Yellow Five
The G.55 Centauro number 5 (Yellow Five) of ANR-Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana’s Squadriglia “Montefusco-Bonet” on a Northern Italy’s airfield, 1944. The G.55 (an aircraft rebuilt from a G.59’s airframe) of Vigna di Valle’s Italian Air Force Museum has the same livery and the same number Yellow Five of the plane of this picture (G.55 Series 1 with wing mounted 20 mm cannon). Originally Squadriglia Complementare d’Allarme (Alert Complementary Unit), with base at Venaria Reale, Turin, the “Montefusco” was the first unit of ANR, the air force of Italian Social Republic (RSI), equipped with the Centauro and started its operations in January 1944. On 29 March 1944 the unit claimed an USAAF’s B-17, but the same day her leader, Capt. Giovanni Bonet, was killed in action. After that day the unit’s name was changed in Squadriglia “Montefusco-Bonet" with the Bonet’s signature on the aircraft’s engine cowling. The presence of the Bonet’s signature on the cowling of Yellow Five, note a serviceman resting under the wing, date therefore this picture later 29 March 1944. In May 1944 the Squadriglia “Montefusco-Bonet" was redeployed at Reggio Emilia and afterwards was integrated in the ANR’s 1st Gruppo Caccia (1st Fighter Group). Victor Sierra
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/italian-forces/45370/yellow-five