One of very few G.55s employed in active duties by Italian Regia Aeronautica, an aircraft of 353th Squadriglia, perhaps at Ciampino Airport, Rome, on Spring or Summer 1943. The plane is a G.55 Sottoserie 0 (Sub-series Zero) without the wing cannons of Series 1, but with one Mauser MG151 20 mm cannon engine-mounted and four Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm machine guns in the fuselage firing through the propeller, two above the engine and two under it. Victor Sierra

Regia Aeronautica’s G.55

The second prototype of the Fiat G.55 “Centauro” (military code MM492) damaged in a forced landing at Guidonia on Summer 1943, but prior the Mussolini’s fall (the Fascist emblem on fuselage is still present). The "lizard" camouflage schema of the aircraft was used only by the prototypes while the picture’s “white” background is perhaps an effect of military censorship. The MM492 mounted an original German engine Daimler-Benz DB605 engine and a German paddle-blade VDM propeller. The first “Centauro” with the Italian-built RA1050 “Tifone” (the DB605 produced by Fiat under license) and Piaggio P2001 propeller, standard for the production series, was the third prototype (MM493). The G.55 was one of three fighters of Series 5, the other were the Macchi MC.205V “Veltro” and the Reggiane Re.2005 “Sagittario”, and its first prototype (MM491). flew on 30 April 1942.The evaluations were excellent for all the three aircrafts, but the G.55 was the best average performer and won the tender set by the Italian Regia Aeronautica. In December 1942 was planned one first batch of 1800 G.55 in three series and on February 1943 the production plans raised to 3600 units. Victor Sierra

A prototype of “Centauro”

Fiat G.55 “Centauro” Sottoserie 0 of the 353th Squadriglia, 20th Gruppo, 51st Stormo during a redeployment on Foligno Airfield, Umbria, on the last days before the Italian Armistice of 8 September 1943. Note the absence of Fascist emblems over the wings and the fuselage, deleted after the 25 July 1943 (Mussolini’s fall). The 353th Squadriglia was the first Italian operational equipped with the “Centauro” from April 1943 when received the third prototype (MM493). Before the Armistice, a total of 12 G55's (included the MM 493) were delivered to the 353th. The 353th was moved from Capoterra, Sardinia, at Ciampino at the beginning of July for the defense of Rome. Although the low efficiency of the first produced Sottoserie 0's, the 353th was able to obtain the first successes of the G.55. The aircraft claimed by 353th was a P-40 on 24 June, a P-38 on 26 August, a B-17 on 27 August and two other P.38s on 29 August. Another operational unit of the Regia Aeronautica was planned to be equipped with the G.55 the 53th Stormo, but before the Armistice only one “Centauro” (MM91063) was delivered to its 367th Squadriglia of the 151st Gruppo. The day of the Armistice the 353th still had nine G.55s, of which only four serviceable. All the survivor G.55s were displaced on strip North of Rome and there were captured by the Germans the day after, before pilots, following the orders of Regia Aeronautica’s staff, were able to carry them to Southern Italy. Victor Sierra