One of last MC.205s

system · August 10, 2021, 12:22am

One of about Macchi MC.205s survived at the war. This aircraft is already on the all silver finish adopted by Aeronautica Militare (the new Italian Air Force born after the Italian Republic’s proclamation, June 1946) and is without the unit’s number, but has only the military codes (Matricola Militare or MM) under the tail and the 1st Stormo (Archer) emblem on the fin. Note the absence of wing’s cannons: or the aircraft is a MC.205 1st Series or the cannons was removed like on the plane in background, still camouflaged, with clearly visible the blocking of the weapon housing on the leading edge (the little white disk). Some “Veltros” was in the flight line of 5th Stormo between Summer 1946 and May 1947 at Lecce before of the return on Northern Italy, at Bergamo-Orio al Serio. Here the Macchi fighters were replaced by former RAF’s Spitfire Mk. IX. The last MC.205s were employed until 1951 for fighter training. Victor Sierra

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/modern/44372/one-of-last-mc.205s

leccy · February 23, 2012, 10:59pm

Well the P51 was British influence on the US (originally designed to a British spec).

system · August 10, 2021, 12:22am

Neutral · February 23, 2012, 7:18pm

I find it quite interesting, in a pointless sort of way, how some the most famous WW2 airplanes symbolized their countries attitude or mentality if you prefer (not expressing myself even 50% accurately but I hope you fellas cut me some slack).
The Me109 showed straight, fully funcional German lines, all business, it was a a killing machine and it showed it (wished my car was German); the Japanese Zero, graceful and delicate like a flower, in the right hands deadly like a Samurai’s sword; the tough P-47, huge, Cadillac-style, the bigger-the-better, if-your-going-to-do-it,-do-it-with-a-bang-American-style; as for the British, a touch of ruggedness in the case of the Hurricane but still all noble and Wooster style posh, even more so for the pure-blood Spitfire (watching one of those passing by makes you want to bow); the super-rugged Soviet Yaks and Migs, beauty-is-a-capitalist-decadent-thing (not being very fair, some late designs were quite beautiful actually); last but not least the beautiful and graceful Italian planes, true works of art estetic-wise but lacking ‘killing-power’.

Cheers, Neutral.

Desclaimer: Planes like the FW-190 or P-51, among many others, were excluded on purpose because they fell out of the ‘main line of thought’ interval. This post was based on interviews conducted by me to myself and to one of my cats, all opinions expressed in this post are of my cat’s full responsibility.

brummbar · February 23, 2012, 7:28pm

LOL
Neutral,you’re lucky,I wish my cats were that understanding.Well written piece btw!