July 24, 2013

Osprey - 53 Stormo Aviation Elite Units


Reviewer: Pablo Bauleo
IPMS: # 46363

Publisher:     Osprey Publishing
Title:         53 Stormo
Volume 38 of Aviation Elite Units
Author    Marco Mattioli
Illustrated     Richard Caruana
ISBN    978-1-84603-977-5
128 Pages, 39 color profiles plus 9 unit badges
$25.95 MSRP


Review

Given the tactical organization of the Regia Aeronautica during World War II, this book cover the story of all the different Gruppi that were part of the 53 Stormo during World War II. The Regia Aeronautica organized their units in the basis of a Squadriglia, (Squadron) with strength of 9 to 12 airplanes. Two or three Squadriglie would form a Gruppo (Group) and two or three Gruppi would form a Storm (Wing). Often there would be autonomous Gruppi and sometimes even Squadriglie assigned to different front or sector.

The Gruppi described in this book are the 150 Gruppo "Gigi Tre Osei", 151 Gruppo "Asso di Spade"and 153 Gruppo "Asso di Bastoni". Also 157 Gruppo  was attached to 53 Stormo briefly and therefore included in the book.

During its lifetime, 53 Stormo had a very interesting (and colorful!) inventory of aircraft, like Fiat Cr.32, Fiat Cr. 42, Fiat G.50, Macchi C.200, Macchi C.202 and Messerschmitt Bf 109F/G. There are plenty of historical pictures in the book, including 4 rare color pictures. All of them, plus the beautiful color profiles are a great reference for the modeler.

For history-oriented readers, the book describes the involvement of different Gruppi from 53 Stormo in the Battle of France, Greece and the Balkans, North Africa, the Central Mediterranean (Malta and Pedestal and Sicily), plus Home Defense roles. It includes very detailed descriptions of the Squadriglie and Gruppi movements and actions, often including tail numbers/pilot names of the aircraft involved in combat whenever possible.

I highly recommend this book to modelers based on the reference pictures and profiles and to aviation history aficionados based on the detailed research on the detailed Gruppi and Squadriglie movements and activities.

I would like to thank Osprey Publishing for the review sample.






All-American Car Show July 13, 2024

All-American Car Show July 13, 2024

ALL AMERICAN CAR SHOW Details

The All-American Car Show is inviting contestants for the Model Show in Loveland, CO ages 17 or younger. Please see the details below: Model Building contest for Cars & Trucks only. Eligible contestants are those who are 17 or younger. Fee: Free to enter Model Build contest. Main event: All American Car Show. Date: Saturday July 13th, 2024. Time: 8am - 2pm (Model contest judging at 11am). Location: Loveland Sports Complex, 950 N. Boyd Lake Ave. Loveland, CO. Awards: Best in Show: 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. Note: Those who wish to bring their model car or truck just for show and no award is open to all ages.