Italian fighters flew to Russia 1941-1943 (C.S.I.R.)

[veltro]

Originally Posted by Dénes Bernád

(...) accidents/incidents on Rumanian/Bessarabian/Trans-Dnestra airfields, in Aug.-Oct. 1941.

(...)
Aug. 27: "An interesting incident resulted from the participation of Italian volunteer fighter pilot, Capt. Carlo Maurizio Ruspoli. He took-off from Tudora airfield to accompany Gr. 7 vân. Bf 109Es on a combat sortie. Over hostile territory he engaged Soviet fighters and reportedly claimed two of them. But his Macchi MC.200 (No. 81-12, formerly operated by 81a Squadriglia of Gruppo 6) was hit and he had to belly-land in friendly territory near Kamenskoye."
(...)

This is a famous one and there are quite a few images showing the recovery of the damaged aircraft (which, like the other two of 1° Stormo detached to Russia, was a reconnaissance version of the C.200, as visible by the pod applied on the wing leading edge - some had it on the port wing and some on the starboard wing...) along with its pilot, quite a personality among R.A. pilots, not only for his noble origins, but mainly for his courage and efficience in fulfilling the tasks he was assigned.