the role of the tranport on the eastern front

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stefanuccio
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the role of the tranport on the eastern front

Post by stefanuccio » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:29 pm

hallo all
strangely i never see much material on the eastern front issue so i decided to post a small article in the hope of starting a topic that was never open so far
In many discussion or articles about the italian presence in Russia is evident the valor and the sacrifice of the combattant on this front
In the case of the regia aeronautica this spirit of sacrifice was obvious in the tranport group that with aircrafts old and obsolete have often partecipated in all kind of missions especially those to resupply troops on the ground that have been surraunded or cut-off by the resolute counter offensive operated by the russians on the river Don sector
The italian aviator in spite of the poor maintenance status of theyr old aircrafts and the impossible whether conditions have sacrified many lives and endured the most difficult situations to try to bring relieve to at lest 12000 italian troups completly surrounded in the area of Tscherkowo
This missions were done with a scarcity of aircrafts but especially pilots with no reserves and very often without escort keept on the ground by the ferocious russian snow storms
The lack of personnel contribuited to the loss of one of the most heroic and well known figures of the Regia genr.Enrico Pezzi who disappeared with his aircraft and his crew during a mission on the Don area mission in which he took the place of another pilot who was not well and in no conditions to fly at all.
The sense of duty and sacrifies was very high in the ARMIR and in the R.A.
in the transport group many crew took off knowing to go most often to certain death but theyr resolve was to try to help and to save those on the ground that had basically no chance if werent rescued by those of the Regia
ciao a tutti
stefano

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Vincent Biondi
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Post by Vincent Biondi » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:59 pm

Stefano,
What a coincidence that you talk about this subject!
I too am very interested in this subject, which is not very well known to many.
Last year I did a diorama of the RA during the winter on the Russian front.
The aircraft I used was an Italeri Fiat BR 20M with sratch built field, snow, ladders, etc.
I won first prize here in Calagry at a local model show and a photographer liked it so much he asked to take pictures to send to Fine Scale Modeler Magazine.
Well, this year, my model made it in the magazine and I have attached the link so all can see it.
It was supposed to be in the Great Scale Modeling issue in February, but instead was published in the May issue of Fine Scale Modeler.
Open the following link and scroll down about half way.

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/default.aspx?c=a&id=3269
Vincent.

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stefanuccio
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Post by stefanuccio » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:38 am

ciao Vincent
i have seen and known that diorama you made for some time already!!!
This diorama have been known by me even before i joined stormo
as i have admired it on the internet and magazine i get here regularly
I have been ipnotysed by the look of such historical masterpiece you have made,i find it unique for the accuracy of detailes and poses ,but especially for the meaning of it, as it is so difficult to find ,and interpret such historical period of the Regia on the eastern front.
Therefore i am not surprised it made it to the top as it deserved
I will try to write more often about the various fronts were the regia was deployed in the mean time i must compliment you as your diorama represent in my view a rare and almoust unknown historical subject that you have the merit to show to the modeling world in such a bright way
ciao stefano

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Vincent Biondi
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Post by Vincent Biondi » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:58 am

Hello Stefano,
Thank you for the kind words.
I think that my next diorama will be a North African desert scene.
Vincent.

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stefanuccio
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Post by stefanuccio » Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:39 pm

hallo Vincent
go for it! you have what it takes to do a great job cant wait to see it
ciao stefano

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Vincent Biondi
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Post by Vincent Biondi » Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:49 pm

Hi Stefano,
I am close to picking a colour scheme for a Macchi 202, probably the 1st or 4th Stormo, along with some airmen figures that I picked up in a garage sale.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Vincent.

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stefanuccio
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Post by stefanuccio » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:24 pm

hallo Vincent
1o stormo or 4o stormo seem a excellent choise we all know about the 4o Baracca the Cavallino Rampante possibly one of the most famous stormo in the Regia .Also the 1o stormo is also a good choise as everything that flyes to day and then originated from them certainly the fighters pilots were the first to became such as from the start of this stormo 7 may 1923 !
keep me posted about your choises because soon i would also try to start a diorama of some kind and i want to learn from the masters!
ciao stefano

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Vincent Biondi
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Post by Vincent Biondi » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:57 pm

Stefano,
I'll let you know.
Vincent.

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