft of the picture, with the yellow engine cowling adopted in Belgium, wasn’t photographed during the operations from Maldegen but after the return of the Gruppo in Italy early 1941. Victor Sierra

“Arrows” Gruppo’s CR-42

An Italian Air Force’s Messerschmitt Bf 109 concealed under the trees of a Sicilian airfield in the attempt of the escape from the Allied air power, late June-first days July 1943. The most part of the Regia Aeronautica’s Bf 109 was destroyed on the ground by the Allied air raids during the preparation of the landing in Sicily. Victor Sierra