ITALIAN AIR FORCE

Evening Star, Issue 23687, 21 September 1940, Page 9

ITALIAN AIR FORCE

Though no survey or estimate of the air strength of a foreign Power is likely, under war conditions, to be correct, the upper and lower figures and the limitations of production are pretty well established for each Power. In a recent issue of the ‘ Aeroplane ’ an outline of the Italian air force, based in part upon official records and in part upon surmise, by those “ on the inside,” is given of the Italian entry into the war. The ‘ Aeroplane ’ states that despite great efforts during the past years the Regia Aeronautica is still in a stage of reconstruction. Last March General Priccolo promised that during the coming financial year most of the obsolete machines \vould be replaced and that the total strength of the air force would be increased by 100 per cent. Fighting units and ground organisation are under separate commands, the first under that of the General Staff, the second under the Air Ministry. The ground organisation is divided into 10 air zones. Six are responsible for the protection of the metropolitan area, the remaining four for that of Albania, the zEgean Islands, Libya, and East Africa. The first-line strength consists of four groups —the independent air force, the army co-operation units, the naval air service, and the colonial air force. Three “ air armies ” of 300 to 'IOO machines each, and two smaller and separate groups form the independent air force. Half are bomber units. Gorman authorities have put Italy’s first-lino strength at about 4,000 aeroplanes, of which 2.500 are in active service. The remaining 1,500 are train-

ing machines of first-line quality, and transport and reserve aircraft. TOTAL PERSONNEL OF 60,000. The personnel of the Regia Aeronautica is said to consist of 60,000 officers and men, the -number of pilots hardly exceeding 6,500. Expert opinion on the quality of the flying phrsohnaj is divided. While some rate highly the efficiency of .Italian pilots, the Luftwaffe does not seem to share this opinion, as a number of Italian pilots have been undergoing courses in German trainng centres. Few Italian-types of aircraft are of metal construction. The official explanation is that as front-line machines have to be replaced often this can be achieved only if they are built of mixed construction. The rate of output of bombers of mixed construction is said to be one and a-half times that of t’.e metal machine. The authorities argue also that the metal types cannot so easily bet repaired. This seems plausible, but the real reason is the shortage of raw materials and of skilled metal workers. The Italian aircraft industry consists of about 60 air frame and motor firms, with 80 large and small plants, most or which are situated around Milan and Turin. A number of shadow factories are being built in the south. The labour force is estimated 1 at between 45,000 and 60,000 people, but may easily be increased to 100,000. The output at the date of Italy’s entry into the war on military orders was unlikely to exceed 250 fuselages and 400 engines a month. The capacity of the existing plants allowed for an increase by onethird. When the shadow factories are in production a 100 per cent, increase in output is estimated. Great efforts arc being made to produce sufficient quantities of fuel, but much still has to be imported.