Italy, Kingdom. A Military Aviation Corps Belt with Buckle, c.1915

(Corpo Aeronautico Militare). Instituted in 1915. Buckle in bronze gilt, bearing the Italian spread-winged eagle, within an open-ended wreath of laurel leaves and surmounted by the Royal crown, the clip on the reverse intact, the buckle measuring 55.8 mm (w) x 54.5 mm (h) inclusive of its belt loop. Belt is fabricated from a thick leather, with a smooth-finished dark brown upper incorporating ornate stitching, the belt fed through the buckle's loop on the right end, folded over to butt the main belt on the reverse and secured in place to the main belt via a leather slider and bronze loop, the left end with the buckle's receiver in bronze gilt, the top edge of the belt with two bronze D-rings, one beside the receiver and one on the rear, designed for a shoulder strap, the belt measuring 38 mm in width x 850 mm in length. Although the leather belt has stiffened and exhibits crazing, extensive wear and loss on the right side, the buckle is unaffected and holds its detail and gilt. Worn, yet fine. Footnote: The Italian Military Aviation Corps (Corpo Aeronautico Militare) was formed as part of the part of the Royal Army (Regio Esercito) on January 7, 1915, incorporating the Aviators Flights Battalion (airplanes), the Specialists Battalion (airships) and the Ballonists Battalion. Prior to the First World War, Italy had pioneered military aviation during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911-1912. Its army also contained one of the world's foremost theorists about the future of military aviation, Giulio Douhet. He also had a practical side, as he was largely responsible for the development of Italy's Caproni bombers starting in 1913. Italy also had the advantage of a delayed entry into the First World War, not starting the fight until May 24, 1915, but took no advantage of it so far as aviation was concerned. Italy entered the war with an air force technologically comparable to a force on the Western Front in 1914. Lacking fighter aircraft throughout the war, the Italians resorted to airplanes supplied by the French, either directly or built under license. The early air force was also woefully and tactically deficient. Basically, its fighter craft were scrambled into the air only when enemy planes were spotted overhead. However, the Caproni bombers developed to operational status, flying their first sorties on August 20, 1915. After the war the Corpo Aeronautico Militare became the basis of the Regia Aeronautica, which became an air force independent of the Royal Italian Army on March 28, 1923.