51 Stormo

  

21 Gruppo CT

  21 Gruppo CT Squadriglie 354, 355 Stormo 51

21 Gruppo CT Squadriglie 354, 355 Stormo 51
Arrival Base Country Aircraft Zone Duties
10 Jun 1940 Ciampino Sud Italy CR 32 SQA3 NF. DF
4 Aug 1940 Capodichino Italy CR 32 G50 MC 200 SQA3 NF. DF
12 Apr 1941 Bari Italy MC 200 SQA4 DF
4 May 1942 Otopem? Romania MC 200 CSIR IT
4 May 1942 Stalino Russia MC 200 CSIR AR. AE. DF
Jul 1942 Voroscilovgrad Russia MC 200 CSIR AR. DF. GA
9 Jul 1942 Makejevka Russia MC 200 CSIR AR. DF
24 Jul 1942 Voroscilovgrad Russia MC 200 MC 202 CSIR AE. DF. GA
22 Jan 1943 Stalino Russia MC 200 MC 202 CSIR DF. GA
Jan 1943 Saporoshje Russia MC 200 MC 202 CSIR DF
Feb 1943 Odessa Russia MC 200 MC 202 CSIR IT
May 1943 Zagabria Yugoslavia MC 200 MC 202 CSIR IT
15 May 1943 Firenze Italy MC 202 SQA3 TG
Jun 1943 Capua Italy MC 202 SQA3 DF
23 Jun 1943 Chmisia Sicily MC 202 ASIC DF
15 Jul 1943 Palermo Sicily MC 202 ASIC IT
16 Jul 1943 Manduna Italy MC 202 SQA4 DF
24 Jul 1943 Pescara Italy MC 202 SQA2 DF
6 Aug 1943 Gioia del Colle Italy MC 202 SQA4 DF

356 sq became Autonomoon 3 June I940. but rejoined the Gruppo on 4 August. On 13 June the CR 32s were detached to Guidonia as a nightfighter section. The Gruppo transferred from 51 to 52 Stormo on 11 September. 354 and 355 sq became Autonomo and moved to the Greek-Albanian front on 28 October. Three CR 32 qtr nightfighters were assigned to 356 sq on 7 November, to add to their G 50s. However, by december the unit was training on 17 MC 200s. as well as a few G 50s.

In April they moved to Bari with nine Macchis for operations in the Yugoslav campaign. Subsequently, they prepared for antipartisan duties when orders came for the Russian front. 382 and 386 sq now joined 356 sq. The unit may have been on convoy escort duties between Tunisia and Sardinia in August.

Between March and July 1942 the unit personnel moved to Stalino. replacing 22 Gruppo. They received that unit’s surviving aircraft in addition to the 10 new MC 200s they had brought with them. In early June 361 sq arrived from the Aegean.

On 27 June two squadriglie were detached to Borvenkovo to cover the crossing of the River Don at Izyum. carrying out fighter sweeps and ground strafing. Using Voroscilovgrad as their main base, squadriglie were detached where needed most. Two went to Tazinskaja as escorts to Ju 87 Ds from 24 July, and two then went to Oblivskaja four days later. In August two were on intercept duties at Millerovo and one was at Kantermirovka until 18 December when it moved to Starobelsk. Reunited back at Voroscilovgrad by the end of December, the last operation was carried out on 17 January 1943 over the Millerovo area. Five days later they retired to Stalino. ready for the return journey home. Fifteen unserviceable aircraft were left behind.

During September they had received 12 MC 202s. and later two photo-recce versions had arrived. Bad weather hindered operations and the MC 202s only managed 17 sorties with no losses or claims. The MC 200s claimed 88 Russian aircraft for the loss of 15. A creditable performance for an open-cockpit fighter in the Russian Autumn and Winter! In February , at Odessa, the unit had 24 MC 200s and nine MC 202s left.

Fully equipping with the MC 202 Scries VIII. they were sent to Sicily two months later. 382 sq left the Gruppo about this time. By August the Gruppo was back in Italy with only a few' serviceable aircraft.

51° Stormo 21° Gruppo Autonomo C.T. 356 Squadriglia

Fiat G.50 of 356a Squadriglia (21° Gruppo, 51° Stormo C.T.), Ciampino Sud, February 1940. Three-tone scheme of Green and Brown blotches on Sand background. Lower surfaces Light Grey. This being one of the first aircraft from second production series, characterised by an open canopy and a balanced rudder. It’s interesting to note that starting from this production batch a slightly different camouflage scheme was adopted, differing mainly as it used same darker colours (Verde Mimetico 3, Marrone Mimetico 2 and Giallo Mimetico 3) already used by Aeritalia for Fiat CR.42s, probably adopted to standardise colours used by Fiat Group’s factories. The meaning of the red solid disc carried on wheel covers almost every single G.50s of early production batches is unfortunately unknown. The arrival of G.50s to 21° Gruppo completed the equippement of 51° Stormo, purposely formed to be the first unit armed with the new monoplane fighter.

Fiat G.50 of 356a Squadriglia (21° Gruppo, 51° Stormo C.T.), Naples-Capodichino, June 1940. Standard three-tone scheme of Green and Brown blotches over Sand background. Lower surfaces Light Grey. National insignia carried in black on white roundels underwing, but lacking above like all other planes of early CMASA production series. Plane was already carrying the white Savoy cross on tail, replacing the national rudder stripes soon after Italy entered the war. The howling wolf Stormo badge was carried under the cockpit. Traces of overpainting can be noted under individual and squadron codes, possibly indicating this aircraft had been previously assigned to another squadron. 356a Squadriglia had been based at Ciampino since its forming in 1939 and, in view of the imminent war declaration, on 3.6.40 it was posted to Capodichino to defend the city of Naples, where it got autonomous status till when it was reunited to the rest of the Gruppo on 4 August, later receiving new Macchi C.200s in September.

Image Source and description from Ali E Colori Italian Colours Fiat G 50 by La Bancarella Aeronautica Torino No 3 Page 7-8

Fiat G.50, MM.4961, flown by Maggiore Giovanni Buffa, Commanding Officer of 21° Gruppo Autonomo C.T.), Naples-Capodichino, September 1940. Three-tone scheme of Green and Brown blotches over Sand background. Light Grey lower surfaces. National insignia on white background under the wings and lacking above. This typical tail cross style, of wide design and extending across the fin, was distinctive of all aircaft built by CMASA. The mount of the Group Leader could be detected by the ordinal group number in black, displaying also an appropriate command red-blue pennant on the fuselage, complete of a yellow flagstaff. Worth of note is also the old Stormo badge still displayed on the fuselage, representing a red howling wolf in a black disc. That insignia was distinctive of the Stormo since the foundation, being the same of 52° Stormo, but having reversed colours. Anyway, it should have been soon replaced by the new and more popular one with the cat and the green mice.

Image Source and description from Ali E Colori Italian Colours Fiat G 50 by La Bancarella Aeronautica Torino No 3 Page 12>

    

 Flight Simulators
 
IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover - COD/CLOD skins
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 2 Capodichino Naples 1940
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 3 Capodichino Naples 1940
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 5 Capodichino Naples 1940
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 6 Capodichino Naples 1940
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 8 Capodichino Naples 1940
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 8 Capodichino Naples 1940 V01
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 8 Capodichino Naples 1940 V02
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 356 8 Capodichino Naples 1940 V03
  COD game skin by asisbiz Fiat G50 Freccia RA 21 Gruppo 51 Stormo 356 Squadriglia 56 9 Capodichino Naples 1940

  AS CLOD game skin by asisbiz

 

   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 G50 Freccia Bibliography:

  • Cattaneo, Gianni. The Fiat G.50 (Aircraft in Profile Number 188). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967. No ISBN.
  • Keskinen, Kalevi; Stenman, Kari and Niska, Klaus. Fiat G.50, Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 8 (in Finnish). Espoo, Finland: Tietoteos, 1977. ISBN 951-9035-26-5.
  • Malizia, Nicola. Fiat G-50 (Aviolibri Records No. 2) (in Italian/English). Roma-Nomentano, Italy: Istituto Bibliografico Napoleone, 2005. ISBN 88-7565-002-0.
  • Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books, 1996. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.
  • Taylor, John W. R. "Fiat G.50 Freccia (Arrow)". Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
  • Tonizzo, Pietro. Fiat G.50 Freccia (Le Macchine e la Storia 9) (in Italian). Modena, Italy: Editore Stem-Mucchi. No ISBN.
  • Waldis, Paolo. Fiat G 50, Ali e Colori 3 (in Italian/English). Torino, Italy: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 2000.
  • Arena, Nino. I caccia a motore radiale Fiat G.50 (in Italian). Modena: Mucchi editore, 1996. NO ISBN
  • Avions Militaires 1919-1939 - Profils et Histoire (in French). Paris: Hachette, Connaissance de l'histoire, 1979.
  • Cattaneo, Gianni. "The Fiat G.50." Aircraft in Profile Number 188. Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967.
  • Dunning, Chris. Solo Coraggio! La storia completa della Regia Aeronautica dal 1940 al 1943 (in Italian). Parma, Italy: Delta Editrice, 2000. NO ISBN.
  • Ethell, Jeffrey L. Aircraft of World War II. Glasgow: HarperCollins/Jane's, 1995. ISBN 0-00-470849-0.
  • Gunston, Bill. Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Salamander Book Limited, 1988. ISBN 1-84065-092-3.
  • Gunston, Bill. Gli Aerei della Seconda Guerra Mondiale (in Italian). Alberto Peruzzo Editore, .
  • Keskinen, Kalevi, Kari Stenman and Klaus Niska. Fiat G.50, Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 8 (in Finnish). Espoo, Finland: Tietoteos, 1977. ISBN 951-9035-26-5.
  • Malizia, Nicola. Fiat G-50 (Aviolibri Records No. 2) (in Italian/English). Roma-Nomentano, Italy: Istituto Bibliografico Napoleone, 2005. ISBN 88-7565-002-0.
  • Malizia, Nicola. Ali sulla steppa. La Regia Aeronautica nella campagna di Russia (in Italian). Rome: IBN Editore, 2008. ISBN 88-7565-049-7.
  • Massimello, Giovanni. Furio Nicolot Doglio Un pilota eccezionale (in Italian). Milano: Giorgio Apostolo editore, 1998.
  • Massimello, Giovanni and Giorgio Apostolo. Italian Aces of World War Two. Oxford/New York, Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 978-1-84176-078-0.
  • Mattioli, Marco. "Il G.50 nella Guerra d'Inverno" (in Italian). Aerei nella Storia magazine, Parma, January 2000
  • Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books, 1996. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.
  • Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 1998. ISBN 1-86126-799-1.
  • Rocca, Gianni. I disperati (in Italian). Milan: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 1991.
  • Santoni, Alberto. "L'Ultra vola in alto" (in Italian). Storia Militare, Albertelli editions, Parma, July 2007.
  • Savic, D. and B. Ciglic. Croatian Aces of World War II (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 49). Oxford, UK: Oxford, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-435-3.
  • Sgarlato, Nico. G.50/55 (in Italian). Parma, Italy: Delta editions 2004.
  • A Second String Arrow Part 1. Air International, May 1988, Vol. 34, No 5, pp. 251–258. Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • A Second String Arrow Part Two. Air International, June 1988, Vol. 34, No 6, pp. 295–298, 308–311. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • Shores, Christopher. Ground Attack Aircraft of World War II. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1977. ISBN 0356-0838-1.
  • Shores, Christopher, Air Aces , Greenwich, CT, Bison Books, 1983. ISBN 0-86124-104-4.
  • Spick, Mike. The Complete Fighter Ace: All the World's Fighter Aces, 1914-2000. London: Greenhill Books, 1999. ISBN 1-85367-374-9.
  • Taylor, John W. R. "Fiat G.50 Freccia (Arrow)". Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
  • Tonizzo, Pietro. Fiat G.50 Freccia (Le Macchine e la Storia 9) (in Italian). Modena, Italy: Editore Stem-Mucchi. No ISBN.
  • Waldis, Paolo. Fiat G 50, Ali e Colori 3 (in Italian/English). Torino, Italy: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 2000.
  • Thompson, Jonathan W. (1963). Italian Civil and Military aircraft 1930-1945. USA: Aero Publishers Inc.. ISBN 0-8168-6500-0. OCLC - 17621 63 - 17621.

    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: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_G.50
  • letletlet warplanes - http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/2008/04/28/fiat-g50-history/
  • http://www.comandosupremo.com/G50.html

 

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This webpage was updated 21st December 2021

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