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the fighter it's C.R. 32 not CR.32, stand for Caccia Rosatelli, Rosatelli's (engineer last name) fighter —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.7.216.214 (talk) 17:36, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

This article is a bit incomplete. Atleast it should be so:--Stefanomencarelli (talk) 18:30, 25 August 2009 (UTC)

Operational history

The new biplane was an instant success. After a period of testing. The first production order were received in March 1934, and the type soon equipped the 1°, 3° and 4° Stormi of the Regia Aeronautica. [1] The CR.32 was well liked by its crews, being very maneuverable and having a strong fuselage structure. It was used extensively in the Spanish Civil War. At least 380 took part in the air battles fought over Spain, proving formidable adversaries to the Soviet Polikarpov I-15 and Polikarpov I-16 monoplanes that formed the back bone of the Republican air force. [2] It had its baptism of fire in 1936. On 18 August 1936, the first 12 CR.32 Freccias arrived in Spain and formed the 2a Squadriglia of Tercio's Aviation. Three days later, Tenente Vittorino Ceccherelli, Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare (Golden Medal to Military Valour) shot down the first enemy aircraft, a Nieuport 52, over Cordoba. [3] In total, the Italian government sent 365–405 C.R.32s to Spain while 127–131 were delivered directly to the Nationalist Aviation units. Six aircraft were captured by Republican FARE, with one sent to Urss for evaluation. [4]

Thanks to the agile CR.32, the Italians managed to obtain air superiority against its Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española (Republican) opponents, that mainly flew a motley collection of very different aircraft. Initially, they fought against obsolete and vulnerabile aircrafts like NiD-52 and Breguet XIX. Heinkel He-51 did the same work (Garcia Morato flew with them initially), and both proved effective, whipping out many of the Republicans aircrafts. But France sent around 60 aircrafts, 36 Dewoitine D.371 and Loire 46 and 25 bombers (Potez 540). These new aircrafts, given to the International Squadrons, gave some success: 31 august, the first defeat for CR.32s: two of them were shot down (ten Monico) or force landed (Castellani). They fallen in an hambush set up by Republicans (with Loire 46s, Dewoitine and one single Hawker Fury). After that episode, italians decided to operate only with strong formations. Air battles in the Tajo Valley lasted for months in the summer-fall of 1936. Heinkel 51 fough in the North, expecially in Aragona. The output of these combats was more and more disappointing for the Republicans. 25 september 1936, Battle of Toledo: 4 C.R.32 fought with one Fury, one D.371, one Loire 46 and two NiD.52. The Fury biplane escaped undamaged, thanks to the 700 hp Hispano Suiza 12XBrs. Fullowed it the Loire and Dewoitine, altought damaged by Fiats. The slow NiD-52, now alone, had no hope and were shot down (the pilots were one british, nickamed 'Smith Piggot', and one french); the Loire crashed on landing[5].

France did not gave a real help to the Republicans, apart to deliver some aircrafts. In October, instead, URSS started to help them with a complete organization. Swiftly were delivered around 200 I-15, I-16, R-5 and SB-2. The bombers were the first to see action: under the command of 'Douglas' (gen Jacb Shmushkevitch), they started on 31th October, and raided not less but 5 times the enemy airports in 1 November alone. After two days of continous bombing, Fiat were still unable to reach these bombers (that flew without escort). On 2 november, hovewer, one of them was shot down. The C.R.32, too slow to catch the bomber, can reach it in a dive. That day, two C.R. flew at 5,000 m when spotted an SB-2 at 3,000. Thanks to the ruggeness of C.R.32, italian pilots dove at high speed (500 kmh or more) and intercepted the 'Martin bomber', firing from 40 meters and finally shot down it. This was the only way to shot down SB-2s with a C.R.32 (theorically, it was possible attack it frontally, but it was very difficult), and allowed only few success in the war, expecially when I-16 started to escort SB-2s[6].

Soon, I-15s were used as well. It happened on 4th November, when two C.R. helped a Ro.37, attacked by seven I-15. The recce aircraft was saved, but the CRs were shot down. 5 november, 9 C.R.32 fought against this new foe, facing around 15 of them. The result was one CR and two I-15 shot down. On 6th November, two He-51 were shot down by I-15s, but another two I-15s were shot down by C.Rs. Two I-15 were lost because they landed in Nationalist field (4th November). He-51 proved to be too inferior compared with I-15, both in agility, speed and weaponry. So, they were forced to operate in secondary tasks. This weakened Nationalist aviations, because C.R.32 were too few[7]. On 28th December 1936 born the Corpo Truppe Volontarie (CTV) and this allowed to increase effectively the Nationalist forces. The C.R.32s were organized with two Groups (I 'Cucaracha' and II Group), with six 'squadriglie'. All them formed the 3° Stormo, Aviazione Legionaria. Totally there were 68 C.R.32s and 3 Ro.41s. With this new forces, for the first time Nationalist had an air superiority, with the operations against Malaga (february 1937)[8].


In November-december 1936, CR.32s shot down 9 I-15 and tree I-16, plus some SB-2s and R-Z, losing five C.R.s. Over Guadalajara C.R.32s shot down 13 aircrafts losing five of them. But only when the Brunete offensive started the Nationalist aviation started to gain initiative. At that time there was the Bf-109's debut in action: nine aircrafts (Zilinder Hutt staffel) started to fight on 8 july, losing tree plus another tree crashed in accidents (atleast two Bf-109s shot down were victims of I-16s). C.Rs fought with all the tree gruppis (Asso di Bastoni, Gamba di Ferro and Cucaracha) then available. Totally, Republicans fielded 300 aircrafts vs 72 germans, 70 italians and 33 spanish. Atleast 80 Republican aircrafts were shot down, mainly from C.R.s, while Bf-109s claimed for 16 victories, and spanish pilots for some more. In the same battle Nationalist forces finally used their new bombers: Do-17F, He-111B, nine S.79 and two BR.20[9].

The Soviet crews gradually withdrew. Totally were delivered around 300 I-16s (Mosca or, for Nationalists, Ratas) Tip 5, 6 and 10, that became the main adversary for Bf-109s, hundreds of I-15 (Chatos), and many SB-2 ('Martin'), R-5 and R-Z ('Razante'). This was still not enought, even if there were many international pilots like Frank Tinker among the crews.

The last powerful offensive made by Republicans was the Ebro offensive. In the air, the total forces were 84 german aircrafts (30 Bf-109s and 30 He-111), 178 italians (92 C.R.32s, 57 bombers, 29 assault), 94 Spanish. They faced with around 250-300 Republican aircrafts, but atleast 150 of them were shot down withou success. At the end of the year (1938) the Nationalist forces had 389 aircrafts (81 germans, 163 italians, 145 spanish). Only in the Aragona campaign (march-july 1938) there was a total of 27 I-15, 22 I-16 and 3 SB-2 shot down by Fiats, that lost as well 29 of them. Germans claimed 74 victories vs 18 losses[10].


The Fiat biplane proved to be effective with Aviacion Legionaria claiming 60 (48 confirmed) modern Russian bombers Tupolev SB-2, once believed impossible to intercept, 242 Polikarpov I-15 biplane fighters and 240 Polikarpov I-16 monoplane fighters, plus another hundred not confirmed. Fiat C.R.32 losses were only 73. [3] The Fiat biplanes were used for many aerobatic shows, in Italy and abroad. When foreign statesmen visited the Holy City, the 4° Stormo, Regia Aeronautica élite unit, based in Rome, put on impressive displays with formations of five or 10 aircraft. In 1936, air shows were organized in other European capitals and major cities, and, during the following year, in South America. When the team returned a brilliant display was put on in Berlin. [11] The aerobatic characteristics of the CR.32 and its success in Spain misled the Italian air ministry, which formed the view that a fighter biplane still had potential as a weapon of war.[1] Consequently, in May 1939, prior to Italy entering World War II, the CR.32 fighters in “bis”, “ter” and “quarter” versions, represented two thirds of all fighters in the Regia Aeronautica. A total of 294 were based in Italy and North Africa, while 34 were stationed in East Africa. When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, the CR. soldiered on into World War II. About 40 "Freccias" in Libya were the first to see action, flying escort missions over Tripoli. The first combat with British aircraft came the following day; six CR.32s intercepted a formation of Bristol Blenheim bombers, shooting down two and damaging the other four, for no losses.

The greatest wartime successes achieved by CR.32 were in Italian East Africa. [12] Here, 410a and 411a Squadriglia CR.32s (that represented half of all the fighters operative in the Italian colony) destroyed a number of British and South African aircraft. [13] Their opponents included Blenheims and Hawker Hurricanes, 410a Squadriglia managed to shot down 14 enemy aircraft before being disbanded.

Fourteen CR.32s of 160° Gruppo and nine of 2° Gruppo from 6° Stormo saw action against Greece in the first weeks after the attack of 28 October 1940. Eight more from 163a Squadriglia, based in Gadurrà airport, on Rhodes island, took part in the occupation of Crete. CR.32s of 3° Gruppo operated in Sardinia but in the period July-December 1940, their number had fallen from 28 to seven serviceable aircraft. The last front line CR.32 survived until mid-April 1941 when the "Freccias" were sent to the Scuola Caccia (Schools for fighter pilots). By 1942, the type was relegated to only night missions as newer fighters were put into service.

The first international buyer of the CR.32 was Chiang Kai-shek for China that already in 1933 ordered 16 (according to other sources 24) CR.32s of the first series. The aircraft had Vickers 7.7 mm machine guns instead of the Breda-SAFAT, electric headlights, the little cooling fins on the oil tank in the nose were removed and some were equipped with radios. They were based at Nangahang airport, near Shanghai. Some officers of the Chinese high command disliked the Fiat, but Chinese pilots appreciated that the Italian biplanes in comparative tests proved superior to American Curtiss Hawk and Boeing P-26. The Chinese Government did not order more Fiats as it was difficult to import alcohol and benzole to mix with petrol for the engines. In May 1936 only six "Freccias" were still operational. In August 1937, the remaining CR.32s were used with some initial success in Shanghai against the invading Japanese.[4] By late 1937 when the Chinese capital at Nanjing fell, all Fiats were lost.[3] In spring 1936 45 CR.32s were ordered by Austria to equip Jagdgeschwader II at Wiener Neustadt. But in March 1938 the Austrian units were absorbed into Luftwaffe. After a brief period the 36 remaining aircraft were handed over to Hungary. [1] In 1938, Venezuela acquired nine (according to other sources, 10 aircraft [1]) CR.32s (Quater series). Modifications included a larger radiator to assist engine cooling in tropical climate conditions. The aircraft were delivered to Maracay in the second half of 1938 and equipped the 1° Regimiento de Aviación Militar del Venezuela. These machines were struck off in 1943 when five were still in use. [3]

A small number, estimated at four [1], went to Paraguay in 1938. Five CR.32quarter fighters (registered 1-1, 1-3, 1-5, 1-7 and 1-9) were assigned to 1.a Escuadrilla de Caza of the Fuerzas Aéreas del Ejercito Nacional del Paraguay. They did not arrive in time for military operations against Bolivia, but were in service for several years. [4] In 1938 Spain acquired la licenza per la produzione del CR.32. Hispano Aviacion built 100 machines under the designation HA-132-L Chirri, some of these remaining in service as C.1 aerobatic trainers up to 1953. [14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mondey 2006, p. 55.
  2. ^ Mondey 1996, p. 27.
  3. ^ a b c d De Marchi, Italo and Enzo Maio (tavole). Macchi MC. 200 "Saetta: / Pietro Tonizzo Gianfranco Munerotto Fiat CR. 32. Modena: Stem Mucchi Editore, 1994.
  4. ^ a b c Sgarlato, Nico. Fiat CR.42, CR.32 Gli ultimi biplani. Parma: Delta Editrice, 2005.
  5. ^ Pedriali, Ferdinando: Il combattimento aereo in Spagna, Storia Militare N.55, Albertelli Editions, 1998 p.4-14
  6. ^ Pedriali, Ferdinando: Il combattimento aereo in Spagna, Storia Militare N.55, Albertelli Editions, 1998 p.4-14
  7. ^ Pedriali, Ferdinando: La legione Condor, Storia Militare N.48, Albertelli Editions, 1997 p.4-16
  8. ^ Pedriali, Ferdinando: La legione Condor, Storia Militare N.48, Albertelli Editions, 1997 p.4-16
  9. ^ Pedriali, Ferdinando: La legione Condor, Storia Militare N.48, Albertelli Editions, 1997 p.4-16
  10. ^ Pedriali, Ferdinando: La legione Condor, Storia Militare N.48, Albertelli Editions, 1997 p.4-16
  11. ^ Mondey 2006, p. 56.
  12. ^ Mondey 2006, p. 56.
  13. ^ Mondey 2006, p. 56.
  14. ^ Mondey 2006, p. 56.

Requested move

The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the move request was Not moved. (Non-admin closure) Cybercobra (talk) 10:44, 13 November 2009 (UTC)


Fiat CR.32 → FIAT CR.32 — [FIAT is an acronym! - Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino - Italian Automobile Factory of Turin).] --Petebutt (talk) 04:57, 27 October 2009 (UTC)

Oppose move - Fiat rather than FIAT seems to be the form of the companies name normally used for its aviation products - look at the titles of the references quoted in the Articles - they refer to Fiat, not FIAT. Bill Gunston's World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers uses Fiat as well, as apparently does the current Fiat group [1] (which does not include the aviation part of the company).Nigel Ish (talk) 18:25, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
And it's pointless moving Fiat G.222 as this is a redirect to Aeritalia G.222 anyway.Nigel Ish (talk) 18:28, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
Oppose per WP:MOSTM - "Follow standard English text formatting and capitalization rules". Tevildo (talk) 23:37, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.
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