15 Stormo

46 Gruppo BT Squadriglie 20, 21 Stormo 15

46 Gruppo BT Squadriglie 20, 21 Stormo 15
Arrival Base Country Aircraft Zone Duties
10 Jun 1940 Tarhuna T18 Tripolitan S 79 ALIB DB RD AM
13 Jun 1940 Benina Cirenaica S 79 ALIB UD, AN HR
Sep 1940 Maraua Cirenaica S 79 Sqa 5 UD
Apr 1941 Ferrara Italy Ca 313 Sqa 2 TG TP
19 Apr 1941 Vicenza Italy Ca 313 CR 42 Sqa 2 TG
28 Aug 1942 Benghasi K 1 Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 CE
Sep 1942 El Adem Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 GA
1 Nov 1942 Benghasi K 1 Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 GA, DF
14 Nov 1942 Tarnet Tripolitan CR 42 Sqa 5 GA
18 Nov 1942 Sorman Tripolitan CR 42 Sqa 5 GA
Jan 1943 Zuara Tripolitan CR 42 Sqa 5 IT
19 Jan 1943 Vicenza Italy CR 42 Sqa 2 TG TP
May 1943 Siena Italy CR 42 Sqa 3 TG
21 May 1943 Capoterra Sardinia CR 42 ASAR CE. GA
16 Jul 1943 Pontedera Italy CR 42 Sqa 3 GA
28 Jul 1943 Firenze-Peretola Italy CR 42 Sqa 3 TG

The unit had been in Libya since 1936. Tarhuna base may also have been known as Maraua. In July they made several attacks on shipping from Alexandria, notably on the 8th, 12th. 13th and 19th. In September they supported Italy's first desert offensive, the advance on Sidi Barrani.

By April 1941, they were training in Italy, receiving the first Ca 313s on the 11 th. Eight days later they continued training at Vicenza. By 30 March they had nine Ca 313s. Poor electrics and underpowered engines held up training, with various crashes, some fatal. When the unit was officially declared Stormo Assalto in May. it was decided to re-equip with the assault version of the CR 42.

In early September 1942, they moved to the El Alamein front and gave good ground support in the face of much Allied fighter defence. In January they were withdrawn, with 27 CR 42s and two S 79s still on strength.

Re-equipping in Italy, and supported by S 75s of NuCom. they moved briefly to Sardinia, in case of invasion there. One squadriglia went to Pontcdera from 28 May to 25 June. There were 34 CR 42s on strength on 9 July. 20 sq was detached to Palermo between 16 and 28 July. By September there were very few serviceable aircraft.

 

15 Stormo

54 Squadriglia

47 Gruppo BT Squadriglie 53, 54 Stormo 15

47 Gruppo BT Squadriglie 53, 54 Stormo 15
Arrival Base Country Aircraft Zone Duties
10 Jun 1940 Tarhuna T 18 Tripolitan S81 ALIB DB
13jun 1940 Benina Cirenaica S79 S81 ALIB DB, AN
Sep 1940 Maraua Cirenaica S79 S81 Sqa 5 DB
Apr 1941 Ferrara Italy Ca 313 Sqa 2 TG
19 Apr 1941 Vicenza Italy Ca 313 CR 42 Sqa 2 TG
28 Aug 1942 Benghasi K 1 Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 IT
7 Sep 1942 Bu Amud Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 CE
Sep 1942 Dema Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 CE
9 Nov 1942 Agedabia Cirenaica CR 42 Sqa 5 DF
15 Nov 1942 Tarnet Tripolitan CR 42 Sqa 5 GA. DF
25 Nov 1942 Sorman Tripolitan CR 42 Sqa 5 GA, DF
Jan 1943 Zuara Tripolitan CR 42 Sqa 5 IT
8 Jan 1943 Vicenza Italy CR 42 Sqa 2 TG
21 May 1943 Oristano Sardinia CR 42 ASAR GA
16 Jul 1943 Pontedera Italy CR 42 Sqa 3 GA
28 Jul 1943 Firenze-Peretola Italy CR 42 Sqa 3 TG

The unit had been in Libya for four years, when they commenced operations against shipping in the eastern Mediterranean. Attacks were particularly effective in July. Two months later they were operating against Sidi Barrani. In January the surviving S 81 s were passed to the newly formed 145 Gruppo Trasporto and the unit carried on with its S 79s.

By April 1941 they were re-equipping in Italy with the new Ca 313 light bomber. The underpowered engines caused the inexperienced crews several crashes, some fatal. In May the unit became part of 15 Stormo Assalto and re-equipped with CR 42 fighter-bombers.

Five months later they were facing the Allied lines at El Alamein. They carried out ground support, local defence and reinforcement convoy escort duties during this hectic period. By January, they left Libya with 23 surviving CR 42s.

Re-equipping by May 1943, they moved to Sardinia in case the Island was invaded. 53 sq was detached to Palermo from 16 to 28 July. The unit had 16 operational CR 42s by now. By September there were none left serviceable.

   

 Flight Simulators
 

   IL-2 Sturmovik 'Cliff's of Dover' Blitz

   IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad

   DCS World - has no 3D model

 



Regia Aeronautica Aces (World War II)
Ace No of Kills
Teresio Vittorio Martinoli22 kills
Franco Lucchini22 kills (1 in Spain)
Leonardo Ferrulli21 kills (1 in Spain)
Franco Bordoni-Bisleri19 kills
Luigi Gorrini19 kills
Mario Visintini17 kills
Ugo Drago17 kills
Mario Bellagambi14 kills
Luigi Baron14 kills
Luigi Gianella12 kills
Attilio Sanson12 kills
Willy Malagola11 Kills
Carlo Magnaghi11 kills
Angelo Mastroagostino11 kills
Giorgio Solaroli di Briona11 kills
Mario Veronesi11 kills
Fernando Malvezzi10 kills
Giulio Reiner10 kills
Giuseppe Robetto10 kills
Carlo Maurizio Ruspoli di Poggio Suasa10 kills
Massimo Salvatore10 kills
Claudio Solaro10 kills
Ennio Tarantola10 kills
Giulio Torresi10 kills
Adriano Visconti10 kills

 

 Italy Map

 

    Fiat CR.42 Falco Bibliography:

  • Apostolo, Giorgio. Fiat CR 42, Ali e Colori 1 (in Italian/English). Torino, Italy: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1999. No ISBN.
  • Apostolo, Giorgio. Fiat CR 42, Ali d'Italia 1 (in Italian/English). Torino, Italy: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1998. No ISBN.
  • Avions militaires 1919-1939 - Profils et Histoire (in French). Paris: Hachette, Connaissance de l'histoire, 1979.
  • Beale, Nick, Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini. War Italy: 1944-45. Shrewbury, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-85310-252-0.
  • Boyne, Walter J. Scontro di Ali (in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 1997. ISBN 88-425-2256-2.
  • Carr, John, On Spartan Wings, Barnsley, SY: Pens & Sword Military, 2012. ISBN 978-1-84884-798-9.
  • Cull, Brian and Frederick Galea. Gladiators over Malta: The Story of Faith, Hope and Charity. Malta: Wise Owl Publication, 2008. ISBN 978-99932-92-78-4.
  • De Marchi, Italo. Fiat CR.42 Falco (in Italian). Modena, Italy: Stem Mucchi, 1994. No ISBN.
  • Forslund, Mikael. J 11, Fiat CR 42 (in Swedish with English summary). Falun, Sweden: Mikael Forslund Production, 2001. ISBN 91-631-1669-3.
  • Gustavsson, Håkan and Ludovico Slongo. Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2. Midland House, West Way, Botley, Oxford /New York, Osprey Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-1-84603-427-5.
  • Gustavsson, Håkan and Ludovico Slongo. GLADIATOR vs. CR.42 FALCO 1940-41. Midland House, West Way, Botley, Oxford /New York, Osprey Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-1-84908-708-7.
  • Gustavsson, Håkan. "South African Air Force use of the Fiat CR.32 and CR.42 during the Second World War." Håkans aviation page, 9 April 2009. Retrieved: 13 April 2009.
  • Haining, Peter. The Chianti Raiders: The Extraordinary Story Of The Italian Air Force in The Battle Of Britain. London: Robson Books, 2005. ISBN 1-86105-829-2.
  • Kopenhagen, W. Das große Flugzeug-Typenbuch (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Transpress, 1987. ISBN 3-344-00162-0.
  • Lambert, John W. "The 14th Fighter Group in World War II". Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History, 2008. ISBN 0-76432-921-9.
  • Lucas, Laddie, ed. Wings of War: Airmen of All Nations Tell their Stories 1939-1945. London: Hutchinson, 1983. ISBN 0-09-154280-4.
  • Massimello, Giovanni and Giorgio Apostolo. Italian Aces of World War 2. Oxford / New York: Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 978-1-84176-078-0.
  • Neulen, Hans Werner. In the skies of Europe - Air Forces allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1.
  • Pacco, John. "Fiat CR.42" Belgisch Leger/Armee Belge: Het militair Vliegwezen/l'Aeronautique militaire 1930-1940 (in French). Artselaar, Belgium, 2003, pp. 66–69. ISBN 90-801136-6-2.
  • Pagani, Flaminio. Ali d'aquila Duelli Aerei nei Cieli d'Europa 1936-1943 (in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 2007.
  • Punka, George. Fiat CR 32/CR 42 in Action (Aircraft Number 172). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal, 2000. ISBN 0-89747-411-2.
  • "S.C." (in Italian). Il Messaggero Roma, 12 July 1984.
  • Sgarlato, Nico. Fiat CR.42 (in Italian). Parma, Italy: Delta Editrice, 2005.
  • Skulski, Przemysław. Fiat CR.42 Falco. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2007. ISBN 83-89450-34-8.
  • Sutherland, Jon and Diane Canwell. Air War East Africa 1940-41 The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword Aviation, 2009. ISBN 978-1-84415-816-4.
  • Taylor, John W.R. "Fiat CR.42." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
  • Thomas, Andrew. Gloster Gladiator Aces. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-289-X.
  • Vossilla, Maggiore. "Pilota Ferruccio, comandante 18° Gruppo C.A.I (in Italian)." Prima Battaglia Aerea Relazione giornaliera Ministero dell'Aeronautica, 11 Novembre 1940.
  • Wheeler, Barry C. The Hamlyn Guide to Military Aircraft Markings. London: Chancellor Press, 1992. ISBN 1-85152-582-3.
  • Winchester, Jim. "Fiat CR.42." Aircraft of World War II (The Aviation Factfile). Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-639-1.

    Magazine References: +

  • Airfix Magazines (English) - http://www.airfix.com/
  • Avions (French) - http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/rubrique10.html
  • FlyPast (English) - http://www.flypast.com/
  • Flugzeug Publikations GmbH (German) - http://vdmedien.com/flugzeug-publikations-gmbh-hersteller_verlag-vdm-heinz-nickel-33.html
  • Flugzeug Classic (German) - http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/
  • Klassiker (German) - http://shop.flugrevue.de/abo/klassiker-der-luftfahrt
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://boutique.editions-lariviere.fr/site/abonnement-le-fana-de-l-aviation-626-4-6.html
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://www.pdfmagazines.org/tags/Le+Fana+De+L+Aviation/
  • Osprey (English) - http://www.ospreypublishing.com/
  • Revi Magazines (Czech) - http://www.revi.cz/

    Web References: +

  • Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_CR.42
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_CR.42
  • http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/falco.htm
  • http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/falco_belgium.htm The Fiat CR.42 in the Belgian Air Force
  • http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/falco_hungary.htm The Fiat CR.42 in the Hungarian Air Force
  • http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/falco_sweden.htm The Fiat CR.42 in the Swedish Air Force

 

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This webpage was updated 21st December 2021

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