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Question though, I always thought the Italian roundel always had three Fasces and not the two shown on these decals.
Hi Vic,
I will try to explain.
Since the beginning of an Italian air-force as such, wing roundel were the classic three-colour as shown in this model I recently made:
These roundel were used during WW1 and until 1926 when the Fascist government decided to introduce new roundels with three fasces on upper and lower wings.
And a front facing fascio on the fuselage.
The origin of this symbol could be traced back in the ancient Roman times, when it represented the symbol of the imperial power.
With the fall of Fascism, in July 1943, the Royal Italian air-force was simply instructed to cover with paints all fasces. Only the Savoy cross and symbol was retained on fin/rudder.
With the armistice, signed with the Allies in September 1943, the air-force units based in Southern Italy, soon to become "co-belligerent", so fighting against the Germans, went back to the three colour roundels that are still in use today.
Instead, in the North, still under German control, the new fascist government created, in October '43, a new air-force called Aeronautica Repubbicana (later Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana - ANR) and adopted a new/old roundel on wings: squared shape with two fasces only.
On fuselage and rudder a standard shape three colour flag tried to confirm that these aircraft were Italian.
By the way, specially during last months of the war, ANR machine had German black or white crosses on lower wings and fuselage to easy identification from flak.
See, for instance, the G14 model I'm making these days
I hope I've been able to explain
Cheers
Alberto