French Forces

French colors for an Italian fighter

Forum France-Italie 1935-1945

The only Fiat CR.42 captured by the French during the brief campaign of the Italy against the France (10-24 June 1940). The aircraft, military registration, MM.5590, pilot Tenente (Flying Officer/1st Lieutenant) Zuffi, was forced to land for engine troubles on Cuers Pierrefeu, during a strafing mission, 15 June 1940, of this airfield base of the French Aéronautique Navale’s Escadrilles AC3 (11 fighters Bloch MB151) and AB3 (11 dive bombers Vought 156). The aircraft was repainted with the French marking and an all pale-blue finish (but retaining, as showed in the photo, the fuselage’s Fascist emblem!). The plane was turned in Italian authorities on following August while his pilot was released just after the signing of the armistice between Italy and France, Villa Incisa’s Armistice, 24 June 1940. The mission over Piers Cuerrefeu was one of two raid launched by the Italian air forces against French airdrome on 15 June 1940: the other was against Le Luc-Le Cannet des Maures raided by the 53nd Stormo’s 23nd Gruppo took off from Turin-Caselle. Cuers Pierrefeu was strafed by 27 Fiat CR.42 of the 150th Gruppo, of the same 53rd Stormo, took off from Cervere, near Cuneo, split in two groups, one of 15 aircraft, the other of 12, with the cover of other groups each of a dozen of CR.42. Six Vought wad destroyed on the ground, while on the fight with the AC3’s Bloch MB151, scrambled on two sections, the Second-Maître Miramont, aircraft AC3.3, s/n 69, despite various damages downed the CR.42 MM5579 of the Capitano (Flight Lieutenant/Captain) Nino Caselli, KIA, but after few minutes made a forces land at Hyères. The Caselli and Zuffi’s CR.42 was the only Italian planes lost during the Cuers Pierrefeu’s strafing. On the other hand the French losses was heavier: MB151 AC3.15, s/n 51, shot down just after the take-off, pilot Adjudant-Chef Hourcade KIA; MB.151 AC3.1, s/n 77, heavy damaged, crash landed, pilot Lieutenant de Vaisseau Ziegler, AC3’s leader, wounded; Bloch 151 AC3.9 s/n 37, shot down in flames, pilot Second-Maître Le Bihan serious wounded during the crash land (death after 5 hours in hospital); MB.151 AC3.8 s/n 348, heavy damaged and crash landed, pilot Soulimont unhurt. Another clash triggered during the raid over Le Luc-Le Cannet des Maures between the CR.42 of the 23nd Gruppo plus other CR.42 of the 3rd Stormo in combat air patrol and the French fighters, Dewoitine D.520 in this case of the Armée de l’Air’s GC III/6, took off from Luc on 11,45 a.m. and split on two patrol each with three aircraft, the first composed by Adjutant Pierre Le Gloan, with Capitaine Jean Assollant and Capitaine Jacobi (the late turned back because engine troubles), the second by Capitaine Guerrier, Sous-Lieutenant Capdeviolle and Adjutant Japiot. The French claimed in total five planes down by Le Gloan (four CR.42 and a BR.20 in recce mission) all complied by the command of Zone d'Opérations Aériennes Alpes (Alpes Air Operational Region), but the official record of the Italian Air Force confirm for the entire day of 15 June 1940 a total loss of six aircraft, included the two CR.42 lost over Cuers. The other has: Fiat CR.42 MM4361, 23rd Gruppo, pilot Cap. Filippi POW; Fiat CR.42 MM4366, 18th Gruppo, pilot Maresciallo (Warrant Officer) Colombo KIA; Fiat CR.42 MM unknown, 18th Gruppo, pilot Sergente (Flight Sergeant) Parmeggiani, POW; Fiat BR.20M MM2187, 172nd Squadriglia (recce flight after the missions for observe the raid’s results): two crew members KIA, three POW. Very probably this four planes are Le Gloan’s kills. Victor Sierra