Other Forces

Croatian Air Force’s MC.202

One of very few know photos of a Croatian Air Force’s Macchi MC.202. In particular this photo shows the MC.202 “Black 1” of the Croatian ace capt. Josip Helebrant, eleven victories on Eastern Front, commanding officer of 2/JGr. Kro, at Pleso, May 1944. On Spring 1944 the Luftwaffe delivered to Croatian Gruppe, at Kurilovec airport, sixteen Macchi MC.202s Series XII commandeered by the Germans at Breda factory, near Milan, after the Italy’s Armistice. The aircraft, after the pilot’s operational conversion, was employed against the frequent incursions of Allied aircrafts. At the end of Summer 1944 the Croat Squadron claimed some twenty Allied aircraft shot down. According some sources, not confirmed, at the same time the unit received six further Macchi MC.202s, as well as four brand new Macchi C.205s. But the former Italian fighter was not well considered by Croat pilots who thought its armament too light to effectively attack the American bombers. At the end of 1944 the MC.202s was replaced by Messerschmitt Bf.109G and K. Victor Sierra