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Classic Publications Ltd. |
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Camouflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana - 1943-1945 |
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by Ferdinando 'Amico and Gabriele Valentini |
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Reviewed By Clarence Wentzel, #11478 |
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MSRP: $59.95 USD This 224 page, hardbound book is subtitled, “A Photographic Analysis through Speculation and Research”. The two authors have been developing this book for over fifteen years, and while their original concepts were correct, they have seen some of their original conclusions reworked due both to new material becoming available and additional historical discoveries. The authors indicate that they have a background in modeling and that this has given them a benefit in their work. They feel that the modelers’ way of viewing pictorial material and of taking note of small but sometimes highly significant details has been just as valuable as the more academic aspects. I volunteered to review this book because, frankly, I was not too clear on the different stages of the Italian Air Force during World War Two. I found out that the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, ANR, was formed after the Armistice between the Italians and the Allies in early September 1943. This Armistice had been signed somewhat clandestinely as a result of pressure from the King, the Church, and many top government officials. Adolf Hitler had been concerned about Italian morale for some time, and had developed plans to occupy Italy and disarm the Italian armed forces. When the Armistice was announced, a number of the Italian military personnel did not wish to surrender to the people that they had just been fighting. This led to the formation of a German puppet government, the Italian Social Fascist Republic, in which the ANR became the Air Force. Those Italian Air Force personnel who observed the Armistice were also regrouped and became the Co-belligerent Air Force. The authors cover the ANR from its inception throughout its approximate eighteen-month life. The book is organized in an interesting manner. Each chapter covers a separate unit within the ANR and follows that unit throughout its life. Because the timeframe of the book is somewhat late in the war, good coverage is given to some of the more contemporary Italian aircraft such as the Macchi C.205 and the Fiat G.55. Details of variations of these late war Italian aircraft are shown and explained. Also, as the Germans gained respect for the ANR, they provided them with a number of front-line fighters, including the Messerschmitt Bf-109 G-6, G-14 and G-10. The authors expand on the work by Jean-Claude Mermet on how to distinguish between different versions of the G-14 and G-10 – very useful. (Time to dig out a couple of those Revell G-10 kits again) In addition to the fighter units, the book also covers Torpedo-bomber, Transport and Second-line/Miscellaneous aircraft, so the SM-79, SM-81 and SM-82 are covered as well. The book is packed with some 400 photos of individual aircraft that illustrate the various markings, camouflage schemes, and unit emblems. These are augmented by great color profiles, plan views and individual illustrations of emblems and insignia. I love different camouflage schemes, and one feature that makes this book so interesting to me is the confluence of basic Italian schemes and a number of late war German schemes with lots of cases where original markings have been painted over and replaced. Some very interesting three-tone experimental Italian splinter schemes are also shown. If there is a negative point with the book, it is that the authors do not spend much time with the definition of colors using Federal Standards or Methuen references. They provide the common names and leave it up to the modeler to use their favorite color references. Also, interior colors are not covered. I was very impressed with this excellent reference book, and can recommend it without reservation to aviation and modeling enthusiasts who are at all interested in this portion of the air war in Europe. The book can be obtained directly from Specialty Press by calling 1-800-895-4585 or on line at www.specialtypress.com. A big thanks to Specialty Press for providing the sample to IPMS for review, and to John Noack for letting me evaluate this great reference book. |
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