Italian Forces

“Centauro”: last days

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