Italian Air Force Image

[JLEES]

I'm trying to identify the theme of this propaganda image. I think it was issued during the Spanish Civil War and depicts a formation of Italian bombers flying over the Spanish coast near Barcelona, with the Pyrenees Mountains also visable in the background. However, I could be wrong. Can anyone please identify the icon on the lower right?

The rear side of the postcard has a standard Mussolini quotation: "Flight conquers the earth, the seas, the skies, it's great that Italy should be sure of his destiny and addresses its future …" But, this doesn't hep identify why the image was created.
Thanks,
james

[Dili]

It appears to be Albanian symbol.

[JLEES]

That's interesting. The card must have been issued before Italy invaded Albania. Therefore, the planes do not have the three fascist symbols on the tail section that was commonly seen in the latter 1930s and 1940s. Thanks!
James

[Dili]

In Spain they had the X cross. Yes the card is probably of Albania occupation time.

[JLEES]

That is also most interesting. Do you know when they placed the three fascist symbols on their planes? Was that toward the end of 1930s? If yes, this postcard must have been published prior to this period.
James

[Maxschnauzer]

Hello JLEES,
That's really fine poster art of early SM.81 Pipistrellos.
I believe the black and white roundel with the three fasces (and the white tail cross) was introduced in 1940 when Italy entered the war. As Dili mentioned the Italian insignia was overpainted on the aircraft used in the Spanish Civil War since they were ostensibly Nationalist "volunteers" rather than government sponsored: http://www.axishistory.com/books/108-it ... -air-force

italy.jpg (45.37 KiB) Viewed 705 times

[JLEES]

Outstanding! Many thanks for you kind information.

However, I have one more question. Why did the Italian air force have three fascist symbols side-by-side on their planes? Was it because they were the third branch of service or was it just an impressive looking design? I've always be curious.
James

[Maxschnauzer]

Good question. Pre-war they used only one, after the capitulation the RSI used two. Maybe it just looked better at the time?

Just for general interest here is what the Albanian flag looked like under Italian rule (1939-1943):

Flag_of_Albania_(1939-1943).svg.png (27.17 KiB) Viewed 696 times

Since your picture shows the traditional Albanian Coat of Arms without the fasces I would suggest that it was issued sometime in 38-39 during the propaganda build up just prior to the April invasion. That would put in context the slogan "Flight conquers the earth, the seas, the skies, it's great that Italy should be sure of his destiny and addresses its future …"

[Dili]

That image with Italian markings is incorrect.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regia_Aer ... a_Italiana

The first symbol the blue one was a small put in fuselage usually near engine or cockpit . It was from 1926 to 1943

The second one with 3 fasces was put since 1935 in wings - not all planes of the 30's had them but was present in some at that time already.

The square one was correctly the RSI symbol.

------

The Savoia cross (+) in the rudder was painted just after war start replacing the Italian flag.


That axishistory page should be corrected.

[Maxschnauzer]

Hello Dili,

Thanks for that excellent information. I knew of the blue roundel near the nose but just assumed they were on the underside of the wings as well priorto the war. I had also assumed the Cross had replaced the tricolore on the tail at the same time as the roundel w/ the 3 fasces was introduced (mistakenly as I thought in 1940). Of course the aircraft in James' picture were idealized and have no discernable wing or fuselage markings but is a pretty painting in any case.

[Dili]

The aircraft in the drawing can be correct for the time period. It has the Italian flag in rudder. There is no fasces roundel in wings- it wasn't always present.
Sometimes the blue round wasn't present either.

When i say that Savoia cross was painted just after the war start. I mean the Italian > 10 June 1940.

[JLEES]

Hello again! This is an interesting conversation. If I understand everyone correctly, if a plane has the Savoia Cross (+) painted on the rudder most likely its a WWII aircraft. This replaced the Italian flag until the RSI in 1943. Would that be correct?

The three fasces began being placed on the planes in 1935. By 1940 did all planes have the three fasces and Savoia Cross?
James

[Maxschnauzer]

Hi James,
I will have to defer to Dili on that question. One thing I think we all may agree on is the answer to your original question i.e. your picture was produced prior to early April 1939. How much earlier, I don't know since Italy had been threatening Albania for years.

[JLEES]

Yes, I think Dili is correct on this matter. Any way, thanks for your kind assistance in analyzing this postcard.
James

[Dili]

Hello again! This is an interesting conversation. If I understand everyone correctly, if a plane has the Savoia Cross (+) painted on the rudder most likely its a WWII aircraft. This replaced the Italian flag until the RSI in 1943. Would that be correct?

If it is in a plane then it is in WW2 . Only in first days of war(10 June 1940) the Italians had the rudder with national flag.

The rule was sent to units in 12 June 1940 - 1 days after the War started for Italians.

Superaereo B13842
I order that as soon as possible colours green and red on the rudders of all Italian military aircraft are deleted and covered with the same camo colours of the rest of aircraft. Through the remaining vertical white band is to be painted another white band with same width of the first, so to form a white cross containing the National badge (i.e. the Savoy crest). The aircrafts in which the tri-colour bands are also on tailplane are to be covered with the same colours of the rest of aircraft. Round insignias on wings and fuselage remain unchanged.

Gen. Francesco Pricolo

So while a plane with Italian flag rudder could be seen in war earlier days, you can't have a Savoia cross rudder in peace time, they are exclusively wartime.