Building an Air Force: The Management and Mismanagement of the <i>Regia Aeronautica</i> , 1923–1940

For decades, historians have traced the disappointing performance of the Italian Air Force — the Regia Aeronautica— during the Second World War to technological backwardness, aircraft shortages, poor infrastructure and deficiency in doctrine. In addition to these problems, however, there was also a shortage of personnel. Analysing the development and management of the Italian Air Force during the 1920s and 1930s, this article shows how the lack of personnel was chronic throughout the interwar period and proved to be a key factor in the Regia Aeronautica ’s poor preparedness for war with major powers in summer 1940.