Formed in May 1936, 53 Stormo was initially equipped with the iconic Fiat CR.32 biplane fighter. These were replaced by CR.42s three years later, and upon Italy's declaration of war on the Allies in June 1940, the unit saw action against French and British aircraft that same month. With France defeated, the Regia Aeronautica turned its attention to Greece, and 53 Stormo's 150 Gruppo was again in the forefront of the action against RAF Gladiators - the unit also operated over Yugoslavia.

Meanwhile, 53 Stormo's 151 Gruppo had been sent to Libya in July 1940, and it saw considerable...