Italian Aircraft Corpo Aereo Italiano From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2013) An Italian Fiat CR.42 deployed in Belgium, 1940 The "Italian Air Corps" (Corpo Aereo Italiano, or CAI) was an expeditionary force of the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) that participated in the Battle of Britain during the final months of 1940 during World War II. The CAI supported the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and flew against the British Royal Air Force (RAF). The CAI achieved limited success during its brief existence. In general, the corps was hampered by the inadequacy of its equipment. Contents 1 Formation 2 Aircraft 3 Operations 4 Redeployment 5 Impact 6 Biplane versus monoplane 7 See also 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External links Formation Italian dictator Benito Mussolini insisted on providing an element of the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) to assist his German ally during the Battle of Britain. On 10 September 1940, the CAI was formed, under the formal aegis of the 1a Squadra Aerea di Milano ("First 'Milan' Air Command"). Air Marshal (Generale sa) Rino Corso-Fougier was appointed Air Officer Commanding. Aircraft Fiat CR.42 of 18° Gruppo, 56° Stormo. The Italian CR.42 was a manoeuvrable and fast biplane fighter. Despite its good manoeuvrability and speed (440+ km/h) it was technically outclassed by the faster Hurricane and Spitfire of the British Royal Air Force. Fiat G.50 of 20° Gruppo, 56° Stormo. The Italian G.50 monoplane fighter was restricted by its range of 400 miles (640 km) (roughly the same as that of Bf 109E models used by the Luftwaffe) and the lack of a radio unit in most participating aircraft. Fiat BR.20 bombers of 13° and 43° Stormo. The Italian BR.20 was a twin engined bomber capable of carrying 1600 kg (3,528 lb) of bombs. Supporting aircraft included five CANT Z.1007 used for reconnaissance and Caproni Ca.133 transport planes. On 25 September, the bombers arrived at their airfield in Melsbroek, Belgium after an eventful journey which saw several planes force land or even crash due to malfunctions and poor weather. The fighter element arrived later at Ursel, also in Belgium. Operations Fiat BR.20M MM.22267 of 242a squadriglia on the airfield. This particular plane was shot down on 11 November 1940. On the night of 24 October 1940, the CAI conducted its first raid, when eighteen BR.20s took off to attack Harwich and Felixstowe. Not all aircraft found their targets and three were lost in accidents or after becoming lost. The next major operation of the CAI was on 29 October. This date is regarded by some historians as the last day of the Battle of Britain. In response to a raid on several northern Italian cities, fifteen BR.20s with a strong fighter escort bombed Ramsgate by day. The Italian bombers were sighted crossing Kent at a relatively low level. The bombers flew in formation, wing tip to wing tip. The open-cockpit, fixed-undercarriage fighter escorts accompanied them in a similar immaculate order. The Italian aircraft were painted pale green and bright blue. This was camouflage more suitable for a more exotic climate than that found in Britain in late October.[1] Five Italian aircraft suffered damage due to flak. At least one of the bombers was seen at 16:40 hours in Deal, Kent that afternoon, some fourteen miles from Ramsgate and dropped three HE bombs, one just outside the Officers' Mess at the Royal Marines Depot, killing Second Lieutenant Nelson, four Marines, and one Private from the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. All but one were buried together in the Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal. The next few days saw several small raids. On 11 November 1940, the day before the battle fleet of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina) was attacked at Taranto, the CAI saw its first major combat against the RAF. Ten bombers were escorted by forty-two CR.42s, the G.50s, and some German Messerschmitt Bf 109s assigned to them. The mission was aborted due to bad weather. However, Hurricanes from 257, 46, and 17 Squadrons intercepted the aircraft and destroyed three bombers and three fighters. In addition, four bombers eventually force landed, two fighters were destroyed on landing, and another eight fighters landed with damage. British losses were two fighters damaged. One of the Fiats was repaired by the British and subsequently evaluated. Of the Italian fighter aircraft, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later wrote, "They might have found better employment defending the fleet at Taranto."[2] Fighter to fighter combat was no more successful for the CAI. On 23 November, the Italian biplanes were "bounced" by Spitfire Mk.IIs and two were shot down by Archibald Winskill[3] with several others damaged, in return for one Spitfire damaged. Further bombing raids were carried out by the CAI, mainly on the Ipswich and Harwich areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpo_Aereo_Italiano
