Italian Forces

The “Cavallino” goes to war

Stato Maggiore Aeronautica

Libya, Summer 1940: Fiat CR.42 of the Regia Aeronautica’s 4th Stormo in mission. The planes are part of the 9th Gruppo, 73rd, 96th and 97th Squadriglia, moved to Libya from Gorizia, North-East Italy, on July 1940 with 33 CR.42 as reinforcement of the other 4th Stormo’s Gruppo, the 10th Gruppo (84th, 90th and 91st Squadriglia) already in Libya at moment of the Italy’s entry in the war (10 June 1940) and based with 27 CR.42 at Benina, East Sector Tobruk of the 5th Squadra Aerea (5th Air Squad), Comando Aeronautica Libia (Libya Air Command). With the arrival of the 9th Gruppo, the 4th Stormo’s forces come together under an only command. All the CR.42 of this photo has over the fuselage the 4th Stormo’s emblem, the “Cavallino Rampante” ("Prancing Horse") or, briefly, the “Cavallino” (Little Horse) for the Italian aviator, ancient personal emblem of the WW1 ace, Francesco Baracca (a former Cavalry’s Officer). But some planes, as the 96th Squadriglia’s CR.42 in background, show on the fin the “Gamba di Ferro” (Iron Leg) emblem, adopted, but not officially, by the pilots of the 9th Gruppo, Ernesto Botto, for all peoples “Gamba di Ferro”. Note the white upper wing tips of all aircraft, adopted by the Italian plans acting in North Africa to avoid mistakes with the enemies airplanes, in particular in the case of the Fiat CR.42 the British Gloster Gladiator. Victor Sierra