German Air Force

German Re.2002

IMC Archives

Close-up of the running Piaggio P.XIX RC45 1,160 HP engine of one of the Reggiane Re.2002s employed in 1944/45 by Luftwaffe’s in France in the anti-partisan role. After the Italy’s surrender on September 1943, the German Air Force seized some 40 Regia Aeronautica’s Re.2002 (nicknamed in Italy “Ariete”. Ram) while the Reichluftfahrtministerium (RLM) demanded to Officine Reggiane (Caproni Group) the completion of two former Italian batches, total 83 aircraft, and the preparation of a production of 500 airplanes. But the Reggiane’s factory, at Reggio Emilia, was destroyed by allied air raids on 7 and 8 January 1944 and the aircraft really manufactured was only 14 a part other already existing airframes completed according the Luftwaffe’s requirements. In all, during 1944, the Reggiane produced for RLM 60 news Re.2002 Series 2, but only 25 was really delivered to Luftwaffe. Victor Sierra