Italian Forces

Italian fighters in Belgium

Stato Maggiore Aeronautica

Ursel, Belgium, Autumn/Winter 1940. Maintenance and ground tests of Fiat G.50 Freccia Italian fighters of the 20th Gruppo Caccia (Fighter Group). Note the pitiable conditions of the aircraft’s painting after few months on the climates of North Sea The aircraft in background shows Commander's insignia, Major Mario Bonzano which leaded also the first G.50’s unit during the Spanish Civil War. The 20th Gruppo, originally based at Rome, Ciampino Airport, was integrated in the newly established 56th Stormo at moment of establishment of Corpo Aereo Italiano, or CAI, the Italian Air Corps dispatched on Belgium as Italy’s contribution to Battle of Britain. The G.50’s missions was very few and the Italian monoplanes, on the contrary of the biplanes CR.42s, never encountered in combat the enemy. The Regia Aeronautica’s aircraft returned to home on January 1941, except two G.50’s Squadriglie remained in Belgium for interdiction flights over the North Sea’s coasts until 15 April 1941. Victor Sierra