The Italian Air Force is the air force of the Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica. After World War II, when Italy became a republic following a referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. Since its formation, the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. The acrobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.
Palazzo dell'Aeronautica, headquarters of the Italian Air Force
Italian North American P-51D Mustang exhibited at the museum of Vigna di Valle
Italian Eurofighter Typhoon
Italian Air Force Hercules C-130J-30 departing the 2014 Royal International Air Tattoo, England
The Royal Italian Air Force (RAI) was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic, whereupon the name of the air force changed to Aeronautica Militare.
A Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 during a bombing raid in the Spanish Civil War (1936–39).
Destruction of Muslim graveyard and the Istiklal Mosque by Italian bombers during the bombing of Haifa, September 1940.
An early Macchi C.202 (note lack of radio mast) of 81ª Squadriglia, 6° Gruppo, 1° Stormo CT; this photo appears to have been taken in Libya.
Bombing of Malta.
