Italian Forces

“Saetta” fighter-bomber

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Australian soldiers in front to an Italian fighter Macchi MC.200 “Saetta” (Thunderbolt) abandoned on Benghazi airfield after an undercarriage failure. The photo, taken after the Allied conquest of this town, November 1942, show a MC.200 downgraded to version CB (Caccia-Bombardiere/Fighter-Bomber) with two 160 kg bombs under the wing. Note in effect a bomb rack under the right wing also suitable for 150 liters auxiliary tanks. The most famous MC.200CB’s operation was the counterattack to “Operation Agreement”, the attempted and unsuccessfully landing at Tobruk made by British Forces during the night of 13–14 September 1942. The Italian fighter-bombers strafed the British troops and the MC.200CBs sunk the destroyer HMS Zulu. Victor Sierra