Chinese Forces

An Italian fighter for the China

Refused by Italian Regia Aeronautica, still interested to biplanes, the Breda 27 was instead selected by Chinese Air Force which, after a mission in Italy on 1935, purchased 18 exemplars of this monoplane, fixed landing gear, single seat, all metal, fighter aircraft powered by an Alfa Romeo Mercurius, Italian version of British Mercury IV, radial engine (530 HP) and armed with two 7,7 mm machine guns. With the eleven Breda 27s actually delivered was equipped the Third Fighter Group of Chung-Hua Min-Kuo K'ung-Chün (the Nationalist Chinese Air Force). The engagement of Breda 27s against the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese War is unclear. The fighter Breda was in operational service in China until 1938. Other Italian-built fighter purchased by China were the Fiat CR.30s and CR.32s. Victor Sierra