Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2

Author(s): Håkan Gustavsson Ludovico Slongo

Illustrator:  Richard Caruana

ISBN:  9781846034275

Date:   November 2009

Series:  Aircraft of the Aces

Catalogue Number : No. AA090

Category: Available

Format :  B5 Paperback

Pages :   96

About this book
The Fiat CR.42, a logical development of the Fiat CR.32, was the last single-seat fighter biplane to be produced. It entered service with the Italian Regia Aeronautica in May 1939 before being exported to Belgium, Hungary and Sweden. Its combat debut came when the Belgian air force threw its fleet into action during the German invasion of the Low Countries on 10th May 1940. Despite being quickly overwhelmed, the Belgian pilots managed to make a number of aerial claims. The CR.42 became heavily involved in the fighting in North Africa and although it was gradually replaced by more modern fighters, it continued in a point defence and ground support role until the end of the war. Drawing on research from a range of sources, this book examines the extensive employment of the Italian fighter plane during the course of World War II.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Combat debut

Chapter 2 - North Africa

Chapter 3 - Battle of Britain

Chapter 4 - East Africa

Chapter 5 - Greece

Chapter 6 - Malta

Chapter 7 - Nightfighting

Chapter 8 - Hungary

Chapter 9 - Swansong

Appendices