Lined up here in Hollywood style, the CR-32 was a well-known Italian biplane during the 1930's, liked by its crews for being maneuverable and well-built. The Royal Hungarian Air Force acquired a total of 76 CR.32's in 1935 and 1936. On 29 June, 1941,  the first aerial combat over Hungarian territory took place, when seven Tupolev S2 bombers attacked the railway station of Csap and were intercepted by Fiat CR.32's from 2/3 Fighter squadron, shooting down three of the raiders, at no loss to themselves.

Fiat CR-32 Squadron in Hungarian Service

While other countries shifted their production to monoplanes, Fiat continued by designing an improved version of the CR-32 biplane fighter. The landing gear was faired for better aerodynamics and a less vulnerable air cooled engine was chosen. Hungary purchased between 50-60 units, first deployed in Yugoslavia and later in the USSR during 1941.

Fiat CR-42 Fighter in Hungarian Air Force

Between 1941 and 1943, one hundred Levente II trainers were supplied  by the Repülőgépgyár Rt. to the RHAF, this light plane also serving communications/liason roles.