For me, what really makes aviation history interesting is the development of camouflage and markings. It is what has kept my interest in the subject as well as probably the main reason that I'm involved in scale modeling. Though to many, paint is paint, to me it is always amazing as to the various combinations of color and pattern that have been developed.

This more recent edition from Classic Books covers the full range of camouflage and markings developed by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblica (ANR) in Northern Italy after the fall of the fascist government of Mussolini in Aug/Sep 1943. Those pilots in the ANR were generally not die hard ideologs, but men who were protecting their country from the onslaught of Allied bombing raids. They were also generally not trusted by the Luftwaffe and during late 1944, an attempt to take over the ANR's assets and fully integrate them into the German military resulted in the total quiescence of the ANR for several months until reformed in early 1945.

In this book, the last for renowned author Ferdinando D'Amico, the full story of the ANR and just about all the available photographs (over 450), are presented. In addition, there is color artwork, drawings and diagrams to help to illustrate the different markings and camo schemes used by the various units.

In order to give the book some organization, it is segregated by units. There are basically seven main chapters and they are:

• Overview on the origins of the ANR

• Squadriglia Complementare 'Montefusco'

• 1 Gruppo Caccia

• 2 Gruppo Caccia

• Gruppo Aerosiluranti 'Buscaglia

• The Transport Units

• Second-line units and miscellaneous aircraft

There are also several appendices and a small section on shelters, blast pens and ground concealment.

All in all, this is THE resource for the ANR, its aircraft and the various colors and markings applied to those aircraft. It has everything you'd want; top-notch primary research, excellent photographs, superb color profiles and impeccable references. It is a book that every WWII aviation historian should have on their shelves.

July 2005

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