Last modified on 31.10.98
Royal Italian Air Force
Regia Aeronautica

Order of Battle
10 June 1940 / 10.06.1940
 
 
Command or Ship Aircraft Location and Status Commander      
1st Air Region 
   • Headquarters   Milano  
4th Bomber Division "DRAGO" Novara  
– 43rd Bomber Wing   Cameri  
   • 98th Bomber Squadron Br-20 Cameri  
   • 99th Bomber Squadron Br-20 Cameri  
– 7th Bomber Wing   Lonate Pozzolo  
   • 4th Bomber Squadron Br-20 Lonate Pozzolo  
   • 25th Bomber Squadron Br-20 Lonate Pozzolo  
– 13th Bomber Wing   Piacenza  
   • 11th Bomber Squadron Br-20 Piacenza  
   • 43rd Bomber Squadron Br-20 Piacenza  
2nd Fighter Division "BOREA" Torino-Caselle  
– 3rd Fighter Wing   Novi Ligure  
   • 18th Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Novi Ligure  
   • 23rd Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Novi Ligure  
– 53rd Fighter Wing   Torino-Caselle  
   • 150th Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Torino-Caselle  
   • 151st Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Torino-Caselle  
6th Bomber Division "FALCO" Padova  
• 9th (Independent) Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Gorizia  
– 16th Bomber Wing   Vicenza  
   • 50th Bomber Squadron Cant Z.1007bis Vicenza  
   • 56th Bomber Squadron Cant Z.1007bis Vicenza  
– 18th Bomber Wing   Aviano  
   • 31st Bomber Squadron Br-20 Aviano  
   • 37th Bomber Squadron Br-20 Aviano  
– 47th Bomber Wing   Ghedi  
   • 106th Bomber Squadron Cant Z.1007bis Ghedi  
   • 107th Bomber Squadron Cant Z.1007bis Ghedi  
2nd Air Region
• Headquarters Palermo  
3rd Bomber Division "CENTAURO" Catania  
– 11th Bomber Wing   Comiso  
   • 33rd Bomber Squadron SM.79 Comiso  
   • 34th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Comiso  
– 41st Bomber Wing   Gela  
   • 59th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Gela  
   • 60th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Gela  
– 24th Bomber Wing   Catania  
   • 52nd Bomber Squadron SM.79 Catania  
   • 53rd Bomber Squadron SM.79 Catania  
– 11th Bomber Brigade "NIBBIO" Castelvetrano  
• 96th (Independent) Bomber Squadron SM-95c Reggio Calabria  
– 30th Bomber Wing   Sciacca  
   • 87th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Sciacca  
   • 90th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Sciacca  
– 36th Bomber Wing   Castelvetrano  
   • 108th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Castelvetrano  
   • 109th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Castelvetrano  
1st Fighter Division "AQUILA" Palermo  
• 6th (Independent) Fighter Squadron MC.200 Comiso  
• 30th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Palermo  
– 1st Fighter Wing   Palermo  
   • 17th Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Palermo  
   • 157th Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Palermo  
3rd Air Region
• Headquarters   Roma  
5th Bomber Division "EOLO" Viterbo  
– 46th Bomber Wing   Pisa  
   • 104th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Pisa  
   • 105th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Pisa  
– 9th Bomber Wing   Viterbo  
   • 26th Bomber Squadron  SM.79 Viterbo  
   • 29th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Viterbo  
– 8th Fighter Brigade "ASTORE" Roma-Ciampino  
• 7th (Independent) Fighter Squadron Ba.88 Campiglia  
– 51st Fighter Wing   Roma-Ciampino  
   • 20th Fighter Squadron G.50 Roma-Ciampino  
   • 21st Fighter Squadron G.50 Roma-Ciampino  
– 52nd Fighter Wing   Pontedera  
   • 22nd Fighter Squadron G.50 Pontedera  
   • 24th Fighter Squadron G.50 Pontedera  
4th Territorial Air Zone
• Headquarters   Bari  
• 116th (Independent) Bomber Squadron Br-20 Grottaglie  
• 2nd (Independent) Fighter Squadron Cr-32 Grottaglie  
– 35th Bomber Wing   Brindisi  
   • 86th Bomber Squadron Cant Z.501 Brindisi  
   • 96th Bomber Squadron  Cant Z.506bis Brindisi  
– 37th Bomber Wing   Lecce  
   • 54th Bomber Squadron SM.81 Lecce  
   • 29th Bomber Squadron SM.81 Lecce  
Sardinia Air Command
• Headquarters   Cagliari  
10th Bomber Brigade "MARTE" Cagliari  
• 3rd (Independent) Fighter Squadron Cr-32 Monserrato  
• 19th (Independent) Ground Attack Squadron Ba.88 Algher  
• 124th Recon Flight Ro.37 Cagliari-Elmas  
– 8th Bomber Wing   Villacidro  
   • 27th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Villacidro  
   • 28th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Villacidro  
– 31st Bomber Wing   Cagliari-Elmas  
   • 93rd Bomber Squadron Cant Z.506bis Cagliari-Elmas  
   • 94th Bomber Squadron Cant Z.506bis Cagliari-Elmas  
– 32nd Bomber Wing   Decimomannu  
   • 88th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Decimomannu  
   • 89th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Decimomannu  
Albania Air Command
• Headquarters   Tirana  
• 38th (Independent) Bomber Squadron SM.81 Tirana  
• 160th (Independent) Fighter Squadron Cr-32 Tirana  
• 120th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Tirana  
Aegean Air Command
• Headquarters   Rhodes  
• 161st (Independent) Fighter Squadron Ro.44 Leros  
• 163rd (Independent) Fighter Squadron Cr-32 Maritza  
– 39th Bomber Wing   Gadurra  
   • 56th Bomber Squadron SM.81 Gadurra  
   • 92nd Bomber Squadron SM.81 Maritza  
Lybia Air Command - West
• Headquarters   Tripoli  
• 1st Sahara Recon Squadron Ca.309 Mellaha  
• 26th (Independent) Recon Squadron Ca.309 Hon  
• 122nd Recon Flight Ro.37bis Mellaha  
• 136th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Tripoli  
– 15th Bomber Wing   Tarhuna  
   • 46th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Tarhuna  
   • 47th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Tarhuna  
– 33rd Bomber Wing   Bir Bhera  
   • 35th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Bir Bhera  
   • 37th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Bir Bhera  
– 50th Ground Attack Wing   Sorman  
   • 12th Ground Attack Squadron Ba.65 Sorman  
   • 16th Ground Attack Squadron Ca.310bis Sorman  
– 2nd Fighter Wing   Castel Benito  
   • 13th Fighter Squadron Cr-42 Castel Benito  
   • 1st Recon Squadron Ca.309 Mellaha  
Lybia Air Command - East
• Headquarters   Bengasi  
• 2nd Sahara Recon Squadron Ca.309 El Adem  
• 127th Recon Flight Ro.37bis El Adem  
• 137th Recon Flight Ro.37bis El Adem  
13th Bomber Division "PEGASO" Bengasi  
– 14th Bomber Wing   El Adem  
   • 44th Bomber Squadron SM.81 El Adem  
   • 45th Bomber Squadron SM.81 El Adem  
– 10th Bomber Wing   Benin  
   • 30th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Benin  
   • 32nd Bomber Squadron SM.79 Benin  
14th Fighter Brigade "REX" Tobruk  
   • 8th Fighter Squadron Cr-32 Tobruk  
   • 10th Fighter Squadron Cr-32 Tobruk  
Italian East Africa Air Command - North
• Headquarters   Assab  
• 25th Bomber Squadron Ca.133 Bahar Dar  
• 26th Bomber Squadron Ca.133 Gondar  
• 27th Bomber Squadron Ca.133 Assab  
• 28th Bomber Squadron SM.81 Zula  
• 118th Bomber Flight Ca.133 Assab  
• Recon Flight "North" Ca.133 Agordat  
• 409th Fighter Flight Cr-42 Massaua  
• 413th Fighter Flight Cr-42 Assab  
Italian East Africa Air Command - Central
• Headquarters   Addis Abeba  
• 4th Bomber Squadron SM.81 Scenele  
• 29th Bomber Squadron SM.81 Assab  
• 44th Bomber Squadron SM.79 Ghiniele  
• 49th Bomber Squadron Ca.133 Gimma  
• 41st Recon Flight Ca.133 Addis Abeba  
• 110th Recon Flight Ro.37 Dire Daua  
• 410th Fighter Flight Cr-32 Dire Daua  
• 411th Fighter Flight Cr-32 Dire Daua  
Italian East Africa Air Command - South
• Headquarters   Mogadiscio  
• 31st Bomber Squadron Ca.133 Neghelli  
• Recon Flight "South" Ca.133 Mogadiscio  
Special Air Services Command
• Headquarters      
• 147th Squadron SM.75    
• 148th Squadron SM-73    
• 149th Squadron SM.82    
• 604th Flight SM.75    
• 608th Flight SM.82    
• 610th Flight SM.75    
• 615th Flight SM.83    
• 616th Flight SM.74    
• Italian East Africa Detachment SM.73; Ca.148c;
Ca.133T; Fokker F
   
• Lybia Parachutist School Detachment SM.81    
NOTE:
All the Military airplanes in Italy during WW2 were part of the Air Force and with Air Force crews. To provide direct air recon capabilities to the Army and Navy, two separate Commands ("Air Force for the Army" and "Air Force for the Navy") were extablished, to act as a go-between the owner of the airplanes and crews (i.e. the Air Force) and the "users" (i.e. the Army and the Navy). The "Army" and "Navy" assigned airplanes usually embarked an "Air Spotter Officer" provided by the "user" (respectively an Army or a Navy officer). 
Air Force Command for the Army 
– Army GHQ    
   • 27th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Casabianca  
   • 42nd Recon Flight Ro.37bis Bari  
   • 121st Recon Flight Ro.37bis Airasca  
   • 131st Recon Flight Ro.37bis Napoli-Capodichino  
– Army Group West    
   • 31st Recon Flight Ro.37 Venaria Reale  
   • 33rd Recon Flight Ro.37bis Bresso  
   • 34th Recon Flight Ca.311 Cervere  
   • 39th Recon Flight Ro.37 Venaria Reale  
   • 40th Recon Flight Ro.37 Venaria Reale  
   • 114th Recon Flight Ro.37 Tornino-Mirafiori  
   • 118th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Levaldigi  
   • 119th Recon Flight Ca.311 Bologna  
   • 123rd Recon Flight Ro.37bis Levaldigi  
   • 129th Recon Flight Ro.37bis; Ca.311 Mondovi'  
   • 132nd Recon Flight Ro.37bis Levaldigi  
– Army Group East    
   • 24th Recon Flight Ro.37 Verona-Boscomantico  
   • 25th Recon Flight Ro.37 Jesi  
   • 28th Recon Flight Ro.37 Lucca-Tassignano  
   • 29th Recon Flight Ro.37 Arezzo  
   • 32nd Recon Flight Ro.37bis Udine-Campoformido  
   • 34th Recon Flight Ro.37 Parma  
   • 35th Recon Flight Ro.37 Verona-Boscomantico  
   • 36th Recon Flight Ro.37 Padova  
   • 38th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Gorizia-Merna  
   • 87th Recon Flight Ro.37 Padova  
   • 113th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Bologna-Borgo Panigale  
   • 115th Recon Flight Ro.37 Verona-Boscomantico  
   • 116th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Gorizia-Merna  
   • 125th Recon Flight Ro.37bis Udine-Campoformido  
   • 128th Recon Flight Ro.37 Parma  
Air Force Command for the Navy
– Upper Adriatic Sea Department    
   • 4th Recon Section Cant Z-501 Pola  
– Ionian & Lower Adriatic Sea Department    
   • 142nd Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Taranto  
   • 145th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Brindisi  
   • 171st Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Brindisi  
   • 3rd Recon Section Cant Z-501 Taranto  
– Upper Thyrrenhian Sea Department    
   • 141st Recon Flight Cant Z-501 La Spezia-Cadimare  
   • 187th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 La Spezia-Cadimare  
   • 1st Recon Section Cant Z-501 La Spezia-Cadimare  
– Lower Tyrrenhian Sea Department    
   • 182nd Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Nisida  
– Sardinia Naval Command    
   • 85th Recon Squadron      
   • 146th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Cagliari-Elmas  
   • 148th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Vigna  
   • 183rd Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Cagliari-Elmas  
   • 188th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Cagliari-Elmas  
   • 199th Recon Flight Cant Z-506 Santa Giusta  
   • 5th Recon Section Cant Z-501 Olbia  
– Sicily Navy Command    
   • 83rd Recon Squadron      
   • 144th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Stagnone  
   • 170th Recon Flight Cant Z-506bis Augusta  
   • 184th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Augusta  
   • 186th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Augusta  
   • 189th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Siracusa  
– Albania Naval Command    
   • 288th Recon Flight Cant Z-506bis Brindisi  
– Lybia Naval Command    
   • 143rd Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Menelao  
– Aegean Sea Naval Command    
   • 84th Recon Squadron      
   • 147th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Leros  
   • 185th Recon Flight Cant Z-501 Leros  
 
Many thanks to Arturo Filippo Lorioli for contributing this information
 
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