Böcker av Marco Mattioli

A study of the Macchi Folgore and Veltro, the most successful Italian fighters in World War II. With specially commissioned profiles, the book examines how these fighters were conceived, their performance and the fascinating stories of their pilots.Italian fighters, such as the Fiat G.50 and Macchi C.200, had always struggled with their straight-line speed and restricted armament when engaging their Allied counterparts. To solve these problems, Macchi initially designed the C.202 Folgore using German engines, which contributed to create a faster aircraft, with a superior rate of climb and reachable altitude. Folgore''s success in various North African engagements then paved the way for the development of Macchi''s most successful fighter, the C.205V Veltro, which managed to combine increased speed and increased power. Packed with specially commissioned artwork and original photos, and written by Italian military aviation specialist Marco Mattioli, this fascinating book explores how the premier Italian fighter of the war came to life and the historical circumstances that prevented it from becoming one of the most dreaded aircraft in the Mediterranean.

Italy''s most successful wartime bomber, the S.79 was also the most produced, with around 1370 built between 1936 and early 1944. The Sparviero (Sparrowhawk) saw combat with the Regia Aeronautica in France, Yugoslavia, Greece, North Africa, East Africa and in the Mediterranean. Initially developed by Savoia-Marchetti as a transport, the aircraft had evolved into a dedicated medium bomber by the time the S.79-I made its combat debut with the Aviazione Legionaria in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. A robust bomber, the S.79 provided the striking power for most of Italy''s aerial campaigns. A proven torpedo-bomber, the Sparviero also made a solid contribution to Italy''s maritime war in the Mediterranean. Although initially hampered by poor tactics, the S.79 bomber crews nonetheless scored sunk a number of Allied vessels. Indeed, the Sparvieri bombers patrolled ceaselessly over the Mediterranean, providing a constant threat to Allied sailors in the early stages of the war. In East Africa and the Red Sea the Sparvieri were the most modern bombers in-theater, proving a challenge to RAF and SAAF biplane fighters. This proposed volume aims to chronicle the history of the S.79''s war in the Mediterranean, North Africa, Greece, the Balkans and East Africa. S.79 bombers, in action from the first day of the war in the Mediterranean until late 1942, played their part in numerous actions, operating as both strategic and tactical bombers. From 1943 until war''s end, the S.79 served as auxiliary and liaison transport aircraft. A small number continued to see action as bombers through to 1945, however, serving with the pro-German ANR in northern Italy.

Italy's most successful wartime bomber, the S.79 saw combat with the Regia Aeronautica in France, Yugoslavia, Greece, North Africa, East Africa and in the Mediterranean. Initially developed as a transport, the aircraft evolved into a dedicated medium bomber during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. This title covers the history of S.79.

53 Stormo was one of Italy's leading units in World War 2. This book examines 53 Stormo as well as some of the most iconic Italian fighters of the conflict such as CR 32/42, Fiat G 50, Macchi C 200 and C 202, and the Bf 109G.