161:
589:
440:
133:
27:
617:, no radio, and armed with only two machine guns (a 12.7 mm/.5 in and a 7.7 mm/.303 in Breda-SAFAT), could easily out-turn Hurricanes and Spitfires, making them difficult to hit. "The CR 42 turned to fight using all the aeroplane's manoeuvrability. The pilot could get on my tail in a single turn, so tightly was he able to pull round." As the RAF intelligence report stated, the
626:
manoeuvered flight, the CR.42 could win or survive against
Hurricanes and Spitfires, though we had to be careful of a sweep from behind. In my opinion, the English .303 bullet was not very effective. Italian aircraft received many hits which did no material damage and one pilot even found that his parachute pack had stopped a bullet."
621:
were hard targets. "As I fired he half rolled very tightly and I was completely unable to hold him, so rapid were his manoeuvres. I attacked two or three more and fired short bursts, in each case the enemy aircraft half-rolled very tightly and easily and completely out-turned me. In two cases as they
478:
by day. The
Italian bombers were sighted crossing Kent at a relatively low level. The bombers flew in formation, wingtip to wingtip. The open-cockpit, fixed-undercarriage fighter escorts accompanied them in a similar immaculate order. The Italian aircraft were painted pale sand yellow with green and
540:
Squadrons intercepted the aircraft and destroyed three bombers and two fighters, while another was lost to mechanical fault or navigation error, the pilot (Salvatori) was captured. In addition, four bombers eventually force landed, two fighters were destroyed on landing, and another eight fighters
894:
There is still much confunsion about the involved units, depending on the sources they were for sure No.46 and 257 Sqn, that made some claims to BR.20s; often cited are also No. 245, 249 and No.17, plus one or more
Spitfire from No.41 Sqn; Gustavson quotes No.257, 17, 46, 249, but apparently only
625:
Against
British monoplanes, the CR.42s were not always outclassed. "I engaged one of the British fighters from a range of between 40 to 50 metres (130–165 ft). Then I saw a Spitfire, which was chasing another CR.42, and I got in a shot at a range of 150 metres (500 ft). I realised that in a
473:
The next major operation of the CAI was on 29 October. This date is regarded by some historians as the last day of the Battle of
Britain. In response to a raid on several northern Italian cities, fifteen BR.20s with a strong CR.42 fighter escort bombed
527:
assigned to them. The G.50 mission was aborted due to bad weather that caused too much fuel consumption and the Fiat monoplanes had to go, leaving only the CR.42 as escort. However, Hurricanes from several units, belonging to
600:
was a biplane, which, in purely technical terms, would be outclassed by more modern monoplanes, this was not the case all the time. On 11 and 23 November 1940, CR.42s flew two raids against Great
Britain as part of the
1106:
De Decker, Cyrnik (November 1998). "Faisceaux italienes sur la Manche: Le Corpo Aero
Italiano (CAI) en 1940/1941" [Italian Fasces on the English Channel: The Italian Air Corps in 1940–1941].
523:
by the Royal Navy's aircraft and as a result lost half of its capital ships, the CAI saw its first major combat against the RAF. Ten bombers were escorted by forty-two CR.42s, G.50s, and some German
577:
Near the beginning of
January 1941, all of the bombers and biplanes were redeployed. This left the CAI with only the Fiat G.50s, which remained until mid-April 1941, when they too were redeployed.
541:
landed with damage, with over 20 aviators missing, dead or wounded. British had two fighters slightly damaged. One of the Fiats (MM.5701) was repaired by the
British and subsequently evaluated by
592:
A Falco biplane fighter after crash-landing near
Lowestoft, Suffolk on 11 November 1940. The pilot successfully evaded three British Hurricanes, but was forced down by a propeller malfunction.
467:
413:
after an eventful journey in which several planes force landed or even crashed due to malfunctions and poor weather. The fighters arrived later: the 50 Fiat CR.42s were based at
1286:
1296:
479:
red-brown mottling. This was camouflage more suitable for a more exotic climate than that found in Britain in late October. Five Italian aircraft suffered damage due to
1271:
470:. However, the number of heavy AA guns in the GDA had dwindled to eight by September 1940 as they had been redeployed to guard the RAF's vital fighter airfields.
723:
Three bombers and two fighters shot down by defences; 10 fighters slightly damaged by forced landings; pilots claimed at least nine British fighters destroyed
312:
556:
with several others damaged, in return for one Spitfire damaged (though the Italian pilots claimed the destruction of at least five British fighters).
458:. Not all aircraft found their targets and three were lost in accidents. The Harwich Gun Defence Area (GDA) covering the ports of Harwich, Felixstowe,
1148:
548:
Fighter to fighter combat was no more successful for the CAI. On 23 November, 29 Italian fighters making an offensive sweep were engaged near the
1256:
944:
870:
431:
article only indicated that there was a possibility that an Italian air force unit might be sent to participate in the Battle of Britain.
1291:
566:, for the loss of three aircraft. The Italian planes had dropped 44.87 tonnes of bombs in 77 night sorties, most of them over Harwich.
286:(FAA). The CAI achieved limited success during its brief existence, but it was generally hampered by the inadequacy of its equipment.
569:
Between October 1940 and January 1941 the CAI fighters flew 454 offensive and 480 defensive sorties (including 113 bomber escort).
91:
63:
1025:
984:
1132:
346:
fighter. Despite its good manoeuvrability and speed (440+ km/h) it was technically outclassed by the faster and better armed
44:
70:
500:
928:
77:
1239:
1206:
1192:
1178:
1164:
110:
968:
59:
1221:
996:
48:
580:
From January to April 1941 the two remaining squadrons based in Belgium flew a further 662 defensive sorties.
504:
673:
One aircraft crashed on take-off; two crews forced by fuel shortage to abandon aircraft on return flight
450:
On the night of 24/25 October 1940, the CAI conducted its first raid, when 18 BR.20s took off to attack
1281:
1276:
446:
M MM.22267 of 242 squadriglia on the airfield. This particular plane was shot down on 11 November 1940.
372:
fighter was restricted by its range of 400 miles (640 km), which was roughly the same as that of
316:
390:. The Italian BR.20 was a twin-engined bomber capable of carrying 1,600 kg (3,530 lb) of bombs.
492:
1098:
History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Defence of the United Kingdom
84:
1096:
37:
1171:
The Chianti Raiders The Extraordinary Story of the Italian Air Force in the Battle of Britain
622:
came out of their rolls, they were able to turn in almost on my tail and opened fire on me."
480:
251:
176:
559:
Further bombing raids were carried out by the CAI, mainly on the Harwich and Ipswich areas.
529:
524:
373:
351:
8:
875:
537:
533:
395:
588:
1142:
553:
542:
418:
406:
319:
229:
1235:
1217:
1202:
1188:
1174:
1160:
1128:
1111:
924:
562:
By the end of December, shortly before its redeployment, the CAI had flown 97 bomber
545:; this is one of the best conserved CR.42s, and it is owned by a UK museum (Hendon).
520:
496:
357:
300:
261:
256:
204:
895:
No.46, 249 and 257 made contact with italians, plus one or more Spitfire from No.41.
552:. The Italian biplanes were "bounced" by Spitfire Mk.IIs and two were shot down by
463:
347:
295:
166:
896:
425:
279:
439:
1251:
768:
549:
488:
414:
399:
189:
1265:
1115:
283:
515:
269:
199:
609:
aircraft had difficulty flying in formation with the slower biplanes, the
307:
On 10 September 1940, the CAI was formed, under the formal aegis of the
484:
455:
443:
383:
331:
138:
132:
764:
369:
274:
265:
209:
179:
26:
1122:
475:
614:
468:
99th (London Welsh) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
459:
451:
410:
343:
298:
insisted on providing an element of the Italian Royal Air Force (
563:
1157:
The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II
638:
assembled the following data from Italian and German sources:
487:
that afternoon, some 14 miles from Ramsgate and dropped three
380:, and the lack of a radio unit in most participating aircraft.
513:
On 11 November 1940, the day before the battle fleet of the
405:
On 25 September, the bombers arrived at their airfield in
304:) to assist his German ally during the Battle of Britain.
483:. At least one of the bombers was seen at 16:40 hours in
1252:
The Falco and Regia Aeronautica in the Battle of Britain
16:
Italian expeditionary force during the Battle of Britain
1287:
Military units and formations of Italy in World War II
1297:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1941
260:(Italian Royal Air Force) that participated in the
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1216:. Battle of Britain Prints International Limited.
1199:The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II
1187:, W.W. Norton Company, New York and London, 1989,
1125:La Regia Aeronautica nella Battaglia d'Inghilterra
491:bombs, one just outside the Officers' Mess at the
1272:Military units and formations established in 1940
1263:
1127:. Roma: Aeronautica Militare - Ufficio Storico.
923:. United Kingdom: Pen & Sword. p. 285.
629:
398:of 172a Squadriglia used for reconnaissance and
342:. The Italian CR.42 was a manoeuvrable and fast
964:
962:
960:
958:
956:
954:
952:
499:Nelson, four Marines, and one private from the
871:Military history of Italy during World War II
1147:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
1123:Guglielmetti, Luca - Rebora, Andrea (2014).
1108:Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire
949:
858:Bomb tonnages dropped: Day, 9.4; Night 44.9
583:
510:The next few days saw several small raids.
503:. All but one were buried together in the
272:. The CAI supported the German Air Force (
1105:
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
587:
438:
1094:
690:AA fire slightly damaged many aircraft
1264:
1211:
1026:"Air Commodore Sir Archibald Winskill"
596:Although the main fighter used by the
322:was appointed Air Officer Commanding.
1183:Hough, Richard, and Richards, Denis,
1011:Hough, Richard, and Richards, Denis,
918:
246:(literally, "Italian Air Corps"), or
912:
49:adding citations to reliable sources
20:
268:in the final months of 1940 during
13:
1292:Expeditionary units and formations
1230:Townshend Bickers, Richard (1990,
613:, though slower, and with an open
14:
1308:
1245:
394:Supporting aircraft included six
985:The National Archives (TNA), Kew
983:99 HAA Rgt War Diary, 1939–41,
501:King's Shropshire Light Infantry
159:
131:
25:
1101:. London: HM Stationery Office.
1088:
1075:
1066:
1059:Mrazek, Group Captain Karel in
1053:
921:Combat Biplanes of World War II
572:
354:of the British Royal Air Force.
278:) and flew against the British
36:needs additional citations for
1044:
1018:
1005:
990:
977:
937:
888:
141:of the CAI deployed in Belgium
1:
905:
630:Summary of bombing operations
434:
417:, while the 45 Fiat G.50s in
881:
505:Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal
289:
7:
1257:Time Magazine: Daily Damage
1212:Ramsey, Winston C. (1988).
864:
325:
10:
1313:
309:1a Squadra Aerea di Milano
228:Generale di Squadra Aerea
424:As late as 4 November, a
317:Generale di Squadra Aerea
222:
217:
195:
185:
172:
154:
146:
130:
125:
1110:(in French) (80): 5–19.
584:Biplane versus monoplane
493:Royal Marine Depot, Deal
150:10 September 1940 – 1941
1095:Collier, Basil (1957).
519:(the Italian navy) was
386:bombers of 13° and 43°
1197:Mondey, David (1984),
1155:Gunston, Bill (2001),
605:. Although the German
593:
447:
60:"Corpo Aereo Italiano"
1232:The Battle of Britain
1185:The Battle of Britain
1173:London Robson 2005
1081:Haining 2005, p. 160.
1050:Ramsey (1988), p. 313
1013:The Battle of Britain
919:Smith, Peter (2014).
591:
525:Messerschmitt Bf 109s
442:
376:E models used by the
294:The Italian dictator
1201:, Chancellor Press,
1072:Haining 2005, p. 86.
603:Corpo Aereo Italiano
598:Corpo Aereo Italiano
311:("First 'Milan' Air
243:Corpo Aereo Italiano
126:Corpo Aereo Italiano
45:improve this article
987:, file WO 166/2389.
876:RAF Fighter Command
815:22 December (night)
799:21 December (night)
783:14 December (night)
760:29 November (night)
744:20 November (night)
728:17 November (night)
521:attacked at Taranto
368:. The Italian G.50
252:expeditionary force
973:, Appendix XXVIII.
661:25 October (night)
594:
554:Archibald Winskill
481:anti-aircraft guns
448:
419:Flugplatz Maldegem
402:transport planes.
320:Rino Corso-Fougier
230:Rino Corso-Fougier
1282:Battle of Britain
1277:Italian Air Force
1134:978-88-98234-08-0
999:Defence of the UK
971:Defence of the UK
862:
861:
831:2 January (night)
711:11 November (day)
497:Second Lieutenant
358:Fiat G.50 Freccia
301:Regia Aeronautica
262:Battle of Britain
257:Regia Aeronautica
254:from the Italian
235:
234:
205:Battle of Britain
121:
120:
113:
95:
1304:
1227:
1152:
1146:
1138:
1119:
1102:
1082:
1079:
1073:
1070:
1064:
1057:
1051:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1032:. 15 August 2005
1022:
1016:
1009:
1003:
1001:, Appendix XXII.
994:
988:
981:
975:
966:
947:
941:
935:
934:
916:
899:
892:
747:Harwich, Ipswich
678:29 October (day)
641:
640:
636:Official History
296:Benito Mussolini
167:Kingdom of Italy
165:
163:
162:
135:
123:
122:
116:
109:
105:
102:
96:
94:
53:
29:
21:
1312:
1311:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1301:
1262:
1261:
1248:
1224:
1169:Haining, Peter
1140:
1139:
1135:
1091:
1086:
1085:
1080:
1076:
1071:
1067:
1058:
1054:
1049:
1045:
1035:
1033:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1010:
1006:
995:
991:
982:
978:
967:
950:
943:Time Magazine,
942:
938:
931:
917:
913:
908:
903:
902:
893:
889:
884:
867:
653:Fighter sorties
632:
586:
575:
437:
328:
292:
280:Royal Air Force
238:
224:
160:
158:
142:
117:
106:
100:
97:
54:
52:
42:
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1310:
1300:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1260:
1259:
1254:
1247:
1246:External links
1244:
1243:
1242:
1234:, Salamander,
1228:
1222:
1209:
1195:
1181:
1167:
1159:, Salamander,
1153:
1133:
1120:
1103:
1090:
1087:
1084:
1083:
1074:
1065:
1052:
1043:
1017:
1004:
989:
976:
948:
936:
930:978-1783400546
929:
910:
909:
907:
904:
901:
900:
886:
885:
883:
880:
879:
878:
873:
866:
863:
860:
859:
856:
853:
850:
848:
844:
843:
841:
838:
835:
832:
828:
827:
825:
822:
819:
816:
812:
811:
809:
806:
803:
800:
796:
795:
793:
790:
787:
784:
780:
779:
777:
774:
771:
769:Great Yarmouth
761:
757:
756:
754:
751:
748:
745:
741:
740:
738:
735:
732:
729:
725:
724:
721:
718:
715:
712:
708:
707:
705:
702:
699:
696:
692:
691:
688:
685:
682:
679:
675:
674:
671:
668:
665:
662:
658:
657:
654:
651:
650:Bomber sorties
648:
645:
631:
628:
585:
582:
574:
571:
550:South Foreland
489:high-explosive
466:was manned by
436:
433:
400:Caproni Ca.133
396:CANT Z.1007bis
392:
391:
381:
355:
327:
324:
291:
288:
236:
233:
232:
226:
220:
219:
215:
214:
213:
212:
207:
197:
193:
192:
190:Aerial warfare
187:
183:
182:
174:
170:
169:
156:
152:
151:
148:
144:
143:
136:
128:
127:
119:
118:
33:
31:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1309:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1241:
1240:0-86101-477-4
1237:
1233:
1229:
1225:
1219:
1215:
1210:
1208:
1207:1-85152-966-7
1204:
1200:
1196:
1194:
1193:0-393-02766-X
1190:
1186:
1182:
1180:
1179:1-86105-829-2
1176:
1172:
1168:
1166:
1165:1-84065-092-3
1162:
1158:
1154:
1150:
1144:
1136:
1130:
1126:
1121:
1117:
1113:
1109:
1104:
1100:
1099:
1093:
1092:
1078:
1069:
1062:
1056:
1047:
1031:
1030:The Telegraph
1027:
1021:
1014:
1008:
1002:
1000:
993:
986:
980:
974:
972:
965:
963:
961:
959:
957:
955:
953:
946:
940:
932:
926:
922:
915:
911:
898:
891:
887:
877:
874:
872:
869:
868:
857:
854:
851:
849:
846:
845:
842:
839:
836:
833:
830:
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
813:
810:
807:
804:
801:
798:
797:
794:
791:
788:
785:
782:
781:
778:
775:
772:
770:
766:
762:
759:
758:
755:
752:
749:
746:
743:
742:
739:
736:
733:
730:
727:
726:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
709:
706:
703:
700:
697:
694:
693:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
676:
672:
669:
666:
663:
660:
659:
655:
652:
649:
646:
643:
642:
639:
637:
627:
623:
620:
616:
612:
608:
604:
599:
590:
581:
578:
570:
567:
565:
560:
557:
555:
551:
546:
544:
539:
535:
531:
526:
522:
518:
517:
511:
508:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
486:
482:
477:
471:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
445:
441:
432:
430:
428:
422:
420:
416:
412:
408:
403:
401:
397:
389:
385:
382:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
356:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
330:
329:
323:
321:
318:
314:
310:
305:
303:
302:
297:
287:
285:
284:Fleet Air Arm
281:
277:
276:
271:
267:
263:
259:
258:
253:
249:
245:
244:
237:Military unit
231:
227:
221:
216:
211:
208:
206:
203:
202:
201:
198:
194:
191:
188:
184:
181:
178:
177:Expeditionary
175:
171:
168:
157:
153:
149:
145:
140:
134:
129:
124:
115:
112:
104:
93:
90:
86:
83:
79:
76:
72:
69:
65:
62: –
61:
57:
56:Find sources:
50:
46:
40:
39:
34:This article
32:
28:
23:
22:
19:
1231:
1213:
1198:
1184:
1170:
1156:
1124:
1107:
1097:
1089:Bibliography
1077:
1068:
1063:1983, p. 91.
1061:Wings of war
1060:
1055:
1046:
1034:. Retrieved
1029:
1020:
1012:
1007:
998:
992:
979:
970:
945:Daily Damage
939:
920:
914:
890:
635:
634:The British
633:
624:
618:
610:
606:
602:
597:
595:
579:
576:
573:Redeployment
568:
561:
558:
547:
516:Regia Marina
514:
512:
509:
472:
449:
426:
423:
404:
393:
387:
377:
365:
361:
339:
335:
308:
306:
299:
293:
273:
270:World War II
255:
247:
242:
241:
239:
200:World War II
107:
101:January 2013
98:
88:
81:
74:
67:
55:
43:Please help
38:verification
35:
18:
421:, Belgium.
196:Engagements
137:An Italian
1266:Categories
1223:0900913541
1015:, page 305
906:References
695:5 November
543:Eric Brown
495:, killing
485:Deal, Kent
456:Felixstowe
444:Fiat BR.20
435:Operations
384:Fiat BR.20
348:Hurricanes
332:Fiat CR.42
282:(RAF) and
218:Commanders
139:Fiat CR.42
71:newspapers
1214:The Blitz
1143:cite book
1116:1243-8650
997:Collier,
969:Collier,
882:Footnotes
765:Lowestoft
763:Ipswich,
607:Luftwaffe
464:Parkeston
407:Melsbroek
378:Luftwaffe
370:monoplane
352:Spitfires
290:Formation
275:Luftwaffe
266:the Blitz
250:, was an
225:commander
210:The Blitz
180:Air force
1036:1 August
897:(source)
865:See also
681:Ramsgate
656:Remarks
476:Ramsgate
429:magazine
326:Aircraft
834:Ipswich
818:Harwich
802:Harwich
786:Harwich
731:Harwich
714:Harwich
698:Harwich
664:Harwich
647:Targets
615:cockpit
564:sorties
460:Ipswich
452:Harwich
411:Belgium
360:of 20°
344:biplane
334:of 18°
313:Command
223:Current
155:Country
85:scholar
1238:
1220:
1205:
1191:
1177:
1163:
1131:
1114:
927:
847:Totals
619:Falcos
611:Falcos
536:, and
388:Stormo
374:Bf 109
366:Stormo
364:, 56°
362:Gruppo
340:Stormo
338:, 56°
336:Gruppo
164:
147:Active
87:
80:
73:
66:
58:
415:Ursel
92:JSTOR
78:books
1236:ISBN
1218:ISBN
1203:ISBN
1189:ISBN
1175:ISBN
1161:ISBN
1149:link
1129:ISBN
1112:ISSN
1038:2013
925:ISBN
644:Date
462:and
454:and
427:Time
350:and
315:").
264:and
240:The
186:Role
173:Type
64:news
855:113
852:102
530:257
248:CAI
47:by
1268::
1145:}}
1141:{{
1028:.
951:^
789:11
767:,
750:12
720:40
717:10
687:73
684:15
667:16
538:42
534:46
532:,
507:.
409:,
1226:.
1151:)
1137:.
1118:.
1040:.
933:.
840:–
837:5
824:–
821:4
808:–
805:6
792:–
776:–
773:9
753:–
737:–
734:6
704:–
701:8
670:–
114:)
108:(
103:)
99:(
89:·
82:·
75:·
68:·
41:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
