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The Battle for Italy (September 1943 - May 1945)

The Battle for Italy (September 1943 - May 1945)

The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the invasion of Sicily and the campaign on the Italian mainland until the surrender of German forces in Italy in May 1945.

It is estimated that between September 1943 and April 1945 some 60,000 Allied and 50,000 German soldiers died in Italy.Total Allied casualties during the campaign totaled about 320,000 and the corresponding Axis figure (excluding those involved in the final surrender) was over 658,000. No campaign in Western Europe cost more than the Italian campaign in terms of lives lost and wounds suffered by infantry forces.

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Italian Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana Macchi C.205 Veltro Fighter - Luigi Gorrini, 1 Squadriglia "Asso di Bastoni," 1 Gruppo Caccia, 1944 Italian Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana Macchi C.205 Veltro Fighter - Luigi Gorrini, 1 Squadriglia "Asso di Bastoni," 1 Gruppo Caccia, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

The MC.205 Veltro ("Greyhound") is considered the best Italian fighter of World War II. It was said that in the hands of a good pilot, it could defeat any allied plane. When the prototype of the Veltro was built, there were two other planes competing for the same contract: the Fiat G. 55 Centauro and the Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario.

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Italian Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana Fiat G.55 Centauro Fighter - Montefusco-Bonet Squadron, Italy, 1944 Italian Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana Fiat G.55 Centauro Fighter - Montefusco-Bonet Squadron, Italy, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

The Fiat G-55 Centauro, arguably the best Italian production fighter of the Second World War, was designed around requirements issued by the Direzione Generale Costruzioni de Ministero in 1941, which intended to provide the Regia Aeronautica with a first line fighter equal to any being produced by the Allies.

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USAAF Bell P-39Q Airacobra Fighter - Quanto Costa, 100th Fighter Squadron, Capodichino, Italy, 1944 USAAF Bell P-39Q Airacobra Fighter - "Quanto Costa", 100th Fighter Squadron, Capodichino, Italy, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

The P-39 was one of America's first-line pursuit planes in December 1941. It made its initial flight in April 1939 at Wright Field and by the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, nearly 600 had been built. Its unique engine location behind the cockpit caused some pilot concern, but this proved to be no more of a hazard in a crash landing than with an engine located forward of the cockpit.

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USAAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Fighter - Herschel Green, White 11, 317th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group "The Checkertail Clan", Celone, Italy, 1944 USAAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Fighter - Herschel Green, "White 11", 317th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group "The Checkertail Clan", Celone, Italy, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

Nicknamed the "Jug" for its bulky shape, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was considered a monster of a machine. Despite its size, the Thunderbolt proved to be a fast and maneuverable warbird able to hold its own in combat. In fact, when Allied pilots climbed aboard a P-47, they knew the were in control of a fighting machine with enormous power.

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German Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2 Fighter - S9+FM, II/Zerstorergeschwader 1, Wespen, Italy, 1943 German Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2 Fighter - S9+FM, II/II/Zerstorergeschwader 1, "Wespen", Italy, 1943 (1:72 Scale)

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was an aircraft of very mixed fortunes. It has often been criticized for its failure during the Battle of Britain, while its successes in other fields have been largely ignored. Despite not living up to the Luftwaffe's expectations it did manage to serve Germany throughout the Second World War in the long-range escort fighter, fighter-bomber, reconnaissance, ground attack and night fighter roles.

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USAAF Martin B-26B-25 Marauder Medium Bomber - Flak Bait, 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bombardment Group "Nye's Annihilators", Grottaglie Airfield, Taranto, Italy, 1944 USAAF Martin B-26B-25 Marauder Medium Bomber - "Flak Bait", 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bombardment Group "Nye's Annihilators", Grottaglie Airfield, Taranto, Italy, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

The Martin B-26 Marauder was one of the most controversial American combat aircraft of the Second World War. It was primarily used in Europe, and was in fact numerically the most important USAAF medium bomber used in that theatre of action. However, on four occasions, investigation boards had met to decide if the development and production of the Marauder should continue.

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USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - Robert Williams, Duchess Arlene, 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Tuskegee Airmen, Italy, 1944 USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - Robert Williams, "Duchess Arlene," 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, "Tuskegee Airmen", Italy, 1944 (1:48 Scale)

No other aircraft of WWII could fly as high, go as far, or fight as hard as the famed Mustang. Piloted by a record 281 Aces, this agile and ferocious dogfighter tallied more kills than any other Allied airplane. As the bombers of the Eighth Air Force fought their way deep into Hitler's Germany, it was the Mustang that cleared the skies of Luftwaffe fighters.

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USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - Capt. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group "Tuskegee Airmen", Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945 USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - Capt. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group "Tuskegee Airmen", Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945 (1:48 Scale)

No other aircraft of WWII could fly as high, go as far, or fight as hard as the famed Mustang. Piloted by a record 281 Aces, this agile and ferocious dogfighter tallied more kills than any other Allied airplane. As the bombers of the Eighth Air Force fought their way deep into Hitler's Germany, it was the Mustang that cleared the skies of Luftwaffe fighters.

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USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - "Creamer's Dream", 1st Lt. Charles White, 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Ramitelli, Italy, 1945 USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - "Creamer's Dream", 1st Lt. Charles White, 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Ramitelli, Italy, 1945 (1:48 Scale)

No other aircraft of WWII could fly as high, go as far, or fight as hard as the famed Mustang. Piloted by a record 281 Aces, this agile and ferocious dogfighter tallied more kills than any other Allied airplane. As the bombers of the Eighth Air Force fought their way deep into Hitler's Germany, it was the Mustang that cleared the skies of Luftwaffe fighters.

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USAAF North American P-51C Mustang Fighter - "Alice-Jo", Captain Wendell Pruitt, 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Ramitelli, Italy, 1944 USAAF North American P-51C Mustang Fighter - "Alice-Jo", Captain Wendell Pruitt, 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Ramitelli, Italy, 1944 (1:48 Scale)

No other aircraft of WWII could fly as high, go as far, or fight as hard as the famed Mustang. Piloted by a record 281 Aces, this agile and ferocious dogfighter tallied more kills than any other Allied airplane. As the bombers of the Eighth Air Force fought their way deep into Hitler's Germany, it was the Mustang that cleared the skies of Luftwaffe fighters.

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USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - Capt. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group "Tuskegee Airmen", Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945 [Signature Edition] USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter - Capt. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group "Tuskegee Airmen", Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945 [Signature Edition] (1:48 Scale)

No other aircraft of WWII could fly as high, go as far, or fight as hard as the famed Mustang. Piloted by a record 281 Aces, this agile and ferocious dogfighter tallied more kills than any other Allied airplane. As the bombers of the Eighth Air Force fought their way deep into Hitler's Germany, it was the Mustang that cleared the skies of Luftwaffe fighters.

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RAAF Bristol Beaufighter TF.X Torpedo Bomber - NE775/X2, No.455 Squadron, RAF Langham, Norfolk, England, June 1944 RAAF Bristol Beaufighter TF.X Torpedo Bomber - NE775/X2, No.455 Squadron, RAF Langham, Norfolk, England, June 1944 (1:72 Scale)

Developed as a private venture by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the Beaufighter was a two-seat all-metal fighter using components from the Beaufort torpedo-bomber. First flown on July 17th, 1939, the Beaufighter eventually equipped 52 RAF squadrons, giving outstanding service during World War II, in particular as a night-fighter and torpedo-bomber (where the aircraft were affectionally known as 'Torbeaus').

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USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator Heavy Bomber - "Wongo Wongo," 512th Bombardment Squadron, 376th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, North Africa, 1943 USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator Heavy Bomber - "Wongo Wongo," 512th Bombardment Squadron, 376th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, North Africa, 1943 (1:72 Scale)

Life for the B-24 heavy bomber began in 1939, when the Army Air Corps initiated a request for a new bomber designed to exceed the performance of the B-17. Consolidated Aircraft responded quickly with its proposal, labeled Consolidated Model 32 and, on March 30th, 1939, was awarded the contract.

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German Heinkel He-111P Medium Bomber - 1H+FK, 2./Kampfgeschwader 26, Ottana, Sardinia, 1943 German Heinkel He-111P Medium Bomber - 1H+FK, 2./Kampfgeschwader 26, Ottana, Sardinia, 1943 (1:72 Scale)

When World War I ended, the German Air Force was disbanded under the Treaty of Versailles, which required the German government to abandon all military aviation by October 1st, 1919.

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