Corpo Aereo Italiano Fiat CR.42
cr.42 fighter of 18° gruppo, 56° stormo after crash-landing near lowestoft, suffolk on 11 november 1940. pilot evaded 3 british hurricanes, forced down malfunction of aircraft s variable-pitch propeller
on 11 , 23 november 1940, cr.42s flew 2 raids against great britain part of corpo aereo italiano. luftwaffe aircraft had difficulty flying in formation slower biplanes. though slower, open cockpit, no radio, , armed 2 machine guns (a 12.7 mm/.5 in , 7.7 mm/.303 in breda-safat), falchi outturn hurricanes , spitfires , proved difficult hit. cr 42 turned fight using aeroplane s manoeuvrability. pilot on tail in single turn, tightly able pull round. raf intelligence report stated, falchi hard targets. fired half rolled tightly , unable hold him, rapid manoeuvres. attacked 2 or 3 more , fired short bursts, in each case enemy aircraft half-rolled tightly , , out-turned me. in 2 cases came out of rolls, able turn in on tail , opened fire on me.
against british monoplanes, cr.42s not outclassed. engaged 1 of british fighters range of between 40 50 metres (131 164 ft). saw spitfire, chasing cr.42, , got in shot @ range of 150 metres (492 ft). realised in manoeuvered flight, cr.42 win or survive against hurricanes , spitfires, though had careful of sweep behind. in opinion, english .303 bullet not effective. italian aircraft received many hits did no material damage , 1 pilot found parachute pack had stopped bullet. during winter, cr.42s transferred mediterranean theatre.
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