Page "Fiat CR.42" Paragraph 11

A Fiat CR. 42 in Regia Aeronautica service. The Fiat CR. 42 entered service in May 1939, with the 53 ° Stormo, based at Turin Caselle Airport.

By the time Italy entered World War II on 10 June 1940, about 300 aircraft had been delivered.

The Falchi defended airfields, cities, and Regia Marina ( Italian Royal Navy ) bases until the Italian armistice with the Allies of 8 September 1943.

The Falchi also fought against the British Gloster Gladiator over Malta, and later against the British Hawker Hurricane, sometimes with unexpected success.

The manoeuvrability of the Falchi concerned the British.

" A RAF Intelligence report in late October 1940 circulated to all pilots and their squadrons, with copies to Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and the War Cabinet, declared: ' The manoeuvrability of the CR. 42s, in particular their capacity to execute an extremely tight half roll, has caused considerable surprise to other pilots and undoubtedly saved many Italian fighters from destruction.

'"