Fiat CR.42s of 18th Gruppo Caccia, 56th Stormo, Corpo Aereo Italiano (Italian Air Corps) on the Ursel Airport, Belgium, during the unlucky Italian participation to Battle of England, late Autumn 1940. In background the aircraft of unit’s commander (note the rank on fuselage). The first Regia Aeronautica’s order was 500 CR.42s on three batch from February 1939 until August 1940 and in 10 June 1940, entry of Italy in the war, the 40 per cent of Italian fighter front line was CR.42 in service with units on Mainland, Sicily, Libya and Italian East Africa. During the war, until the Italian Armistice (8 September 1943) the CR.42 was present on all the war fronts, excepted the Russian front, a very ubiquitous airplane. Victor Sierra

A very ubiquitous airplane

The CR.42’s final assembly line on the Fiat Aeritalia’s factory, Turin. Paradoxically, despite its obsolescent formula (biplane, fixed landing gear, open cockpit, radial engine low power), the CR.42 was the Italian aircraft produced on the greatest number during WW2: over 1800 aircraft plus 140 for export (Belgium. Sweden, Hungary) and other 51 (or 63) for the Luftwaffe from 1939 until 1944, 40/50 units monthly, one every five aircrafts was a CR.42 when already the other air forces had well-different machines! Power of Fiat? (according the malicious). Victor Sierra

A paradox?

An Italian Regia Aeronautica’s Fiat CR.42 fighter bomber version (Fiat CR.42BA, BA for “Bombe Alari” or wing-bombs) on a Libyan airstrip. Note the Salvator parachute leaned over the wing struts. The CR.42BA was as second best to carry on the employment of Fiat fighter biplane, by this time outclassed by enemies fighters and too slow to intercept the modern Allied bombers, and mainly to overcompensate the attrition or the unlucky outcome of airplanes specifically designed for attack (like Breda 65 or Breda 88). The CR.42’s conversion on fighter bomber, after the successfully test of two planes on Guidonia’s Flight Center with bombs from 50 to 250 kg under the wings, concerned about 300 CR.42s. The CR.42BA – a similar conversion was adopted also for the Macchi MC.200 – was a successfully solution and the aircraft in this configuration was employed, armed with 50 and 100 kg bombs and bomb-launcher Angeloni type in most of battles on Libya, Tobruk included, until the Axis retreat when the last survivors were transferred in Italy. On Summer 1943 some CR.42BAs was employed in last, desperate battle for Sicily’s defence against the landing Allied forces. On 1942 the CR.42BA was tested also for dive bombing against ship with 100 kg bombs. The first mission date to 14 June 1942 when eight planes of 24th Gruppo struck the aircraft carrier “Eagle” without success with the loss of two planes downed by AA fire. In the afternoon of same day the cruiser “Liverpool” was damaged and a CR.42 was shut down. On 1944 also the German Luftwaffe employed some CR.42 in version fighter bomber for night harassment and anti-partisan missions. Victor Sierra