More than eighty years later, forgotten traces of the Second World War are resurfacing in the countryside of Macchiareddu. Drawings, military crests, and writings hidden beneath layers of lime now reveal a little-known chapter in the history of Italian aviation and Sardinia during the dramatic period surrounding the armistice of September 8, 1943. The discovery was made as part of research conducted by the Amici di Sardegna association, a research organization recognized by the MUR, during the "Spazio Gilia" project, funded by the Fondazione di Sardegna. "The investigation focused on the former Maria Luisa military airfield, located in the Macchiareddu area, near Elmas Airport," says Roberto Copparoni, president of Amici di Sardegna. "The facility was named after Maria Luisa Grottanelli De Santi, a member of the family that owned the vast farm that stretched between Assemini, Uta, and Capoterra. It was here, in the months following the armistice, that pilots and Air Force personnel experienced days of chaos and uncertainty, as Italy was divided and former German allies became enemies. From this airport, crucial missions departed to transfer men and equipment to southern Italy and contribute to the war of liberation." The latest research was conducted with pilot Lieutenant Colonel Valentina Papa, retired Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinando Orrù, First Lieutenant Tony Roma, cultural worker Michele Demontis, and photographer Marina Federica Patteri.
"Guided by the testimonies contained in the books 1943: take-off towards the unknown by Adelmo Rigoli and The 8th Fighter Group in two World Wars by Giuseppe Pesce, we reached an old, now abandoned rural building," explains Copparoni. "Inside a room dominated by a fireplace, we noticed traces of decorations hidden under the plaster. Patiently, using paintbrushes and brushes, we uncovered coats of arms, symbols, and writings created by the same pilots who lived on the site during the war. Among the images brought to light are the coats of arms of the 92nd, 93rd, and 94th Squadrons of the 8th Group. The most significant discovery, however, concerns the famous "Breus" symbol, the emblem of the current 8th Flight Group. According to scholars, the badge was created in Macchiareddu between 1943 and 1944. The symbol depicts a knight inspired by a poem by Giovanni Pascoli and was later painted on the fins of the Macchi C.202 fighters used in the Second World War." liberation. This reconstruction is also supported by the memoirs left by pilot Aldo Allegra, a historic member of the 8th Group, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 103. The drawing, placed above the fireplace of the agricultural colony, depicts a coat of arms with a can, a fish, and a bird of prey's wings: a playful symbol that also reflects the humanity of the young aviators forced to live through one of the most difficult moments in Italian history.
"The old airport and agricultural colony structures still exist, albeit in precarious condition, near the Macchiareddu salt pans," Copparoni reveals. "Our hope now is that the site can be protected and enhanced, so that this historical memory isn't permanently erased by time. This discovery gives a voice to men, symbols, and events that have remained buried for decades under the dust of history."