Western Desert Regia Aeronautica

an macchi c.202 (note lack of radio mast) of 81ª squadriglia, 6° gruppo, 1° stormo ct; photo appears have been taken in libya.

initially, western desert campaign near equal struggle between regia aeronautica , british royal air force (raf). on, fighters available both sides older biplanes italian fiat cr.32 , fiat cr.42s flying against british gloster gladiators.

after italian disasters during operation compass , arrival of general erwin rommel , german africa corps, regia aeronautica in western desert fought side side on german luftwaffe.

although air campaign in libya limited because of desert conditions, italian royal air force managed retain force of 4 hundred airplanes. during first british counter-offensive, regia aeronautica had suffered heavy losses (over 400 aircraft) until axis attack on greece began, when major part of british land , air forces diverted there giving italian forces time recover. new italian aircraft , units supplemented arrival of german afrika corps, , attached luftwaffe contingent deployed 200 airplanes in libya , 600 in sicily. working luftwaffe, regia aeronautica performed better due exchange of tactical doctrine , arrival of more modern aircraft. in mid-1942, during battle of bir hakeim (26 may 1942 – 11 june 1942) new fighter macchi c.202 outperformed desert air force s fighters, achieving unprecedented ratio kill/loss of 4,4/1, better of famed messerschmitt bf 109s (3,5/1) fighting same battle. during rommel s first offensive, italians managed divert raf attacks rommel s forces , covered rommel s retreat during british operation crusader while inflicting heavy losses on raf bombers.

during rommel s second offensive regia aeronautica , luftwaffe suffered considerable losses due stronger allied resistance during air battles on el alamein , bombing raids on alexandria , cairo.

the regia aeronautica, having suffered heavy losses in egypt, withdrawn progressively tobruk, benghazi, tripoli and, eventually, tunisia.