#4° Stormo

[aria-greenhoodie]

Hihihi! You have a lot of neat AUs!! I’d really like to know about the Candy Sphinx one!!

YES EHEHEHEHE IVE MADE A LOT OF DESIGNS FOR THIS ONE ALLREADY! Basically, this AU just makes every character into a candy sphinx because I love them. The canon reason for it existing is that during the GOLB fight of the finale, both Goliad and Stormo somehow ended up in the time room when GOLB was releasing a burst of energy. Stormo wished that there were more of him and his brother’s kind, so they didn’t have to be alone (much to Goliad’s chagrin) to which this version of the universe was made. Obviously because I’m not normal about Petrigrof I focus a lot on them but every character exists in the universe!

In all honesty this entire AU is just an excuse to draw more weird fucked up cat creatures but shhhh…

A lot of the characters’ families and dynamics are slightly changed, for example, Marceline is Simon and Betty’s biological kit, Finn and Fern are brothers from the same litter rather than being the same person (or sphinx, in this case), and I may have done a wee bit of universe-bending to allow certain characters like Fionna, Winter King, and Farmworld Finn to exist because I WANT TO DRAW CHARACTERS AS CANDY SPHINXES

These are all the designs I’ve drawn in color thus far! Oh, and have some sketches!

This AU is very much a Self-indulgent excuse to draw fucked up cats, but it does have some light lore :3 I’m gonna make a chart explaining the lineage of all the sphinxes soon, since it’s not the same as Canon Ooo…

Click for Quality btw!

[collector-noceda-clawthorne]

The 4 children of Bubblegum

 On the top are Goliad and Stormo. These two are candy phoenix who are in currently in a psychic combat. (If you saw the episode “Goliad” you know what I mean).

 The bottom two are Simon and Penelope

Simon is a fan-made character from @omy-chan01 Simon Abadeer comic. He is PB and Marceline’s son. Mixed with they’re DNA, thus having PB and Marceline’s powers and abilities. 

 Penelope is a character that appears in the Adventure Time Comics. She wears Bubblegum’s amulet as a bracelet. She is a future reincarnation of Finn. And I like to think she inherited Marceline’s guitar skills.

[squill79]

Stormo

Finally wrote another Adventure Time fanfic! This is actually based off of an unused episode concept that Adam Muto once mentioned. I always wished that Goliad and Stormo would get a follow up episode after their debut in Goliad's titular season 4 episode. Enjoy!

(We open on Finn and Jake on their way to the Candy Kingdom. It is Stormo's fourth birthday. Finn is carrying a gift)

Jake: "Man, I don't see why you insist on doing this every year. That thing gives me the creeps."

Finn: "He's not a thing, he's my son. And I don't wanna be a poo-brained washed-up loser of a parent like my bio-dad."

Jake: "Yeah I get that, but that eyeball dude. It freaks me the bajeebs out!"

Finn: "Oh come on Jake, it's not so bad! If it weren't for his big ol' eyeball keeping Goliad in check, the whole Candy Kingdom would be all donked up."

Jake: "Yeah I guess. I still don't like it."

(Finn and Jake arrive at the Candy Kingdom. They get to the top of the castle where Stromo is still holding Goliad back)

Finn: "Why if it isn't the birthday boy! Four years old and not looking a day past two. How's it been Stormo?"

Stormo: "..."

Jake: "You know he can't speak right?"

Finn: "Yeah but I like to pretend he does. (Finn grabs the gift and presents it to Stormo) Unkie Jake and I got you a present Stormo!"

Stormo: "..."

Finn: "I'll open it for ya. (Finn unwraps the gift and holds up a pair of scissors and razor) Whaaaaat!?! It's a haircut! Come on, let's trim that beautiful scalp of yours buddy!"

Jake: "Are you sure he wants a haircut? I don't think he cares man."

Finn: "Awww come on! He doesn't want all that hair in his face, (Finn starts trimming Stormo's hair) besides, if he's anything like his dad then his hair will grow quick as heck."

Jake: "Uuuuh... Finn"

Finn: "Yeah?"

PLOP

(Finn looks down. He sees Stormo's severed eye. He looks back at Stormo and sees that he accidentally cut his eye off)

Finn: "AAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

Jake: "Dude that's sick!"

Finn: "DUUUDE! NOW GOLIAD CAN GUNK UP THE WHOLE KINGDOM WITH HER MIND CONTROL JUNK!"

Jake: "OH DUDE WHAT DO WE DO?!?!?"

Finn: "We have to get PB. She'll know what to do-"

(The castle crumbles and Finn and Jake fall to ground level. They look up to seee Goliad mind controlling all of the candy citizens, including Princess Bubblegum, into forming a huge body, with Goliad taking place as the head)

Goliad: "Ha ha ha ha! Now that I have control, the kingdom is mine! I'm gonna demolish it all! Pretty soon the Candy Kingdom will be the Goliad Kingdom!"

Finn: "Dang man, Goliad's gunking things up hardcore! How do we stop her?"

Stormo: "Her eyeball."

Finn: "What?"

Stormo: "You need to cut off her eyeball like you did to mine. Then she'll lose her mind control powers."

(Jake fights off Goliad in the background)

Finn: "Dude you can talk?"

Stormo: "Yes. I've managed to pick up on your language from your previous birthday visits."

Finn: "But how come you never said anything?"

Stormo: "I never needed to. My sole purpose is keeping Goliad under control."

Finn: "Aww dude. You're more than just that."

Stormo: "That's very sweet but that's not important right now."

(Goliad slams Jake down on the ground)

Goliad: "Brother! You had the option to join me! We could have ruled together! But here we are! You chose this!"

Jake: "Hey man, how do we stop her?"

Finn: "Stormo says we gotta cut off her eye."

Jake: "Yeah but how do we do that? She's like crazy tall now."

Stormo: "I can give you two a lift."

Finn: "Yeah let's go Stormo!"

(Finn and Jake get on top of Stormo and he rides them up Goliad's body of candy people)

Finn: "Hey Stormo, how are you able to see Goliad without your eye?"

Stormo: "It's our shared psychic link we have as siblings. I can sense her being even without my eyesight."

Finn: "Oh rad."

(Stormo finally reaches the top of Goliad and Finn takes the Night Sword out of his backpack and points it towards Goliad)

Goliad: "Brother, why would you help them? They are the enemy!"

Stormo: "I'm sorry sister, but you have gone too far."

(Finn slices Goliad's eye off. Finn, Jake, Stormo, Goliad, Princess Bubblegum, and all of the candy citizens fall to the ground)

Princess Bubblegum: "(Hazy and confused) Dude what???"

(Cut to about three hours later)

(Bubblegum is seen repairing Stormo's eye in her lab)

Princess Bubblegum: "There we go, good as new!"

Stormo: "Thank you princess."

Jake: "Sorry for being grossed out by your eye."

Stormo: "That's ok. It is crazy nasty."

Finn: "So now that Goliad is locked up, what are you gonna do? You can stay with me and Jake if you want."

Stormo: "Thanks, but it's time I explore the world for myself and find a new purpose. I have been static for far too long. I'll see you around dad."

(Stormo jumps out the window and runs off into the sunset)

Finn: "Happy birthday Stormo."

[finncomet]

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄'𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐓

{Basics}

Name: Finn Mertens

Alias: Finn, Finny, Finn the Human, Hero of Ooo, Comet Boy

Gender: Male

Age: 21... technically

Species: Human

Zodiac: aquarius / aries / cancer / capricorn / gemini / leo / libra / pisces / sagittarius / scorpio / taurus / virgo / unknown

Abilities/Talents: fighting, swords, adventuring, flute, healing powers, helping ppl, survival/wilderness skills, uuuh im sure theres more that im too tired to think of atm

{Personal}

Alignment: lawful / neutral / chaotic / good / neutral / evil / true

Religion: none

Sins: envy / greed / gluttony / lust / pride / sloth / wrath

Virtues: charity / chastity / diligence / humility / justice / kindness / patience

Languages: English, can understand some Korean but doesn’t really speak it, his mom tried to to teach him some Irish

Family: Minerva Campbell (bio-mother), Martin Mertens (bio-father; deceased), Jake (adopted brother), Jermaine (adopted brother), Margaret (adopted mother, deceased), Joshua (adopted father, deceased), BMO (adopted robo-son), Nepter (robo-son), Stormo (candy-sphinx-clone-son)

Friends: Jake, Princess Bubblegum, Marceline, Marsha, Simon, Phoebe, Tiffany, Susan, Shelby, LSP, Willow, IK, probably your muse, ok honestly he has like 5000

Sexual Orientation: heterosexual / bisexual / pansexual / homosexual / demisexual  / asexual / unsure / questioning / other

Relationship status: single / dating / married / widowed / open relationship / other

Libido: sex god / very high / high  / average / low / very low / non-existent

{Physical}

Build: twig / bony / slender / average / athletic / curvy / chubby / obese

Hair: white / blonde / brunette / red / black / other

Eyes: brown / blue / green / black / other

Skin: pale / fair / olive / light brown / brown / very brown / other

Height: under 3 foot / 3-4 foot / 4-5 foot / 5-6 foot / 6-7 foot / above 7 foot

Weight: under 100 pounds / 100-150 pounds / 150-200 pounds / 200-250 pounds / above 250 pounds

Scars: lots of scars all over his bod, but they’re all old scars

Facial Features: freckles, faded scars

Tattoos: not until jake dies :)

{Choose}

Dogs or Cats?

Birds or Hamsters?

Red or Blue?

Yellow or Green?

Black or White?

Coffee or Tea?

Ice Cream or Cake?

Fruits or Vegetables?

Sandwich or Soup?

Magic or Melee?

Sword or Bow?

Summer or Winter?

Spring or Autumn?

The Past or The Future?

Tagged by: @dcmonprncss Tagging: yooouuu

[myalgicencephalomyelitiscfstom]

There is a video recording of his talk at the link:

[aresdifesa]

L’Eurofighter Typhoon festeggia 20 anni a difesa dei cieli d’Italia e della NATO Il 18 marzo 2024, si è svolta a Grosseto, sede del 4° Stormo dell’Aeronautica Militare, la cerimonia del ventennale della consegna dell’Eurofighter Typhoon F-2000, il velivolo che rappresenta oggi la spina dorsale della difesa aerea nazionale, un assetto pregiato che, con oltre 200.000 ore volate e 135.000 sortite in Italia e all’estero, sorveglia e difende i cieli italiani e dell’Alleanza Atlantica. Era il 16 marzo 2004 quando avvenne la consegna dell’Eurofighter Typhoon al 4° Stormo di Grosseto, primo reparto operativo dell’Aeronautica Militare a ricevere il velivolo che oggi rappresenta il pilastro portante della Difesa Aerea nazionale. I primi velivoli furono

[italianiinguerra]

Medaglie d'Oro della 2ª Guerra Mondiale - Maggiore pilota GIUSEPPE CENNI - San Luca (Reggio Calabria), 4 settembre 1943

Nome e CognomeGiuseppe CenniLuogo e data di nascitaCasola Valsenio (Ravenna), 27 febbraio 1915Forza ArmataRegia AeronauticaSpecialitàBombardamento a tuffoSquadra o stormo5º Stormo tuffatoriRepartoUnitàGradoMaggiore pilota facente funzione di Tenente Colonnello comandante del 5º Stormo tuffatoriAnni di servizio1935 -1943Guerre e campagneGuerra di SpagnaSeconda Guerra Mondiale (fronte…

[lamilanomagazine]

Grosseto: Cento anni dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana: arriva "La Notte Blu"

Cento anni dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana: arriva "La Notte Blu". Esibizioni teatrali, musica dal vivo, giochi in piazza per i più piccoli, percorsi espositivi e simulatori di volo: il centro storico si prepara così ad accogliere “La notte blu”. Una serata che animerà Piazza Dante e che vedrà, inoltre, la premiazione del concorso artistico e di poesia del centenario “In volo verso il futuro” a cura dell'Ass. Ne P.A.S.F.A. di Grosseto. La celebrazione, in programma sabato 10 giugno dalle ore 17.30 alle ore 24.00, si inserisce all'interno del ricco cartellone di eventi pensato per celebrare i 100 anni dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana, ripercorrendo la storia, osservando il presente e programmando il futuro della Forza Armata. “L' anniversario, dello scorso 28 marzo, riassume un secolo di attività operativa dell'Aeronautica al servizio del Paese – commenta il sindaco Antonfrancesco Vivarelli Colonna – Un secolo di costante sviluppo tecnologico e industriale, di presenza nel mondo portando in alto l’impegno e l’ingegno italiano. Per questo, come Amministrazione abbiamo ritenuto doveroso, nonché opportuno, celebrare questo traguardo con un'ampia rassegna di eventi, così da, non soltanto ringraziare i nostri uomini per il lavoro che quotidianamente svolgono, ma anche avvicinare la cittadinanza, attraverso manifestazioni in piazza e giornate di open day, al 4° Stormo Caccia”. Alla giornata di sabato, faranno seguito la manifestazione “Run del Centenario: in volo verso il 4° Stormo dal centro storico di Grosseto”, in programma domenica 17 settembre e nuove esposizioni nei centri commerciali cittadini, nel mese di ottobre. Gli eventi si concluderanno con un open day finale, il 4 novembre, e con il concerto “Corale Puccini” del 10 dicembre.... #notizie #news #breakingnews #cronaca #politica #eventi #sport #moda Read the full article

[kritere]

Chi era Alessio Ghersi, il capitano delle Frecce Tricolori precipitato e morto a Udine

DIRETTA TV 30 Aprile 2023 Padre di due figli, Ghersi aveva iniziato la sua carriera nel 2007. Dopo aver frequentato le scuole  di volo, era stato assegnato al 4° Stormo di Grosseto. 3 CONDIVISIONI Trentaquattro anni, una moglie, due figli e un’infinità di passioni, a partire dalla sua Harley Davidson e dalla chitarra. Alessio Ghersi, pilota delle Frecce Tricolori originario di Domodossola, è…

[voodoo1blog]

Fomaer, F-104G, “Rosso 27″.....a presentation model to one of the pilots of    the ”4° Stormo 20° Gruppo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEXhV5OFSUE&t=29s

[hjmarseille]

4 Six fighter pilots of 150° Gruppo Autonomo pose beside a Gigi Tre Osei Bf 109F-4 at Sciacca in the late spring of 1943. They are (from left to right), unknown, Tenente Giovanni Mancini, Tenente Angelo Zarelli, Sottotenente Antonio Camaioni, Sergente Giorgio Leone and Tenente Giosue Carillo (AM via Maurizio Di Terlizzi)

Photo and caption featured in Osprey Aviation Elite Units • 38 53° Stormo by Marco Mattioli

[airmanisr]

Eurofighter Typhoon 'MM7299 / 4-41' by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: Operated by 4 Stormo, 9 Gruppo, Italian Air Force. l/n IS031. Seen departing the 2013 RIAT at Fairford. 22-7-2013

[usafphantom2]

Ronnie Bell Following

two Macchi C-200 Saetta of the 8th fighter group taking off from airfield in North Africa

Piotr Hardecki and Miguel Lobo faved this

Stephen 11y

Following the end of Italy's campaigns in East Africa, a program was started to completely reequip the Regia Aeronautica with a new interceptor aircraft of modern design.

The 10 February 1936 specifications called for an aircraft powered by a single radial engine, with a top speed of 500 km/h, climb rate at 6000 meters of 5 minutes, with a flight endurance of two hours, and armed with a single (later increased to two) 12.7 mm machine gun.

Macchi's lead designer was Mario Castoldi, the creator of several racing aircraft which competed for the Schneider Trophy, including the M.39, which won the competition in 1926. He also designed the M.C. 72.

In designing a modern fighter, Castoldi proposed a modern all metal cantilever low wing monoplane, with retractable landing gear, and an enclosed cockpit.

The fuselage was of semi monocoque construction, with self-sealing fuel tanks under the pilot's seat, and in the centre section of the wing.

The distinctive "hump" elevated the cockpit to provide the pilot with an unobstructed view over the engine.

The wing had an advanced system whereby the hydraulically actuated flaps were interconnected with the ailerons, so that when the flaps were lowered the ailerons dropped as well.

Power was provided by the 870 hp Fiat A.74 radial engine, although Castoldi preferred inline engines, and had used them in all of his previous designs.

With "direttiva" (Air Ministry Specific) of 1932, Italian industrial leaders had been instructed to concentrate solely on radial engines for fighters, due to their better reliability.

The A.74 was a re-design of the American Pratt & Whitney R-1830 SC-4 Twin Wasp made by engineers Tranquillo Zerbi and Antonio Fessia and was the only Italian engine that could provide a reliability similar to Allied products.

The licence-built A.74 engine could still be problematic.

In late spring 1941, 4° Stormo's Macchi C.200s then based in Sicily, had all the A.74s produced by the Reggiane factory replaced because they were defective units.

The elite unit had to abort many missions against Malta due to engine problems.

Although the Macchi C.200 was considered underpowered, the air-cooled radial engine provided some cover during strafing missions.

Consequently, the C.200 was often used as a cacciabombardiere (fighter-bomber).

Moreover, it was maneuverable and had a sturdy all-metal construction.

Its armament of two 12.7 mm machine guns was not sufficient, but the Saetta could compete with contemporary Allied fighters.

The first prototype (MM.336) C.200 flew on 24 December 1937, in Lonate Pozzolo Varese, with Macchi Chief Test Pilot Giuseppe Burei at the controls.

It was followed by the second prototype early the next year.

During testing, the aircraft attained 500 mph in a dive, although it could muster only 310 mph in level flight due to a lack of engine power.

Nevertheless, this was better than the performance of the competing Fiat G.50, Reggiane Re.2000, A.U.T. 18, IMAM Ro.51, and Caproni-Vizzola F.5.

In 1938 the C.200 won the tender "Caccia I" (fighter 1st) of the Regia Aeronautica, even if after tests at Guidonia airport, on 11 June 1938, Maggiore Ugo Borgogno had warned that when turning at 90° and the pilot tried to make a tighter turn, the aircraft became extremely difficult to control, tending to turn upside down, mostly to the right and entering into a violent flat spin.

Nevertheless, an initial order for 99 was placed with the Macchi factory.

The G.50 (which in same flight tests at Guidonia airport out-turned the Macchi) was also placed in limited production, because it could be brought into service earlier.

Production started in June 1939.

Like others of the early Italian monoplanes, the C.200 suffered from a dangerous tendency to go in a spin.

Early production C.200 aircraft showed autorotation problems similar to the ones of the Fiat G.50, IMAM Ro.51, and the AUT 18.

At the beginning of 1940 two deadly accidents occurred due to autorotation.

Deliveries and production stopped, and the Regia Aeronautica thought of abandoning use of the type, as the skill involved in flying it was beyond that of the average pilot.

The problem was the new profile of the wing.

Castoldi soon tested another new profile, but a solution to the autorotation problem was found by Sergio Stefanutti, chief designer of SAI Ambrosini in Passignano sul Trasimeno, based on studies by Willy Messerschmitt and the NACA.

He redesigned the wing section according to a variable (instead of constant) profile by just covering parts of the wings with plywood.

The new wing entered production in 1939/1940 at SAI Ambrosini and became a standard on the aircraft manufactured by Aermacchi and Breda, a licenced manufacturer.

After the modified wings of the Saetta were introduced, the C.200 proved to be, for a time, the best Italian fighter.

To save weight, the first production C.200 series did not have armour fitted to protect the pilots.

Armour plating was incorporated when the units were going to replace the Saettas with the new Macchi C.202 Folgore and often in only a limited number of aircraft.

After the armour was fitted, the aircraft could become difficult to balance, and during aerobatic manoeuvres could enter an extremely difficult to control flat spin, forcing the pilot to bail out.

On 22 July 1941, Leonardo Ferrulli, one of the top scoring Regia Aeronautica pilots, encountered the problem and was forced to bail out over Sicily.

At the beginning of 1940, Denmark was set to place an order for 12 C.200s, a deal that fell through when Germany invaded Denmark.

The most serious handicap was the low production rate of the type at over 22000 hours in production time due to antiquated construction technology.

A total of 1153 Saettas were eventually produced, but almost all were gone by the time of the armistice between Italy and the Allied armed forces in September 1943.

In an attempt to improve performance, a C.201 prototype was created with a 1000 hp Fiat A.76 engine, but this was abandoned in favour of the Daimler-Benz DB 601 powered C.202.

The Saetta was to have been replaced outright by the C.202 after only one year in production, but the C.200's service life was extended because Alfa Romeo could not produce enough of the RA.1000 (license-built DB 601) engines, and more C.200s were built using C.202 parts while waiting for production to increase.

In August 1939 about 30 C.200s, by then nicknamed Saetta ("Arrow"), were delivered to 10° Gruppo of 4° Stormo, stationed in North Africa.

Pilots of this elite unit of the Regia Aeronautica Sqd opposed the adoption of the C.200, preferring the more manouvrable Fiat CR.42.

These aircraft were then transferred to 6° Gruppo of 1° Stormo in Sicily, who were enthusiastic supporters of the new fighter, and Gruppo 152° of 54° Stormo in Vergiate. When Italy entered the war on 10 June 1940, 144 C.200s were operational, half of which were serviceable.

Although the first 240 aircraft had fully enclosed cockpits, the subsequent variants were given open cockpits at the request of the Italian pilots.

The first C.200s to make their combat debut were those of the 6° Gruppo Autonomo C.T. led by Tenente Colonnello (Wing Commander) Armando Francois.

This squadron was based at the Sicilian airport of Catania Fontanarossa.

A Saetta from this unit was the first C.200 to be lost in combat when on 23 June 1940,

14 C.200s (eight from 88a Squadriglia, five from 79a Squadriglia and one from 81a Squadriglia) that were escorting 10 SM.79s from 11° Stormo were intercepted by two Gloster Gladiators.

Gladiator N5519, piloted by Flt Lt George Burges, attacked the bombers but was in turn attacked by a C.200 flown by Sergente Maggiore Lamberto Molinelli of 71a Squadriglia over the sea off Sliema.

The Macchi overshot four or five times the more agile Gladiator which eventually shot down the Saetta.

Only on 1 November were the C.200s credited with their first kill.

A Sunderland on a reconnaissance mission was sighted and attacked just outside Augusta by a flight of Saettas on patrol.

With the arrival towards the end of December 1940 of X Fliegerkorps in Sicily, the C.200s were assigned escort duty for I/StG.1 and II/StG.2 Ju 87 bombers attacking Malta, as the Stukas did not have adequate fighter cover until the arrival of 7./JG26's 109s.

On 6 February 1941, the elite unit 4° Stormo received C.200s from 54° Stormo.

With the autorotation problems finally solved, the Macchis were regarded as "very good machines, fast, manoeuvrable and strong" by Italian pilots.

After intense training on 1 April 1941, the 10° Gruppo (4° Stormo) moved to Ronchi dei Legionari airport and started active service.

In combat with the less manoueverable Hurricane it proved effective, with outstanding dogfight performance and no vices.

When it entered service, the Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter that it faced which could outclimb the Saetta.

C.200s from 4° Stormo took part in operations against Yugoslavia right from the start of hostilities.

At dawn 6 April 1941, four C.200s from 73a Squadriglia flew over Pola fortress and attacked an oil tanker, setting the ship on fire.

The 4° Stormo flew its last mission against Yugoslavia on 14 April: on that day, 20 C.200s from 10° Gruppo flew up to 100 km south of Karlovac without meeting any enemy aircraft.

Operations ended on 17 April.

During those 11 days, the 4° Stormo had not lost a single C.200.

Its pilots destroyed 20 seaplanes and flying boats, damaging 10 more.

In total, they had set on fire an oil tanker, a fuel truck, several other vehicles and destroyed port installations.

Fitted with dust filters and designated C.200AS, Saettas saw extensive use in North Africa.

The Macchi's introduction was not well received by pilots when in 1940, the first C.200 unit, 4° Stormo replaced the type with the C.R.42.

The first combat missions were flown as escorts for Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers attacking Malta in June 1940, where one C.200 was claimed by a Gladiator.

On 11 June 1940, the second day of war for Italy, the C.200s of 79a Squadriglia encountered one of the Sea Gladiators which had been scrambled from Hal Far, Malta.

F/O WJ Wood claimed Tenente Giuseppe Pesola had been shot down, but the Italian pilot came back unscathed to his base.

The Saetta with its sturdy construction, and its agility permitted skilled pilots to effectively fight against more modern designs like the Hawker Hurricane and the Curtiss P-40.

Its greatest weakness was the light armament of two 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns.

While the Hurricane was faster at sea level (280 mph vs the C.200's 270 mph), the Saetta could reach more than 310 mph at 14 800 ft, although speed dropped off at altitude: 300 mph 19 700 ft and 220 mph at 23000 ft with a maximum ceiling of 29000 ft.

Over 16400 ft and at very low levels, only the huge Vokes (anti-sand) air filter fitted to the "tropical" variants slowed the Hurricane Mk II to the Macchi's levels.

Although the Macchi C.200 was more agile than the Hurricane, it was lightly armed, its windshield and pilot's seat were not normally armoured nor was a radio fitted as standard, while its flight characteristics, even if better than the G.50, were not easily mastered by the average Italian pilot.

On 8 December 1941, Macchi MC.200s of the 153° Gruppo engaged Hurricanes from 94 RAF Squadron.

A violent dogfight developed with the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Linnard attempting to intercept a Macchi attacking a Hurricane.

Both aircraft were making steep turns and losing height, but Linnard was too late and the Macchi, turning inside the Hurricane, had already hit the cockpit area.

The stricken aircraft turned over at low level and dived into the ground, bursting into flames.

Its pilot, the New Zealand born RAF "ace" (six enemy aircraft destroyed and many more probably destroyed) Flight Lieutenant Owen Vincent Tracey was killed.

In same areas, C.200s operated as fighter-bombers against land and naval objectives, and sank the British destroyers HMS Zulu, and HMS Sikh near Tobruk in September 1942.

The C.200 subsequently saw action over Greece, Yugoslavia and the Balkans, and was frequently engaged in dogfights with Hurricanes and Gladiators over the Balkans.

In August 1941, the Italian air force command sent one air corps, formed out of the 22º Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre with four squadrons and 51 C.200s to the Eastern Front with the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia.

Together with C.202s, they went onto claim victory to loss ratio of 88/15.

The first Macchis arrived in Tudora near Odessa on 13 August 1941, commanded by Maggiore Giovanni Borzoni and deployed in 359a, 362a, 369a and 371a Flights (Squadriglias).

C.200s carried out their first operations from Krivoi Rog on 27 August 1941, achieving eight aerial victories over Soviet bombers and fighters.

For a short time the 22° Gruppo was subordinated to the Luftwaffe's V.Fliegerkorps.

Subsequently, they took part in the September offensive on the Dnjepr and as the offensive went on, they operated sporadically from airstrips in Zaporozhye, Stalino, Borvenkovo, Voroshilovgrad, Makiivka, Oblivskaja, Millerovo and their easternmost location, Kantemirovka, moving to Zaporozhye late in October 1941.

In December 371a Squadriglia was transferred to Stalino but replaced two days later by 359a with 11 C.200s.

On 25 December, the C.200s flew low level attacks against Soviet troops that had beleaguered the Black Shirt Legion Tagliamento, at Novo Orlowka.

On 28 December, pilots of 359a claimed nive Soviet aircraft, including six I-16 fighters, in the Timofeyevka and Polskaya area, without loss.

During February 1942, the C.200 was employed in attacking Russian airfields at Kranyi Liman, Luskotova and Leninski Bomdardir.

On 4 May 1942, the 22º Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre, which had reached its operational limit, was replaced by the newly formed 21º Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre, composed of 356ma, 382ma, 361ma and 386ma Squadriglia.

This unit, commanded by Maggiore Ettore Foschini, brought new C.202s and 18 new C.200 fighters.

During the Second Battle of Kharkov (12–30 May) the Italians flew escort for the German bombers and reconnaissance aircraft involved.

In May the aircraft's pilots received praise from the commander of the German 17th Armee, mostly for their daring and effective attacks in the Slavyansk area.

During the German advance in the summer of 1942 the 21° Gruppo Autonomo C.T. transferred to Makeyevka airfield, and then to Voroshilovgrad and Oblivskaya.

Increasingly the aircraft were tasked to escort German aircraft.

On 24 July 1942, the unit was shifted to Tatsinskaya Airfield, with 24 Saettas.

Its main task was to provide escort for Stukas in the Don Bend area, where there were few German fighters available.

Hauptmann Friedrich Lang, Staffelkäpitan of 1./StG 2 reported the Italian escort as

"most disappointing."

The Saettas proved unable to protect the Stukas from Soviet fighters.

On 25 and 26 July 1942, five C.200s were lost in aerial combat.

After only three days of action from Tatsinskaya, one third of the Italian fighters had been shot down.

The following winter the Soviet counteroffensive resulted in a retreat of the Axis forces.

By early December, only 32 Saettas were still operating, along with 11 C.202s.

Losses grew in the face of a more aggressive enemy flying newer aircraft.

The last major action was on 17 January 1943: 25 C.200s strafed enemy troops in the Millerovo area.

The aviation of the ARMIR was withdrawn on 18 January, bringing 30 C.200 and nine C.202 fighters back to Italy and leaving 15 unserviceable aircraft behind.

A total of 66 Italian aircraft had been lost on Eastern Front - against, according to official figures, 88 victories claimed during 17 months of action in that theatre.

The summary of the Italian expeditionary force operations included: 2557 offensive flights (of which 511were bombs drops), 1310 strafing attacks, 1938 escort missions, with the loss of 15 C.200s.

The top scoring unit was 362a Squadriglia commanded by Capitano Germano La Ferla, who claimed 30 Soviet aircraft shot down and 13 more destroyed on the ground.

Twenty-three Saettas were transferred to Allied airfields in southern Italy, and flown for a short time by pilots of the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force after the Armistice with the Allies.

A small number also flew for the pro-German National Republican Air Force based in northern Italy.

Variants

The Saetta underwent very few modifications during its service life.

Aside from the switch to an open canopy, later aircraft were fitted with an upgraded radio and an armoured seat.

Some late-production Saettas were built with the MC.202 Serie VII wing, thus adding two 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns to the armament.

The four (including two proposed) C.200 derivatives were:

M.C. 200 (prototypes)

Two prototypes fitted with a 840 hp Fiat a.74 RC 38 radial piston engine.

M.C. 200

Single-seat interceptor fighter/fighterbomber aircraft.

Production version.

M.C.200bis

Breda proposed modification with a Piaggio P.XIX R.C.45 engine producing 1180 hp

at 14800 ft.

Converted from an early production C.200: first flight 11 April 1942 from Milano-Bresso flown by Luigi Acerbi.

The aircraft was then fitted with a larger propeller and a revised engine cowling.

Top speed in trials was 332 mph.

It did not enter production as the C.200 had been replaced by more advanced designs by this time.

M.C.200AS

Adapted version to North African Campaign.

M.C.200CB

Fighter-bomber version with 710 lb of bombs or two external fuel tanks

(fighter escort).

M.C.201

As an answer to a 5 January 1938 request by the Regia Aeronautica for a C.200 replacement, Aermacchi proposed the C.201, with a revised fuselage, an engine

Isotta-Fraschini Astro A.140RC.40

(license variant of the French Gnome-et-Rhone GR.14Krs Mistral Masjor) with 870CV.

But later the choice was for the Fiat A.76 R.C.40 engine with 1000 hp.

Two prototypes were ordered.

The first flew on the 10 August 1940, still with the less powerful engine, the A.74.

Although Macchi estimated a top speed of 340 mph, the prototype was cancelled after Fiat abandoned the troublesome A.76 engine.

Via Flickr

[greatworldwar2]

• Adriano Visconti (Libyan R.A. Ace)

Major Adriano Visconti di Lampugnano was one of Italy's top flying aces of the Second World War, shooting down between 10 and 26 enemy aircraft.

Adriano Visconti was born in Tripoli, Libya on November 11th, 1915 the son of Galeazzo and Cecilia Dall’Aglio Visconti. His father and mother were two Italian colonists who settled in Tripolitania since 1911. Since his teenage years he showed passion for airplanes. In October 1936 Visconti joined the Regia Aeronautica and trained at the Royal Academy in Caserta. After receiving his flying wings Adriano trained on the Breda BA 25 and later on the RO 41. In 1939 Visconti was assigned to the 50o Stormo, 159a Sq. ground attack unit stationed in Bengasi, Libya.

At the outbreak of the war, Visconti flew combat missions using the BA 65 from June to the end of December 1940. He was soon briefly posted to 2º Gruppo Aviazione Presidio Coloniale's 23ª Squadriglia for disciplinary reasons, but was allowed to return to his original unit for "heroism under fire": Visconti's Breda Ba 65 had been attacked by three 33 Squadron Gladiators but, because of his skill as a pilot, Visconti and his crew escaped the encounter. For this action, in addition to being allowed to return to 50º Stormo, Visconti was awarded the first of his Medaglia di Bronzo (Bronze Star). From June 1940 until the end of that year he flew continually without leave, and was awarded another Bronze medal and two Medaglia d'argento. By January 1941 50º Stormo had taken such heavy losses that the unit was disbanded. Visconti was detached to the 54º Stormo, 7º Gruppo, 76ª Squadriglia, where he learned to fly the Macchi C.200. He then flew the superior Macchi C.202 from the end of 1941. On December 22nd, 1941, in a dogfight over Malta, he was credited with a "probable" Hawker Hurricane. His first official air victory was on the June 15th, 1942, when he shot down a Bristol Blenheim near the island of Pantelleria. On August 13th, 1942 while flying with a wingman in a formation of two C.202s on a reconnaissance flight over Malta looking for a shipping convoy, the Italian aircraft were bounced by four Supermarine Spitfire escorting the ships. Visconti, only flying the Macchi for the second time, was able to shoot down two Spitfires and damage the other two, allowing the other Macchi to complete the reconnaissance mission. For this double air victory, Visconti was awarded a Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare (Silver Medal of Military valour).

After Italy signed the armistice in 1943, Visconti continued to fly with the newly formed National Republican Air Force (Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, or ANR) of the Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana, or RSI). Shortly after joining the ANR, Visconti was promoted to Captain, commanding the 1st Squadron in the 1st Gruppo Caccia. In May 1944, he was promoted to Major. Until the disbanding of the ANR in 1945, Visconti flew the Macchi C.205 and the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10. He was credited with his first "kill" with the ANR on January 3rd, 1944, when, flying a C.205, he downed a P-38 Lightning South of the Piedmontese city of Cuneo. Visconti was wounded on several occasions, but never seriously. Although he never claimed more than ten kills some later source credited him with 26. Most of his victories were while flying the Macchi 205V; the last, a P-47 over Lake Garda, on March 14th, 1945, was in a Bf 109 G10 designated "3-4" but in reality was only a "claim", since the pilot he met in the head-on dogfight wasn't actually shot down. On the 14th of March 1945 Adriano Visconti was shot down, by the USAAF pilot, 2nd/Lt Charles Clark Eddy Jr. in a P-47 he named "Chickenbones" of 346th FS, 350th FG. They were in a dogfight in the Lake Garda area when Visconti's plane was hit and disabled by Eddy in a frontal attack, Visconti parachuted out at a very low altitude and survived his moderate wounds, while Eddy's P-47 came back safely to his Pisa airbase.

On April 29th, 1945, Visconti surrendered to communist partisans near Malpensa airfield, Milan, only after he was assured that none of the air and ground personnel of his unit would be killed in retaliatory attacks. His safety was assured by the mayor of Milan as well, when he was first taken for interrogation. Visconti and the other officers were taken on two buses to the barracks of "Savoy Cavalry" (Savoia Cavalleria) in via Vincenzo Monti. The barracks was then the command of National Republican Guard Intendancy (Intendenza della Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana). There, at 2 p.m., Visconti and Lieutenant (tenente) Valerio Stefanini, his close collaborator, were seemingly taken for a routine interrogation. They were both shot in the back. The Russian was charged with murder but was later discharged because the crime had occurred before May 8th, 1945, the official end of the war in Italy, and was therefore considered an act of war. Visconti and Stefanini were initially hastily buried in the courtyard of the barracks of Savoy Cavalry. In May 1945, a group of fellow aviators and friends, including Giuseppe Robetto, Ugo Diappi, Luigi Botto and Irma Rachelli, arranged for the bodies to be moved to Cimitero Monumentale di Milano. Visconti was 29 years old at the time of his death.

[sciatu]

MOMENTI DI FELICITA'

Prese il suo piccolo quaderno nero e aprì la prima pagina. Aveva riportato con attenzione quello che aveva visto.

Felicità N°1 – Una spiaggia vuota nel caldo pomeriggio d’Agosto, il mare quieto, poche nuvole, il rumore del vento tra le felci e i cardi gialli, il canto dei cardellini, lo sciacquio delle onde. Il silenzio pieno di ricordi e di sogni.

Felicità N°2 – Campo di grano smosso dal vento. Il fruscio costante del grano, l’ondeggiare degli alberi, l’esplosione dei papaveri rossi in grandi macchie perse all’infinito. Il sole dominante, il canto delle cicale continuo, vento leggero dal sapore africano.

Felicità N°3 – Il bosco silenzioso, coperto di neve e senza foglie, il gracchiare delle cornacchie, il rumore lontano dei campanacci di un gregge, la nera signora imbiancata di neve che il tramonto colora di rosa. Il silenzio è come il cielo puro. Il sole accarezza la montagna e lentamente scivola via, portandosene con se la grandezza.

Felicità N°4 – L’odore del prezzemolo appena tagliato sulla pasta, il senso di mare delle cozze fresche, il profumo intenso del pomodoro, l’odore che sale lentamente e spargendosi nella cucina porta ovunque un senso di pace e piacere.

Felicità N°5 – Un balcone antico tutto fiorito, un fuoco nella natura del deserto della città, una macchia di gioia che riempie il cuore e a tutti ricorda che quelle mura e quei palazzi fatti dagli uomini, non possono essere la felicità degli uomini stessi se non sono vestiti dalla natura stessa.

Felicità N°6 – Il volo di uno stormo di merli prima del tramonto, il loro volare liberi nel cielo, oscillare, salire, scendere, scartare di lato e risalire, senza limiti e pericoli, tutti insieme; una danza infinita che continua felice nel cielo finchè la luce non muore.

Felicità N°7 – L’erba nuova dal verde intenso, piccoli fiori gialli che a volte appaiono solitari, i roveti che riprendono vita, i rami degli alberi da frutta in fiore, l’infinito chiuso dai muretti di pietra bianca e le nuvole nel cielo che si inseguono preannunciando la prossima pioggia.

Felicità N°8 – Il sole che entra nella grotta sottomarina e illumina l’acqua trasparenze. Il rumore delle onde contro le rocce, il calore dell’acqua, la sua trasparenza turchese, il sapore di sale, il silenzio che rende quella grotta magica e protettiva.

Felicità N°9 – Il suo sorriso quando arrivano le granite, la sofficità della panna che si piega e si adagia nella soffice brioscia. Il sottile gusto di vaniglia, il gusto intenso e forte del caffè, le voci intorno della gente, il rumore delle macchine lontane, i passeri che si avvicinano per raccogliere le briciole e muovendo la testa ci guardano, ora con un occhio, ora con l’altro.

Felicità N°10 – Il mare infinito che si perde nell’orizzonte, il suo azzurro che muta lungo la costa o vicino agli scogli, le onde e la loro bianca schiuma, il vento che porta voci lontane, il giallo delle ginestre, il verde delle felci, il silenzio che riempie tutto il mondo che vedi.

Chiuse il libretto e sorrise.

Felice.

She took her little black notebook and opened the first page.  Happiness N ° 1 - An empty beach in the hot August afternoon, the calm sea, few clouds, the sound of the wind between the ferns and the yellow thistles, the singing of the goldfinches, the rinsing of the waves. The silence full of memories and dreams. Happiness N ° 2 - Wheat field moved by the wind. The constant rustling of wheat, the swaying of trees, the explosion of red poppies in large spots lost to infinity. The dominant sun, the song of the cicadas continuous, a light wind with an African flavor. Happiness N ° 3 - The silent forest, covered with snow and without leaves, the croaking of crows, the distant noise of the bells of a flock, the black lady whitewashed with snow that the sunset turns pink. Silence is like pure sky. The sun caresses the mountain and slowly slips away, taking the size with it. Happiness No. 4 - The smell of freshly cut parsley on pasta, the sense of sea of ​​fresh mussels, the intense aroma of tomato, the smell that rises slowly and spreading in the kitchen brings a sense of peace and pleasure everywhere. Happiness N ° 5 - An ancient balcony full of flowers, a fire in the nature of the desert of the city, a stain of joy that fills the heart and everyone remembers that those walls and those buildings made by men, cannot be the happiness of men themselves if they are not dressed by nature itself. Happiness N ° 6 - The flight of a flock of blackbirds before sunset, their free flight in the sky, swinging, going up, down, discarding sideways and going up, without limits and dangers, all together; an infinite dance that continues happily in the sky until the light dies. Happiness N ° 7 - The new grass with intense green, small yellow flowers that sometimes appear solitary, the bushes that come back to life, the branches of fruit trees in bloom, the infinite closed by the white stone walls and the clouds in the heaven chasing each other announcing the next rain. Happiness N ° 8 - The sun entering the underwater cave and illuminating the water transparencies. The sound of the waves against the rocks, the heat of the water, its turquoise transparency, the taste of salt, the silence that makes that cave magical and protective. Happiness N ° 9 - His smile when slushes arrive, the softness of the cream that folds and lays down in the soft brioche. The subtle vanilla flavor, the intense and strong taste of coffee, the voices of people around, the noise of distant machines, the sparrows who come to pick up the crumbs and moving their heads look at us, now with one eye, now with the ‘other. Happiness N ° 10 - The infinite sea that is lost in the horizon, its blue that changes along the coast or near the rocks, the waves and their white foam, the wind that brings distant voices, the yellow of the gorse, the green ferns, the silence that fills the whole world you see. She closed the book and smiled. Happy.

[italianiinguerra]

Medaglie d'Oro della 2ª Guerra Mondiale - Capitano pilota COSIMO DI PALMA - Cieli del Mar Adriatico, 14 maggio 1944

Medaglie d’Oro della 2ª Guerra Mondiale – Capitano pilota COSIMO DI PALMA – Cieli del Mar Adriatico, 14 maggio 1944

Nome e CognomeCosimo di PalmaLuogo e data di nascitaCampi Salentina, 18 luglio 1915 Forza ArmataAeronautica Cobelligerante ItalianaSpecialitàBombardamento TrasportiSquadra e stormoRaggruppamento da Bombardamento e TrasportoReparto88º GruppoUnitàGradoCapitano pilota comandante del 88º Gruppo, Raggruppamento da Bombardamento e TrasportoGuerre e campagneGuerra di SpagnaSeconda Guerra Mondiale…