Italian seaplanes Cant-Z-501 flying over the Gulf of Naples during the naval review in front to Adolf Hitler and the Italian State’s high rank, as the Duce Benito Mussolini and the King Victor Emmanuel, on the occasion of the Führer’s visit in Italy, May 1938. Victor Sierra

In front to the Führer

An Italian Air Force’s raid over a Corsica’s airfield during the first day of the war. The first raid occurred on 15 June 1940 when six S.79 of the 9th Stormo, based at Viterbo, raided the Ghisonaccia airfield, losing an airplane, while five S.79 of the 46th Stormo, based at Pisa-San Giusto, escorted by nine G.50 of the 52nd Stormo’s 22nd Gruppo, bombed the Calvi harbor. Victor Sierra

Bombs over Corsica

Italian seaplane Cant-Z-506B “Airone” (Heron) of the 287th Squadriglia Autonoma da Ricognizione Marittima Lontana (Autonomous Long Range Range Flight Maritime Reconnaissance), based in Sardinia, in flight over the Mediterranean. The photo date after June 1941 when the Gruppi Gruppi Bombardamento Marittimo (Maritime Bombardment Groups) was disbanded and transformed in units of Maritime Reconnaissance armed only with anti-submarine bombs. Another change was the finish: after the disbandment of the Maritime Bombardment Groups the original all-silver livery with diagonal red strips upper the wing and with cross over a black rudder was adopted a complete dark grey-blue finish as over the airplane of this photo. Victor Sierra