Avions - Italie : livres - histoire et modèles

Axis Aircraft in Latin America

Following World War I, Germany and Italy began to develop their aviation industry and seek new opportunities to expand their global presence. At the same time, Latin America was a region with an under developed transport system and difficult terrain, while their air power was virtually none existent.

Helped by German and Italian immigrants, the aviation industry of Latin America soon found a fertile terrain to sell their products, developing the first airlines in the region together with an increasing local military aviation interest.
Commercial aviation, including Scadta, the world's second airline, was greatly influenced by the German aviation industry with a legacy stretching over 40 years, while the military focused on Italian aircraft.
These warplanes featured heavily during the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia along with the 1941 war between Peru and Ecuador. Ironically, both German and Italian types were employed against their makers during World War II in patrolling the seas in search for German and Italian submarines.

Famous types including the Junkers F13, W34, K43, Ju52/3m, Ju86, Fiat CR.20, CR.32, BR.20, G-46, G-55, Dornier Wal, Focke Wulf Fw58 Weihe, Fw200 Condor and the only Japanese type, the Mitsubishi Betty are all featured.
Interestingly, several of these examples still survive today, including the world's last Dornier Wal and the Weihe.
Also includes the story of the German and Italian technicians and pilots that went to work to Argentina and Brazil after the war and developed many projects, some of them started in their countries before the end of the war.

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Flying Equipment of the Italian Air Force in World War II

This book is a highly detailed look at World War II era Italian flight gear. Much of the information appears here for the first time in English. Covering flight suits, flight helmets, goggles, parachutes, life vests, oxygen masks, boots, gloves, and more, in over 600 images, offering full coverage of this long overlooked topic.

Color photography shows full views of actual period clothing and equipment, as well as close-up details of manufacturers' marks and labels, zippers, buttons and snaps, and insignia.
War era images, including rare period color, show Italian aircrews wearing a variety of Italian and German flight gear.

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Regia Aeronautica Italiana - The Royal Italian Air Force, 1923-1945

The authors have assembled over 600 images from private photo albums and individual groupings offering a unique perspective on the Royal Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) from 1923-1945.
There are period photos of the everyday life, and adventures of pilots and personnel on a variety of war fronts and campaigns.

In addition, there are images of Regia Aeronautica, Aviazione Legionaria and Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana aircraft in detail as well as candid photos of aces such as, Italo Balbo and high profile figures such as German Knight's Cross recipient Italian General Giovanni Messe.
Furthermore, the color gallery contains heretofore unpublished images of period headdress, uniforms, and accoutrements from private collections.

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War Prizes - Captured German, Italian and Japanese Aircraft of WWII

This book is a meticulously researched review of the many German, Italian and Japanese aircraft taken to Allied countries or flown by the Allies during or after the Second World War. The hsitory of these captured aircraft has been extensively researched and the book is copiously illustrated by an unrivalled selection of around 500 photographs, gleaned from around the world.

The book's chapters are devoted to chronological themes describing the individual histories of each aircraft and the units which flew them in the USA or France or in specific theatres of war, with a final chapter covering the use made of aircraft in other countries.
Coverage includes civilian aircraft and sailplanes as well as military types; post-war production of German designs and details of surviving aircraft in museums. Appendices and indexes cover designation and marking systems, information sources and other useful background.

The UK chapters include coverage of RAF Farnborough, 1426 (EA) Flight, individual squadrons, experimental organisations and manufacturers, the ATAIU in Malaya and the little-known Gremlin Task Force.
US chapters deal with evaluation at Wright Field, Freeman Field and in Europe by Watson's Whizzers, by the US Navy TAIC at Anacostia, ATAIUs in Australia and the Phillippines and many individual units.
The book also includes the most complete record published of British 'Air Min' and USAAF 'FE' and 'T2' aircraft numbering systems.

This new edition of an acclaimed title first published nearly thirty years ago has been fully revised and updated. The opportunity has been taken to use modern technology to improve the quality of the images and many new photos uncovered since the original publication have been included.

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L’aviazione italiana nella Grande Guerra

The story of Italian aviation extends far beyond the fascinating tales of fighter aces or legendary exploits like D'Annunzio's raid on Vienna during the First World War. It's a narrative of men and machines, where technology and strategy intertwine to create a well-rounded air force capable of fulfilling its duties in wartime.

As theories on bombing emerged within doctrinal debates involving figures like Douhet and Caproni, commanders pragmatically employed them.
Bomber actions aimed to counter the operational capabilities of opposing forces, while most squadrons directly supported ground forces with reconnaissance, observation, communication, and ground attack roles. They operated under the protection of fighters whose tactics were evolving beyond individualistic approaches.

This book delves into this rich history, exploring the development of Italian aviation, from its early days to its role in shaping military strategies and tactics. It's a comprehensive account of the men, machines, and missions that defined Italian aviation throughout its evolution.

Text in Italian.

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Frecce tricolori - L'arte del volo acrobatico

The Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale, one of the most popular symbols of Italian national unity, celebrates its 60 years of history with a spectacular volume born out of the collaboration between Giunti and the Italian Air Force, thus closing the 'Big Embrace' that took it flying over Italian cities in the year of the pandemic.
The extraordinary spectacle of its performance stems from unparalleled technical expertise, that esprit de corps, that generosity and deep understanding without which there is no victory.

Pilots, technicians and officers have chosen to celebrate the 60th anniversary with Giunti, passing the baton from hand to hand and making us relive, alongside them, the development of the most spectacular sequences, the training process and the sessions of daily training.
With the preface by Federico Buffa, here is a work of great scenographic impact and deeply authentic in the live testimonies, in the analysis of the incredible acrobatic maneuvers, in the description of the aircraft, in the historical re-enactment of these incomparable 60 years.

Text in Italian.

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La Regia Aeronautica nella 2 Guerra Mondiale

In this extensive volume, the author recounts the daily actions across all fronts where Italian aviators operated during World War II. The author acknowledges the challenge of tracking down all war documents, many of which were destroyed or lost during the tumultuous period, particularly in 1943.

This book includes moments of Italian retreat, notably in African fronts and the post-armistice period. The events are reconstructed while considering documents from opposing factions, aiming to maintain objectivity throughout.

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L'aviazione italiana 1940-1945 - Azioni belliche e scelte operative

As this book chronicles, Italian aircraft and crews faced overwhelmingly powerful enemies for many years, sustaining inhuman efforts with incredible courage and a sense of duty. These qualities were the only resources to compensate for Italy's comparative weakness against giants like the British Empire, United States, and Soviet Union.

Italian aviators performed miracles with old Fiat biplanes against RAF Hurricanes and launched improvised but effective Siai-Marchetti torpedo bombers against massive warships. Even on the brink of collapse, they bravely confronted American Flying Fortresses with scarce Macchi and Reggiane fighters, defending their homeland from devastating attacks.

Following the ill-fated armistice of September 8, 1943, a new tragedy unfolded: the division of aviation on both sides of the peninsula. The Royal Air Force in the South, alongside the Anglo-Americans, and the short-lived Republican Air Force in the North, following Mussolini's doomed fate. Despite differing views on events, all comrades were united by a sincere love for their country.

During World War II, Italy produced just over 10,000 aircraft, a small fleet compared to the 100,000 German, 120,000 British, and 280,000 American planes. Few were modern types, arriving too late to change the course of the war.
From the deserts of Libya to the valleys of Albania, the snowy steppes of Russia to the familiar skies at home, Italian aviation sacrificed beyond limits, caught in an unwinnable struggle.

Text in Italian.

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Prototipi e progetti della Regia Aeronautica

On the events of the Second World War there is a series of real legends that have transformed the history of that war into a sort of fairy tale. Many still believe today that the Blue Army took part in the Second World War with a set of aircraft dating back to the Great War. The reality is quite different: in those years, aeronautical experimentation in Italy, while not reaching the levels and results of its ally Germany, gave some significant results.

The Italian aviation industry, despite some flaws, first of all the inability to produce a powerful engine of original entirely national design and construction, made various attempts to provide aircraft and weapons that were suitable to compete with those in enemy use.
This volume investigates precisely those that were "the secret weapons of the Regia Aeronautica", that is to what extent experimentation in the aeronautical military field reached Italy.

Text in Italian.

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Una storia dell’aviazione italiana

The author intentionally takes a concise and comprehensive approach in this book, tracing the history of Italian aviation from the era of hot air balloons to the present day.

While the information and analyses presented by the author may be found in other publications, they are often disconnected. In this book, however, they are presented with a unique thread, offering clarity and precision, both in terminology and content. The author's broad expertise, gained through diverse aeronautical and inter-force experiences, both in Italy and abroad, ensures a thorough understanding of the subject matter.

Text in Italian.

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Rommels italienische Flieger - Die Regia Aeronautica in Nordafrika 1940-1943

The Italian Air Force suffered a heavy defeat in 1940/41 in battle against the Royal Air Force over Egypt and Cyrenaica, losing 90% of its personnel there. But instead of collapsing, it was reborn.

Strengthened fighter units of the Regia Aeronautica engaged in aerial combat like medieval duels, and elite torpedo bomber units successfully poached off the North African coast. The transport pilots, in turn, sacrificed themselves in an attempt to maintain the connection between the motherland and the Libyan theater of war. For many of the Italian pilots, flying was a kind of obsession, a passion that they accepted extreme dangers and risks to pursue.

To this day, however, the image of the Regia Aeronautica in combat over the North African deserts is shaped by lingering Allied war propaganda that casts the Italians as military dilettantes.
With the study presented here, the first in the German-speaking world to deal exclusively with the missions, successes and losses of the Italian Air Force over Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, the author corrects many prejudices and misinformation after years of research and paints a realistic picture of the Italian desert air force.
His balanced analysis comes to the conclusion that the Regia Aeronautica achieved much more than could have been expected of it, despite inadequate equipment and the resulting material inferiority. Some of its actions were unique in terms of boldness and performance.

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