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Often compared in concept and designwith the Gloster Gladiator, againstwhich it frequently fought in 1940-1, theFiat CR.42 Falco (falcon) biplane didnot first fly until 1939, however, andsuch an anachronism is difficult tounderstand. Employing the same Warrentruss system of interplane struts asthe 1933 CR.32, from which it was developed,Celestino Rosatelli's CR.42was powered by a 626-kW (840-hp)Fiat A74 R 1C 38 radial and had a topspeed of 441 km/h (274 mph). BySeptember 1939 the Falco equippedthree stormi and, while the RAF washurriedly reducing its Gladiatorstrength, the Regia Aeronautica wasincreasing its CR.42 inventory, so thatwhen Italy entered the war in June1940 there were 330 in service withfour stormi in the Mediterranean plustwo squadriglie in Italian East Africa.The Falco first saw combat in the briefFrench campaign, and later 50 aircraftaccompanied the Corpo Aero Italianoto bases in Belgium for attacks onsouthern England at the end of the Battleof Britain, suffering heavily to theguns of RAF Hurricanes. In the MiddleEast the Falco fared better, however,being more of a match for the widelyusedGladiator; during the Greek campaignone gruppo of three CR.42squadriglie was committed and, excepton a few occasions, acquitted itselfwell; but when Hawker Hurricaneseventually arrived the Italian biplanelosses mounted steadily. In East Africa51 crated CR.42s were received tosupplement the 36 aircraft delivered tothe 412a and 413a Squadriglie, but indue course they were destroyed in theair or on the ground, although they tooka heavy toll of the antiquated aircraft ofthe RAF and SAAF. In the WesternDesert CR.42 fighters were joined bythe CR.42AS fighter-bomber versionadapted to carry two 100-kg (220-lb)bombs, and these continued in servicewith the 5°, 15° and 50° Stormi Assaltiuntil November 1942. A total of 1,781CR.42s was built (some serving inSweden and Hungary), but at the timeof the Italian armistice in September1943 only 64 remained serviceable.SpecificationFiat CR.42 FalcoType: single-seat fighterPowerplant: one 626-kW (840-hp) FiatA74 R1C 38 radial piston enginePerformance: maximum speed441 km/h (274 mph) at 6000 m(19,685 ft); climb to 6000 m (19,685 ft) in9.0 minutes; service ceiling 10100 m(33,136 ft); range 780 km (485 miles)Weights: empty 1784 kg(3,933 lb);maximum take-off 2295 kg (5,060 lb)Dimensions: span 9.70 m (31 ft 9.9 in);length 8.26 m (27 ft 1,2 in); height3.05 m (10 ft 0.1 in); wing area 22.40m2241.1sqftArmament: two 12.7-mm(0.5-in)Breda-SAFAT machine-guns in nose(some aircraft with two extra 12.7-mm/0.5-in machine-guns under lowerwing), plus provision for two 100-kg(220-lb) bombs.
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