Strana 75
WNr. 491407, Capt. Cesare Marchesi, 3
a
squadriglia, I
o
Gruppo Caccia,
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, Lonate Pozzolo, Italy, March 1945
After declaration of the Italian Social Republic
on September 18th, 1943, a puppet state on
the German armed forces occupied territory,
and under the leadership of Benito Mussolini,
Germany allowed this state to form the army
in the strength of four divisions. Its aviation
component, named Aeronautica Nazionale
Repubblicana, consisted of two fighter groups
(Gruppo Caccia), a group of torpedo bombers
(Gruppo Aerosiluranti Buscaglia) and several
transport flights. 1
o
Gruppo Caccia (Asso di
Bastoni) initially flew Macchi C.205 but from
November 1944 till February 1945 went through
the transition training on Messerschmitt 109
in Holzkirchen, Germany. In February the unit
received Messerschmitts 109 of the versions
G-10 (manufactured by Erla factory in Leipzig),
G-14 and G-14/AS and several K-4s. The original
German markings were oversprayed in Italian
colors and the aircraft received the Italian
markings. The German iron crosses were left
on the wing underside surfaces. There was a 1
o
Gruppo insignia painted on the fuselage nose’s
port side.
BUILT
INFO Eduard
75
October 2026