Fiat CR.42s of Corpo Aereo Italiano based in Belgium.

Another image of Corpo Aero Italiano in Belgium. © Archive D'Amico-Valentini
Image kindly via Ferdinando D'Amico.
Click on the image to see it in full size.

One of the least well documented episodes of the Battle of Britain concerns the activities of Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI) when during the late stage of the battle the Regia Aeronautica was instructed to establish a force in Belgium to assist in operations against the British. It is not easy to see what the Italian high Command hoped this would achieve other than to boost home moral. Participation of the Regia Aeronautica at the end of the Battle of Britain was viewed as a political necessity - yet it was unwanted by the German High Command.
Formed by the transfer of existing unit CAI came into being on 10 September 1940, under the aegis of 1^a Squadra Aerea di Milano. Generale sa (Air Marshal) Rino Corso-Fougier was made Air Officer Commanding. He was reputed to be a brilliant officer and pilot, but his only recent war experience was the short-lived campaign when Italy invaded the south of France.
There were three Stormi (roughly a RAF Wing). Two of these were bombers and were the striking force, self-protection being provided by the fighter Stormo. With the transport element (twelve Caproni 133Ts, one Savoia-Marchetti S.75, with nine Ca164s for communications) a force of some two hundred aircraft.
18^o Gruppo CT was re-assigned from 3^o Stormo after having taken part in the attack on southern France and equipped with new aircraft. 20^o Gruppo CT was re-assigned from 51^o Stormo and was initially equipped with 45 Fiat G.50bis.
During the preparation stage, details were particularly taken care of in order to make a good impression on the German ally. A number of modifications were made to the equipment and a special grey-blue uniform was created for the troop, eliminating knickerbockers and puttees of World War 1 vintage.

Order of Battle
Corpo Aereo Italiano - commanded by Generale sa A Corso-Fougier
13^o Stormo BT
Commanded by Colonnello Carlo de Capoa and based at Melsbroeck equipped with Fiat BR.20Ms and compromising:

11^o Gruppo commanded by Maggiore Giuseppe Aini and split into 1^a and 4^a Squadriglia
43^o Gruppo commanded by Maggiore Giulio Monteleone and split into 3^a and 5^a Squadriglia

43^o Stormo BT
Commanded by Colonello Luigi Questa and based at Chièvres, equipped with Fiat BR.20Ms and compromising:

98^o Gruppo commanded by Maggiore Giuseppe Tenti and split into 240^a and 241^a Squadriglia
99^o Gruppo commanded by Maggiore Gian Battista Ciccu and split into 242^a and 243^a Squadriglia.

56^o Stormo CT
Commanded by Colonnello Umberto Chiesa and compromising:

18^o Gruppo (known as 18./JG 56 by Luftwaffe) commanded by Maggiore Ferruccio Vosilla and split into 83^a, 85^a and 95^a Squadriglia, based at Ursel and equipped with Fiat CR.42s
20^o Gruppo (known as 20./JG 56 by Luftwaffe) commanded by Maggiore Mario Bonzano and split into 351^a, 352^a and 353^a Squadriglia, based first at Ursel and then later at Maldegem and equipped with Fiat G.50bis.

179^a Squadriglia
Commanded by Capitano Perelli Cippo, at Melsbroeck and equipped with Cant Z.1007bis for tactical reconnaissance.

Corpo Aereo Italiano’s SM.75 on its way to Belgium. Here it’s seen outside a hangar at Novi Ligure in September 1940. It was used as the personal aircraft of Generale sa Rino Corso-Fougier.

After the arrival of the force in Belgium Field Marshal Kesselring presented Generale Corso-Fougier with a Fiesler Storch for his personal use. Apart from the military aircraft a Ju 52/3m I-BIZI was loaned by the Ala Littorio as courier between Force headquarters and the Stato Maggiore in Rome.
The bomber element left the airfields of San Damanio di Piacenza and Cameri di Novara on the morning of the 27 September, flying in formation through the autumn weather, over the plains of Lombardy and Piedmont. On the northeast course, they approached the Alps under 7/10ths cloud, steadily increasing altitude before levelling for the crossing. Over the mountains, the weather deteriorated further with 8/10ths strato-cumulus being at its worst in the region of Innsbruck.
40 bombers of the 43^o Stormo had taken off from Cameri di Novara (north-western Italy) but only 30 arrived at Chiévres four hours later.
One bomber crash-landed (unknown place) due to engine breakdown while flying over the Alps (pilot wounded, aircraft heavily damaged, crew jumped apparently safe).
One bomber landed at Gablingen (Goblingen?)) due to an engine breakdown (no further info).
One bomber fell in the area of München (Wasserberg) (bad visibility and icing on the wings) and was lost (pilots wounded and three crewmembers dead).
Six bombers landed safely in various German airports (four at Nürnberg, one at München and one at Ergoding (Ergelding?)).
One bomber crash-landed while landing at Ergoding (Ergelding?) and was written off (crew apparently safe).
37 bombers of the 13^o Stormo took off from San Damanio di Piacenza but only 30 arrived at Melsbroek.
One bomber landed at Augsburg due to engine breakdown (aircraft and crew apparently safe).
One bomber landed in a field near Spa due to engine breakdown (aircraft fate unknown and crew apparently safe).
Two bombers were forced to land due to excessive consumption of lubricant. One was safe at Frankfurt, the other went out of the boundaries of the airstrip when landing at Evère and was written off (crew wounded).
Three bombers safely landed at Anversa, they too had used too much lubricant.

In contrast, and unexpectedly, the fighters of 56^o Stormo seem to have transferred without a great deal of trouble although bad weather hampered the transfer. The 20^o Gruppo C.T. brought with them 45 Fiat G.50bis and six Caproni Ca.133s. Each Squadriglia flew in five groups of three aircraft with two Ca.133s bring in the rest of the pilots and some of the crew of the squadriglia. Under Maggiore Mario Bonzano, the Gruppo flew from Roma-Ciampino on 22 September to Treviso. In Treviso they were forced to stay on the ground due to fog and only on 6 October could the Gruppo fly on to Bolzano. Eleven days later they flew over the Alps and landed in Munich. The next two stages saw the Gruppo flying to Frankfurt, first, and then to its final base at Maldegem airfield. Only one Fiat G.50bis was left behind having to force-land with carburation problems. The 18^o Gruppo led by Commandante Vosilla reached Ursel after a comparatively short and uneventful flight. The Cant Z.1007s of 172^a Squadriglia flew a different course via Monaco to Frankfurt and on to Melsbroeck.

Fiat CR.42 of Corpo Aereo Italiano in Belgium. © Archive D'Amico-Valentini
Image kindly via Ferdinando D'Amico.
Click on the image to see it in full size.

On 22 October the CAI was finally complete in Belgium. The Generale sa Corso Fougier installed his HQ in Petite Espinette of Rhode-St-Genesis (between Brussels and Waterloo) and the technical services were established on the aerodrome of Evere.
Once established in their new bases the units had less than a month to become accustomed to strange airfields and language, northern weather conditions and integration into the Luftwaffe structure. 2nd Fliegerkorps was to be the controlling formation and to facilitate control and communications 13^o Stormo was designated KG13; 43^o Stormo - KG43; 18^o Gruppo - 18/JG56; 20^o Gruppo - 20/JG56 and 172^a Squadriglia - 1(F)172.
Zone of operations allocated to the Italians was bounded by the parallels 53^oN and 01^oE. The worthwhile targets were along the coast between the Thames and Harwich including the estuaries of the Orwell and Stour. In fact there is a single unconfirmed report of only one inland attack and that on Canterbury.
Contrary to wartime propaganda by the Italian news media the bombing carried out by the CAI was comparatively ineffectual and expensive in crews and aircraft. This was due to a number of factors, perhaps the most important being the lack of experience and training, which would have enabled the crews to cope with the difficult meteorological conditions, but additionally much of the equipment was inadequate. The Regia Aeronautica’s aircraft had been most advanced in the period 1937/1938, but there had been insufficient development from that time. As an example only three G.50bis were fitted with radios and all G.50bis lacked adequate instruments for instrumental navigation. The absolute lack of instrumental flying training for the crews limited the fighters to only daylight patrols and bomber escort missions.
A few days after arrival the Italian’s funny cork-stripped life-vests (nicknamed “sausages”) were replaced with German-supplied inflatable rubber vests fitted with a fluorescing bag to facilitate being located on the sea.

The arrival of the Italian task force in Belgium resulted in that the exiled Belgian government in London declared war on Italy.

The airfields in Belgium received codenames. Known names are “Dedalo” (Melsbroeck) and “Icaro” (Chièvres).

Operations commenced on 24 October with a night bombing raid on Felixstowe and Harwich, twelve BR.20Ms of 13^o Stormo and six from 43^o Stormo taking part. The first aircraft, flown by Capitano Bassi of 43^o Gruppo, took-off at 20:35 and was quickly followed by the ones flown by Capitano Gastaldi and Tenente Albertini.
At 20:50 MM21928 (5-8) of 5^a Squadriglia flown by Capitano Carlo Pagani took-off. A few minutes later this aircraft crashed close to the church at Houtem, killing Pagani together with his crew; Co-pilot Maresciallo Giovanni Favia, Tenente Arrigo Vardabasso, Flight Engineer Sergente Paolo Biziocchi, Flight Engineer Sergente Aldo del Monte and Air gunner Sergente Paride Astesati.
Ten of the aircraft from 13^o Stormo managed to locate Harwich and dropped their bombs from an altitude of 5000 to 5500 meters.
When returning MM21895 (Capitano Francesco Bassi) of 3^a Squadriglia and MM22624 (Tenente M. Pesso) became lost. Bassi’s crew baled out near Cambrai and Pesso’s between Namur and Charleroi, while his aircraft (MM22624) crashed in Lustin. The evacuation of the two aircraft went well and only the radio operator 1^o Avieri Armando Paolini was wounded in a foot.
During the return, a third bomber flown by Capitano Ugo Machieraldo (CO of the 240^a Squadriglia) had to force-land at Lille-Epinoy and the aircraft was damaged. The remaining eight aircraft from 13^o Stormo landed at Melsbroeck between 23:50 and 00:35.
For the 22% loss of aircraft or seriously damaged, the bombing results were poor.

Ramsgate was attacked on 27 October.

On 29 October (the last day within the official limit of the Battle of Britain) saw a change in strategy - a daylight raid with a large fighter escort on Ramsgate Harbour. Fifteen bombers from 43^o Stormo with Maggiore Giuseppe Tenti as leader with an escort of 39 Fiat CR.42s and 34 Fiat G.50bis plus a gruppe of Bf 109E and Fs were briefed and took off. Three of the bombers were forced to abort due to engine troubles and two of them returned prematurely to Chièvres while the third was forced to land at Ostend-Stene (MM21904 of 242^a Squadriglia with the crew Sottotenente Biagetti, Tenente Pier Antonio Poggi, 1^o Avieri Ovidio Podda, Avieri Sc. Zarillo, 1^o Avieri Bay and Avieri Sala).
The attack was performed at a relatively low level as if performing the Italian equivalent of the Hendon airshow, in formation wingtip to wingtip. All of the Italian were gaily painted pale green and bright blue, camouflage for a more exotic climate than Britain’s in late October, and made them stand out like peacocks among the ‘eagles’. The anti-aircraft gunners were as puzzled as everyone else by this strange sight in the sky, and it was a few minutes before fire was opened. The Italian armada then turned right in one formation, content to have over-flown enemy soil in order to provide Milan newspapers with appropriate propaganda and departed over Ramsgate - upon which 75 bombs were scattered at 17.45. During the attack five of the bombers were damaged and some of the aircrew injured. This would appear to have been as a result of AA fire. One aircraft of 243^a Squadriglia (243-3) was so badly damaged that it needed to force-land as soon as it reached Belgium. While approaching the machine-gunner 1^o Avieri Giuseppe Monti panicked and tried to parachute but the aircraft was unfortunately at a too low altitude and he was crushed to death near Courtrai when he hit the ground before his parachute deployed. The aircraft made a perfect belly landing close to the mill at Kuurne with four crew-members, Maggiore Corrado Ferretti (commander of 241^a Squadriglia), Capitano Romualdo Montobbio (pilot), Mechanic Luigi Bussi and 1^o Avieri Paolo Autrello, slightly injured while Sergente Giuseppe Valitutti was uninjured. The rest of the aircraft all returned safely to Chièvres.

During the afternoon on 1 November 26 Fiat G.50s of the 20^o Gruppo flew a sweep over Canterbury, meeting violent anti-aircraft fire near Folkestone, while 39 Fiat CR.42s of the 18^o Gruppo swept over Ramsgate, Canterbury and Dover. No combats were recorded.

On the night of 5/6 November a night raid was flown by the ‘Chianti part’, as Fighter Command now had begun to call them, when thirteen BR.20s of 13^o Stormo attacked Harwich and Ipswich without losses although one of the bombers returned with battle damage. Local newspapers unkindly reported that the bombers sounded like ‘rattling tin cans’ when they found out that Italians were responsible for keeping them awake!

In the afternoon on 8 November 22 Fiat G.50s of the 20^o Gruppo flew an offensive patrol between Dungeness, Folkestone, Canterbury and Margate. They reported a combat with four RAF fighters, but didn’t submit any claims. Squadron Leader B. J. E. Lane (Spitfire Mk.II P7377) was bounced at this time by a reported Hurricane and made an emergency landing with Category 2 damage. It is possible that the Italian aircraft inflicted this damage, but it is also possible that Oberleutnant Hahn of I/JG77 who claimed a Spitfire destroyed at an unknown time inflicted this damage.

On the night of 10/11 November five Fiat BR.20Ms of the 43^o Stormo made individual attacks on targets in the Ramsgate area.

November 11 (the same day half the Italian battle fleet was knocked out at Taranto by British naval aircraft) saw the largest operation mounted by the force. Although only ten BR.20Ms from 99^o Gruppo (four from the 242^a and and six from the 243^a Squadriglia) led by Tenente Colonnello Gian Battista Ciccu were involved the fighter force escorting was 42 CR.42s, 46 G.50s and supporting Bf 109s. Again, the bad weather became an important factor, causing the G.50s and Bf 109s to abort shortly after take off and return to base, leaving only the CR.42s as escort.
The BR.20Ms took off around midday, each of them loaded with three 250 kg bombs. They took the route Bruges-Ostend-Harwich and approached Harwich at 14.40 at 3.700 meters. The bombers formation was:

		242-4/MM22626 Tenente Colonnello Gian Battista Ciccu (CO 99o Gruppo) Sottotenente Raffaele Foa Capitano Tullio Mussolini
	242-9/MM21904 Tenente Giuseppe Magi Tenente Fiorenzo Marini		242-5/MM21907 Capitano Nicola Volpe (CO 242a Squadriglia) Tenente Antonio Farini
243-5/MM21916 Sottotenente Antonio Romeo Sergente Maggiore Celestino Rubagotti				242-3/MM22267 Tenente Pier Antonio Poggi Tenente Ezio Squazzini Avieri Sc. Lino Bettio 1o Avieri Vittorio Lanfaloni 1o Avieri Felice Agnetti

		243-4/MM21914 Capitano Agostino Rabino (CO 243a Squadriglia) Tenente Nello Raimondo
	243-6/MM22628 Tenente Luigi Gnecchi Sottotenente Delo Lombardi		243-9/MM21879 Tenente Alessandro Citterio Sottotenente Angelo Cattaneo
243-10/MM22620 Sottotenente Ernesto Bianchi Sergente Maggiore Guido Buatier 1o Avieri Ovidio Podda 1o Avieri Oreste Campioli				243-2/MM22621 Sottotenente Pietro Appiani Sergente Giuliano Rigolone 1o Avieri Motorista Emanuele De Gaspari 1o Avieri Armando Paolini 1o Avieri Elvino Cerrosi Avieri Sc. Mario Pensa

When the Italian bombers approached the English coast they were spotted by British radar and Hurricanes from 17 and 257 Squadrons were scrambled shortly after 13.30, whilst Hurricanes from 46 Squadron, already airborne patrolling a convoy off Foulness, were also vectored to intercept Bandits over the Thames Estuary by Fighter Control. The latter formation was slightly delayed while the investigated a formation which proved to be friendly and were forced to made a wide circle before attacking. Elements 249 Squadron were also on a convoy patrol patrolling the same convoy off Foulness.
Flight Lieutenant H. Peter Blatchford (in Hurricane V6962), leading 257 Squadron, sighted nine bombers flying in a tight ‘vic’ formation some 10 miles east of Harwich. These were heading west-north-west at 12,000 feet, and Blatchford climbed the squadron to 15,000 feet before leading them down in a beam attack on the starboard side BR.20 formation. 46 Squadron, meanwhile, was fast approaching from the port side and attacked almost simultaneously. As they did so they were attacked from above and behind by between 20 and 30 CR.42s.
Peter Blatchford first attacked the rear BR.20 to the starboard side, seeing no effect from his fire and passing across to the port side, where he delivered two rear-quarter attacks on the rear left bomber. This aircraft looped violently and dived vertically towards the sea, disintegrating before hitting the water. His second opponent was also probably attacked by Pilot Officer K. Pniak (in Hurricane V7292) of 257 Squadron, who attacked one bomber that began to smoke and burn and then turned onto its back before it dived into the sea 10 miles east of Harwich after one man had baled out. He then attacked another, which glided in towards the coast, trailing smoke.
Meanwhile Pilot Officer Kay of 257 Squadron attacked the extreme right-hand aircraft, which had broken away upwards, trailing smoke. This was given a burst by Pilot Officer S. E. Andrews of 257 Squadron and dived into the sea. Kay then attacked another with Pniak. It broke formation and headed for the coast. Flight Lieutenant L. M. Gaunce (in Hurricane V6928) of 46 Squadron had also attacked the first bomber, noting that it was then attacked by two more Hurricanes (Kay and Andrews), and indeed was also probably engaged by Pilot Officers G. North and P. A. Mortimer of 257 Squadron and by Sergeant R. J. Parrott of 46 Squadron.
North, after making an unsuccessful beam attack on one aircraft, made a stern pass on another, which fell away, diving towards the coast. He chased it, expended all his ammunition, saw four bombs fall away and the undercarriage drop. Mortimer, who had previously made a head-on attack, hitting one aircraft before engaging North’s opponent, then attacked this bomber. The bomber then caught fire and dived into the sea. One man baled out but pulled his parachute release too early and his canopy caught on the tail unit.
Sergeant Parrott saw a BR.20 heading for the coast pursued by a Hurricane that was obviously out of ammunition (North). He made two firing passes under fire from the rear gunner and on the second attack the bomber’s engines burst into flames and it dived into the sea.
Meanwhile, the aircraft previously attacked by both Pniak and North came under attack from three 46 Squadron pilots; Pilot Officer G. Leggett had already attacked one BR.20, from which one of the crew had baled out before it crashed into the sea, and now he joined forces with Pilot Officer Hedley and Sergeant N. Walker to chase another in over the English coast heading towards Ipswich. After several attacks the BR.20 circled, losing height, and finally crashed into a wood some 10 miles east of the town.
The last claims against the Italian bombers came from Sergeant S. E. Lucas of 257 Squadron who reported that he had disabled one bomber by putting one engine out of action. Pilot Officer B. Davey of 257 Squadron attacked the bomber on the extreme right, attacking from underneath and using up all his ammunition. He saw black smoke belch from both engines. This bomber was then attacked by a Hurricane from 46 Squadron.
Spitfires of 41 Squadron had also been scrambled, but although they arrived too late to take part in the main battle, they were the first to sight the CR.42s. The Spitfire (Spitfire Mk.II P7322) flown by Flying Officer E. P. Wells was attacked, but he evaded and claimed one CR.42 damaged east of Ofordness before the biplane fighters disappeared. This event apparently delayed the Italians from interfering with the initial attack by 257 and 46 Squadrons. While the Hurricanes were ripping into the BR.20s, the Italian fighter pilots had appeared above. Peter Blatchford was turning to attack the bombers again, but saw many fighters. He engaged one, opened fire and it “waffled extensively”, but he was unable to conclude this combat as he was then caught up in a dogfight with others. He found that he could turn with the agile biplane, but quickly ran out of ammunition and rammed the Italian fighter, striking the upper mainplane with his propeller. The CR.42 at once fell away. Blatchford headed for base, but saw a Hurricane coming under attack from three CR.42s in line astern. He made a dummy head-on attack on each, causing them to break away and head east. On his return, Blatchford found that nine inches had been lost from two propeller blades and that they were also splashed with blood.
Meanwhile, Sergeant Lucas of 257 Squadron, breaking away from his attack on the bombers, saw enemy fighters below and behind. He turned and took one in a head-on attack, seeing it go down in a spin. He was then attacked by four more and quickly climbed into cloud, but saw his opponent crash into the sea. In fact it is likely that the aircraft he saw was not his opponent, but that of Flight Lieutenant Gaunce of 46 Squadron, who had seen a CR42 appear beside him whilst the rest of the 46 Squadron Hurricane pilots were still shooting at the bombers. He turned and opened fire at close range. The CR.42 dived and Gaunce followed spinning and manoeuvring violently with his throttle closed in order to stay above. He then lost sight of his adversary and pulled up, engaging two more and firing a deflection burst at one of them. He then saw another pair, one of which he chased with closed throttle, opening fire at 150 yards. The CR.42 took no evasive action, but continued straight on, losing height. He lost sight of it, but then approached another CR.42 from the side. After a full deflection burst from 80 yards, it burst into flames and dived into the sea 15 miles east of Ofordness.
Pilot Officer Karel Mrazek, a pre-war Czech Air Force pilot, of 46 Squadron was flying with the intercepting force when he experienced partial engine failure in his Hurricane (V7610) and fell behind the formation. He then sighted a number of twin-engined bombers flying in five sections of three, and identified them as Fiat BR.20s. He wrote:

"the Italians veered eastwards towards Southend then making off on a slanting dive for Margate, the Straits and Calais. As they turned away I saw three BR.20s go down in flames followed by their crews in parachutes.
At that moment I saw about thirty to forty unknown biplanes which I realised was a gaggle of CR.42s, supposedly protecting the bombers - as they (the CR.42s) crossed my path without seeing me, I gave the second a short burst at full deflection - it went down like a fireball. The other turned to fight - due to its great manoeuvrability it kept getting on my tail, but after a series of successive bursts I saw it begin to smoke and flame."

Pilot Officer Karel Mrazek who during patrol with 46 Squadron claimed two shot down Italian CR.42s on 11 November 1940.

Flight Lieutenant M. Burnett of 46 Squadron had not engaged the bombers, but had climbed above as 257 Squadron attacked. Then a large formation of CR.42s appeared from cloud to the south. He took one of the leading pair, opened fire, and as he closed turned his guns on the other, firing until his ammunition was gone. He saw strikes on the fuselage of his second opponent, which broke left in a step turn, leaving the others in a gentle dive.
Pilot Officer Hedley of 46 Squadron saw a CR.42 about to dive or spin and opened fire, but as it went down another Hurricane hurtled down and destroyed it.
Finally, Sergeant L. D. Barnes of 257 Squadron, who sighted approximately ten groups of CR.42s in sections of four, attacked one group, using up his ammunition. His opponent at once dived past the vertical, but the other three out-turned the Hurricane, which took one bullet through the wing before he shook them off and returned to base.
This was not the end of the story, for 249 Squadron also had Hurricanes airborne on convoy patrol duties. Wing Commander F. V. Beamish sighted one of the returning CR.42s and claimed a ‘probable’ 20-30 miles east of Southwold, while Flight Lieutenant Robert A. Barton attacked an aircraft identified as a Junkers Ju86P, which he claimed “went into the sea like a torch”. This could have been one of the BR.20s - although Luftwaffe lost several other aircraft this day. It is more probable that this was Focke-Wulf Fw58 (3551 ‘0J + AK’) of Stab III/JG51, flown by Unteroffizier Karl Nispel + 1 crew. This had been sent out to seek three shot-down fighter pilots from the morning’s operations over the Thames Estuary and did not return.
RAF made following claims after this combat:

257 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant H. Peter Blatchford - 1 BR.20 destroyed (his first claim), 1/4 BR.20 shared destroyed and two CR.42s damaged
Pilot Officer North - Two ½ shared BR.20s destroyed
Pilot Officer Davey - ½ BR.20 destroyed
Pilot Officer Mortimer - ½ BR.20 destroyed
Pilot Officer Karol Pniak - 1 BR.20 destroyed (his seventh and last claim) and ½ BR.20 shared destroyed
Pilot Officer Andrews - ½ BR.20 destroyed
Pilot Officer Kay - Two ½ shared BR.20 destroyed
Sergeant Lucas - 1 BR.20 damaged and 1 CR.42 destroyed
Sergeant Barnes - 1 CR.42 probably destroyed

46 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Lionel Manley Gaunce - ½ BR.20 destroyed, 1 CR.42 destroyed (his fifth claim) and 1 CR.42 probably destroyed
Pilot Officer Leggett - 1/3 BR.20 destroyed
Pilot Officer Karel Mrazek - 2 CR.42 destroyed
Sergeant Parrott - 1 BR.20 destroyed
Pilot Officer Hedley - 1/3 BR.20 destroyed
Sergeant Norman McDonald Walker - 1/3 BR.20 destroyed
Flight Lieutenant Norman Whitmore Burnett - 1 CR.42 probably destroyed
(Revenge met both Walker and Burnett when they later were killed by the Regia Aeronautica over Malta. Burnett was shot down by MC.200s from 7^o Gruppo on 11 June 1941, probably by Tenente Cibin or Sergente Domenico Facchini. Walker was shot down the day after, on 12 June, by a CR.42 of 74^a Squadriglia flown by Maresciallo Germano Gasperoni)

249 Squadron Wing Commander F. Victor Beamish - 1 CR.42 probably destroyed

41 Squadron Flying Officer Edward Preston Wells - 1 CR.42 damaged

Total:
9 BR.20 destroyed, 1 BR.20 damaged
5 CR.42 destroyed, 4 CR.42s probably destroyed, 3 CR.42 damaged

In return, the Italian fighters claimed nine enemy fighters. One Hurricane was credited to Giuseppe Ruzzin, who fired on a climbing Hurricane. He reported that it was his and fell away with along trail of smoke and was credited with a victory. Defending gunners in the bombers also claimed one additional Hurricane.
As usual, with this kind of large air combats, these claims are exaggerated for CAI lost three fighters and three bombers while RAF didn’t suffer any losses and only 2 Hurricanes were slightly damaged.
During combat over the Suffolk coast, the 99^o Gruppo lost three BR.20Ms. The two aircraft flown by Sottotenente Enzio Squazzini (242-3/MM22267) and Sottotenente Ernesto Bianchi (243-10/MM22620) ditched in the North Sea; two men were seen to bale out from one of the bombers. The third (243-2/MM22621) flown by Sottotenente Pietro Appiani was pursued by the 46 Squadron trio (Leggett, Hedley and Walker - Pniak was also probably part of this claim) and crashed in Tangham Forest, Bromswell, near Woodbridge. The radio-operator 1^o Avieri Armando Paolini had been killed in the air and the co-pilot Sergente Pilota Giuliano Rigolone and the flight engineer 1^o Avieri Motorista Emmanuelle De Gasperi were wounded (Rigolone later died of his wounds). The pilot Sottotenente Appiani, Degasperi and the unit’s photographer Avieri Sc. Mario Pensa were taken prisoner. The sixth in the aircrew, 1^o Avieri Elvino Cerrosi (front air gunner and bombardier), survived the crash without any wounds and became a POW. MM22621 was later removed to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough for evaluation. 257 Squadron personnel visited the wreckage first however and ‘liberated’ two crests, a bayonet sheath and a steel helmet to serve as squadron trophies. The Aldeburgh lifeboat was sent out after the crews from MM22267 and MM22620 but only found an Italian parachute. A German He59 also looked for survivors but it was shot down 20m off the Naze. No survivors were found.

Tenente Pier Antonio Poggi, who was lost on 11 November. He was probably co-pilot in Sottotenente Enzio Squazzini’s 242-3/MM22267.
Image kindly provided by Antonio Poggi.

Tenente Pier Antonio Poggi at Brugelette prior the 11 November mission.
Image kindly provided by Antonio Poggi.

Fiat BR.20M 242-3/MM22267 lost on 11 November 1940.
Image kindly provided by Antonio Poggi.

In the course of aerial combat 18^o Gruppo C.T. lost three CR.42s. 46 and 257 Squadrons shot down two. Sergente Enzo Panicchi of 83^a Squadriglia was killed when MM6978 was shot down into the sea apparently by Gaunce. Sergente Antonio Lazzari of the 85^a Squadriglia crashed with MM6976 (‘16’) near Corton Railway Station and was taken prisoner.

Fiat CR.42 MM6976 flown by Sergente Antonio Lazzari and shot down 11 November 1940 near Corton Railway Station.

The third, MM5701/95-13 flown by Sergente Pietro Salvadori of 95^a Squadriglia force-landed due to engine problems on a beach near the Orfordness lighthouse and he was also taken prisoner. This last aircraft was made serviceable by the RAF and flown on evaluation trails as BT474 and is now on exhibition in the Battle of Britain Museum, Hendon.
The British interrogation of Salvadori revealed a lot of details. He told that even before the combat started his aircraft had got a broken oil duct, which meant that the aircraft couldn’t stay in formation. The engine started to overheat and he was forced to make an emergency landing on the beach. This landing was successful and the aircraft didn’t sustain any large damage. Shortly after the landing a Hurricane flew over him and he waved at it, at which the Hurricane responded by waggling his wings. The British interrogation also revealed that Salvadori had a very weak moral and didn’t want to fight any more. He was really happy to have left the war and was very dissatisfied with the Italian officers. He also didn’t like the Belgian weather and appreciated neither the Germans, nor their food.

MM5701 on the beach at Orfordness.

Evidence from bomber wreckage revealed an extraordinarily large crew of six, all wearing tin hats and armed with rifles and bayonets.
A further reference to this day’s operations is in a letter from the Chief Constable of Suffolk dated June 16, 1971:

"At 1345 hours on November 11, 1940 two formations of Italian bombers escorted by fighters were intercepted by the RAF off the Suffolk coast. Approximately eight German and seven Italian aircraft were brought down in the sea, and three aircraft made forced landings in Suffolk, including a Fiat CR.42 biplane - the pilot was arrested and taken to force headquarters at Ipswich.
There was an officer Tenente P. Appian in a very smart uniform and a number of men whose dress varied. The officer, who spoke English, had flown a bomber at 14,000 ft he said that the effect of the lack of oxygen had made them partly lose their senses.
The men were apprehensive of the treatment they were to get. They were told (before flying) that their biplanes could manoeuvre while the Hurricanes could not."

"They might have found better employment defending their fleet at Taranto."

Picture of a captured Italian pilot. The caption to this photo is:

News Chronicle 12th. November 1940
ITALIAN AIRMEN CAPTURED IN BRITAIN.
Italian airmen who were brought down by the R.A.F. in a battle over Britain were brought to London on their way to a prison camp.
These exclusive N.C. pictures were taken in the train. Each man travelled with guard in a separate compartment. They are shown eating sandwiches and smoking. One man, surlier than the rest, scowled at the photographer and turned away as he took his picture. But the pilot [censored], smiled as he was photographed.

Image kindly provided by Edward McManus
Click on the image to see it in full size.

After the ambitious effort of the 11th, the next sortie was on the night of 17/18 November and was a small-scale night raid on Harwich by six BR.20s of 43^o Stormo without losses.

On 18 November two CR.42s (Tenente Specker and Maresciallo Giuseppe Ruzzin) were detached to Vlissingen on night fighter and reconnaissance duties.

At 10:10 on 20 November a lone BR.20M of the 13^o Stormo set out to attack Norwich, but aborted due to the bad weather.

Next attack came as twelve BR.20s of 13^o Stormo took off between 23:30 and 00:45 on the night of 20/21 November. Seven 250kg and seventy 100kg HE bombs being dropped.
One aircraft was lost when 5^a Squadriglia BR.20M MM22257 failed to return, the crew last being heard radioing that they were attacked by a night fighter. The bodies of Tenente Sergio Paoli and Sergente Maggiore Gino Rildani were later washed ashore at Wassenaar, without ‘chutes but with lifejackets. The remainder of the crew, Sottotenente Umberto Fonda, 1^o Avieri Motorista Erasmo Lesignoli, 1^o Avieri Marconista Amelio Brunetti and 1^o Avieri Armiere Raffaele Giampieretti were reported missing.
This loss can't be verified any corresponding RAF claims.

Fiat CR.42 of Corpo Aero Italiano based in Belgium. Right image © Archive D'Amico-Valentini.
Right image kindly via Ferdinando D'Amico.
Click on the image to see it in full size.

On the 23 November a fighter sweep was flown by 29 CR.42s of the 18^o Gruppo led by Maggiore Ferruccio Vosilla with Sottotenente Franco Bordoni-Bisleri as his wingman. The course was Dunquerque - Margate - Eastchurch - Folkestone - Calais while 24 G.50s of the 20^o Gruppo covered them, operating a little further inland. At 11:40, 12 Spitfires Mk.IIs (P7550, P7597, P7311, P7496, P7529, P7388, P7289, P7543, P7389, P7449, P7528, and P7324) from 603 Squadron were scrambled from Hornchurch and headed south. Off Folkestone, 603 Squadron spotted the Italian CR.42s travelling west and the Spitfires hit them from astern. The CR.42s were badly bounced and two of them were lost when MM5694 of the 83^a Squadriglia flown by Tenente Guido Mazza and MM5665 of the 95^a Squadriglia flown by Sergente Maggiore Giacomo Grillo were shot down into the sea and reported missing. On return to base Sergente Maggiore F. Campanile and Sergente P. Melano of the 83^a Squadriglia had to force-land and both pilots were slightly injured. Later it was found out that Campanile had, due to the lack of armour plating, been saved by his parachute pack, which had stopped several machinegun bullets. During the combat Tenente Giulio Cesare Giuntella’s CR.42 was hit several times but he returned claiming hits on a Spitfire. Maresciallo Felice Sozzi of the 83^a Squadriglia (83-15) attacked and chased off a Spitfire on the tail of Sergente Maggiore Luigi Gorrini’s aircraft, who in his turn were attacking other British Spitfires. Sozzi was however hit in return by two other Spitfires, who attacked him from behind. He was seriously wounded with three bullets in his lungs, but he succeeded despite pain and a damaged aircraft, to return for an emergency landing on a Belgian beach. He survived his ordeal and recovered to receive the Medaglia d’argento al valor militare “in the field”.
603 Squadron reported that they were to patrol Hornchurch at 4500 meters together with 64 Squadron. They were then ordered on to the Maidstone Patrol Line, then to the Rochford Line. When over Rochford they were detailed to Raid 44 and the squadron went south at 8500 meters. They were given correct height and direction of the enemy raid and dived through misty clouds which was 10/10 from 5500 meters to 7900 meters. When about 16km south-west of Dover they saw about 20 Fiat CR.42s at about 6000 meters flying west parallel to the English coast. There appeared to two separate groups of CR.42s flying one behind the other.
In the front group were four CR.42s in vic echelon starboard, flying wing tip to wing tip. To the right and slightly behind was one CR.42, which was attacked and shot down. There were several CR.42s to the left of this formation.
The second formation consisted of vics, pairs and single aircraft in no special order. Behind and about 90 meters above were two CR.42s flying absolutely straight (no weaving). The Cr42s were flying at about 320km/h.
603 Squadron dived and attacked the rear formation. On the whole, the Italian aircraft took no evasive action and those not attacked flew straight on, keeping their formation although Spitfires were weaving in and out of them. 603 Squadron reported that this was like attacking bombers.
Of those attacked from the rear, one climbed almost vertically, one turned slightly to port and one reduced speed considerably and made a sharp turn.
Pilot Officer Gilroy made head-on attacks on three separate CR.42s, the first of which took no evasive action and he had to pull out over the top of it at the last moment. When at 180 meters range the second CR.42 turned to the right and he had to pull out over the top of the third. All three aircraft fired at him, and twin streams of tracer were seen. Pilot Officer Gilroy’s Spitfire was hit by an amour piercing 7.7mm bullet in the spinner.
Pilot Officer Ronald Berry (P7449) thought that he had hit a reserve petrol in the top wing of an aircraft he attacked. He had a five-minute dogfight with two CR.42s which were on his tail and turned inside him every time. He spun three or four times but the CR.42s were always waiting for him and eventually he had to dive out of range.
Flying Officer Brian MacNamara (P7388), on attacking an enemy aircraft, reported first white and then black smoke coming from in front of the pilot, followed by a shower of small white objects., After this the CR.42 caught fire.
Pilot Officer Archie Winskill (P7389) had four CR.42s on his tail, one of which splintered his Perspex hood. He climbed straight up and left them behind.
The CR.42s had yellow nose, white engine cowlings, green and black camouflage resembling a mackerel, white crosses on tail and white circles with three red fasces on their wings.
None of the Italian pilots baled out and it was thought from the reactions of the aircraft after being fired on that in almost every case the pilot was killed.
It was not understood why the CR.42s kept formation when they were not being attacked and flew straight on. The two CR.42s flying behind the formation did not appear to be guarding it.
603 Squadron was very impressed by the willingness of the Italian pilots to dogfight when attacked, compared to previous experience with Bf 109s and in general their morale was far higher than they had been given to understand.
603 Squadron didn’t suffer any casualties and ten Spitfire landed at Hornchurch at 13:30, one aircraft landed at Rochford while one aircraft landed at Hawkinge. 603 Squadron claimed seven destroyed, two probables and two damaged:
Pilot Officer Winskill claimed two CR.42s destroyed (one in flames, one in sea).
Sergeant Andrew Darling (P7324) claimed two CR.42s destroyed (both in sea).
Flying Officer MacNamara claimed one CR.42 destroyed (in flames).
Flying Officer Colin Pinckney (P7529) claimed one CR.42 destroyed (in sea).
Pilot Officer Berry claimed one CR.42 destroyed (in sea) and one probably destroyed CR.42 (out of control).
Flight Lieutenant John Boulter (P7597) claimed one probably destroyed CR.42 (clouds of smoke and thinks it caught fire).
Pilot Officer David Scott-Malden (P7278 (?)/D) claimed two damaged CR.42s (1 bits of rudder, 1 tracer entered fuselage).
Squadron Leader George Denholm (P7550), CO 603 Squadron, described the combat:

The Italians looked quite toy-like in their brightly-coloured camouflage, and I remember thinking that it seemed almost a shame to shoot down such pretty machines. I must have been wrong, for the pilot who saw six going down at the same time said afterwards that it was a glorious sight. But I must say this about the Eye-ties: they showed fight in a way the Germans have never done with our squadron.

On 25 November 25 Fiat CR.42s of the 18^o Gruppo flew out from Calais and made landfall at Margate. Over Eastchurch, the bad weather deteriorated and the formation aborted the patrol without sighting any British aircraft.

In the early hours on the night of 27/28 November six BR.20Ms of the 13^o Stormo raided Ipswich without loss.

Around noon on 28 November 23 Fiat G.50s of 20^o Gruppo, accompanied by a small formation of Bf 109s and followed by 24 Fiat CR.42s of 18^o Gruppo flew an offensive patrol over Ashford, Maidstone and Dungeness, but were not engaged by British fighters.

A further night raid was made on Harwich, Ipswich, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth on the 29th, ten of 13^o Stormo’s aircraft taking off between 17:45 and 18:30 hours. 41 x 100kg and 20 x 50kg HE bombs being dropped. They met strong AA fire and later, when MM21908 of 3^a Squadriglia came in to land at base, presumably because of combat damage, it hit some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing Tenente Talete Rebuscini, Tenente Luigi Dal Forno, Maresciallo Elvio Romito, Avieri Giacomo Columbano, 1^o Avieri Giuseppe Maruelli and 1^o Avieri Mario Cini. They were all buiried at Evere on 1 December. Several civilians were also killed in the crash.

Visiting Luftwaffe personnel watch with interest as the pilot of a Fiat CR.42 of the CAI climbs into his fighter on a cold day in late 1940. Location is probably Ursel, although it could be Vlissingen, where two of the fighters were detached for reconnaissance and night interception duties.

On the night of 5/6 December twelve BR.20Ms of the 13^o Stormo attacked Ipswich.

On the night of 13/14 December seventeen BR.20Ms of 13^o and 43^o Stormos carried out nuisance raids on the east cost together with bombers from KG2. On of the BR.20Ms was hit by gunfire near Harwich.

The Ursel base was attacked for the first and only time on 19 December by a Bristol Blenheim.

On the night of 21/22 December six BR.20Ms of 13^o and 43^o Stormos again raided Harwich. One of the bombers returned with battle damage attributed to a British night-fighter, although no British claim was submitted for a combat in this area during this night.

Last time the CAI appeared over British skies during 1940 was on the night of 22/23 December when six BR.20Ms of the 43^o Gruppo made individual attacks on Harwich without losses.

The bomber effort of the CAI ended with a touch of farce when a single BR.20M flown by the CO of 240^a Squadriglia took off to bomb London. Almost inevitably, the crew became lost and bailed out near Abbeville.

Four BR.20Ms from the 13^o Stormo took off from Melsbroek on the late afternoon on 2 January 1941 in order to fly a mission against Ipswich harbour. They were to operate separately. Two however experienced technical problems (failures at the landing gear retraction system on both) while still over Belgium and they returned to base. The remaining two bombers were disturbed by searchlights and by intense AAA. One night-fighter was observed and it seems that no bombs were dropped. According to other sources the target was Harwich harbour which according to the same source was successfully bombed.

A further bombing mission with eigth BR.20M from the 13^o Stormo was planned on 9 January 1941, with the same target. Two aircraft took off at 19:00 but the mission was suspended and the aircraft were recalled.

On 11 January, Z.1007bis MM22148 from the 179^a Squadriglia crashed on take-off from Frankfurt following engine problems, killing two of the crewmembers and badly injuring the other three.

By January 1941, all of the BR.20Ms and CR.42s that remained were flown back to Italy, leaving only the G.50s in Belgium, in yet another token gesture of support for the Luftwaffe.
13^o and 43^o Stormis flew home to take part in the Greek and Yugoslavian campaigns while 18^o Gruppo moved to Libya.
After the main CAI units had left for Italy, 352^a and 353^a Squadriglias remained for patrols along the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts as far as Calais (353^a Squadriglia moved to Desvres, France on 1 March), until 15 April 1941.
Some of the Italian pilots were checked out on the Bf 109E at Maldegem (at least one of them was borrowed from II/JG54) during this time. One of these pilots was the pre-war well-known pilot and ace-to-be Capitano Furio Niclot Doglio (he was later killed over Malta on 27 July 1942 by George Beurling of 249 Squadron after having claimed 7 victories). More of the pilots were allowed to fly the Bf 109Es at JG51’s training unit, based at Cazaux, France. The Italian pilots were so impressed with the German fighter that they asked their commander to order 100 of them for the Regia Aeronautica. The Germans however declined to supply this amount but did offer to equip one Gruppo but this was rejected by the Italian higher command.

Capitano Furio Niclot Doglio in front of Bf 109E-4 “White 1” borrowed from II/JG54 to train some 20^o Gruppo pilots.

On 3 April 1941 Sergente Maggiore Pilota Remo Meneghini of 353^a Squadriglia died in a flight accident during one uneventful patrol.
The crash site of this G.50 seems to be the village of Crémarest, very close to Desvres airfield.

At 11:45 on 13 April Tenente Mario Roncalli of the 352^a Squadriglia was scrambled from Ursel. He intercepted an enemy aircraft at 300 meters altitude above the Eastern Flanders. However, he aborted the interception to return to base but due some unknown cause he lost control of the aircraft and it crashed into the ground, killing the pilot. This was C.A.I.’s last operational loss. No reports of RAF activities in the area have been possible to find.
The remains of Roncalli were recovered and he was buried close to Steenbrugge. Roncalli was one of 352^a Squadriglia’s best pilots and he had flown the Bf 109E for the first time two weeks earlier.

On 16 April 20^o Gruppo took off from their base to fly back to Italy and further on to Libya.
During their six months in Belgium the G.50s of 20^o Gruppo flew 662 sorties, but, extraordinarily, never encountered any enemy aircraft! They actually only sighted enemy aircraft twice!

Known aviators in the Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI)

Name	Rank	Occupation	Unit	Notes
Edoardo Agnello	Capitano	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	CO of the 243a Squadriglia.
Felice Agnetti	1o Avieri	Aircrew	242a Squadriglia	KIA on 11 November when 242-3/MM22267 was shot down by enemy fighters.
Giuseppe Aini	Maggiore	CO	11o Gruppo	CO of the 11o Gruppo.
Albertini	Tenente	Pilot	43o Gruppo
Romolo Alciati	Sergente Maggiore Mont.	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Aldo Alessandrini	Capitano	Pilot	351a Squadriglia	CO of the 351a Squadriglia.
Salvatore Aliperta	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Giovanni Andreini	Avieri Sc. Mont.	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Giulio Anelli	Capitano	Pilot	85a Squadriglia	CO of the 85a Squadriglia. Usually flew 85-5 (see picture on top of this page)
Enrico Angelini	Capitano	Pilot	1a Squadriglia	CO of the 1a Squadriglia.
Pietro Appiani	Sottotenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	Crashed with BR.20M 243-2/MM22621 on 11 November 1940 in Tangham Forest, Bromswell, near Woodbridge after combat. He and two or three of the crew were taken POW (the other two of the crew were killed).
Ramolo Artina	Tenente	Pilot	95a Squadriglia	Overturned on landing with MM5703 (95-14) on 11 November 1940 when returning from combat. Pilot safe.
Paride Astesati	Sergente	Air gunner	5a Squadriglia	Took part in the French campaign. KIFA on 24 October 1940 when BR.20M MM21928 (5-8) crashed during take-off from Melsbroeck.
Paolo Autrello	1o Avieri	Aircrew	243a Squadriglia	Wounded after forced-landing near Kuurne, Belgium with BR.20M 243-3 on 29 October 1940.
Bruno Baldacci	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Domenico Baliva	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Mario Barbina	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Vittorio Bariletta	Tenente	Pilot	95a Squadriglia
Lanfranco Baschiera	Sottotenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Francesco Bassi	Capitano	Pilot	3a Squadriglia	CO of the 3a Squadriglia. Baled out of BR.20M MM21895 together with crew on 24 October 1940 after becoming lost.
Bay	1o Avieri	Aircrew	242a Squadriglia	Force-landed with BR.20M MM21904 on 29 October 1940.
Adalberto Bedeschi	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Lino Bettio	Avieri Sc.	Aircrew	242a Squadriglia	KIA on 11 November when 242-3/MM22267 was shot down by enemy fighters.
Biagetti	Sottotenente	Pilot	242a Squadriglia	Force-landed with BR.20M MM21904 on 29 October 1940.
Ernesto Bianchi	Sottotenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	Shot down by enemy fighters and KIA while flying BR.20M 243-10/MM22620 on 11 November 1940.
Pietro Bianchi	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Paolo Biziocchi	Sergente	Flight engineer	5a Squadriglia	Took part in the French campaign. KIFA on 24 October 1940 when BR.20M MM21928 (5-8) crashed during take-off from Melsbroeck.
Bonelli	Sergente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
Otello Bonelli	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Mario Bonzano	Maggiore	Pilot	20o Gruppo	CO 20o Gruppo. Led the first operational use of the Fiat G.50 in the Spanish Civil War.
Luigi Borgogno	Capitano	Pilot	352a Squadriglia	CO of the 352a Squadriglia. He was a veteran from the Spanish Civil War where he served as CO of the 31a Squadriglia. In 1941 he served as CO of the 352a Squadriglia, 20o Gruppo C.T. during Operation Compass.
Dino Bossi	Tenente	Pilot	5a Squadriglia	Made a forced-landing with Fiat BR.20M MM22630 (5-10 ‘Maledetta’) close to Spa on the units transfer from their Italian base to Belgium.
Franco Bordoni-Bisleri	Sottotenente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	Damaged aircraft when landing short on fuel after combat on 11 November 1940.
Mario Bovio	Capitano	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Umberto Brugnoli	Sergente Maggiore Motorista	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Amelio Brunetti	1o Avieri Marconista	Aircrew	5a Squadriglia	MIA when BR.20M MM22257 was shot down by an enemy night fighter on 20/21 November 1940.
Brunolena	Sottotenente	Pilot	18o Gruppo	Crashed an aircraft after combat on 11 November 1940.
Guido Buatier	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	KIA on 11 November when 243-10/MM22620 was shot down by enemy fighters.
Luigi Bussi	Mechanic	Aircrew	243a Squadriglia	Wounded after forced-landing near Kuurne, Belgium with BR.20M 243-3 on 29 October 1940.
Eligio Cagna	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Giuseppe Calamai	Tenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Caldonazzi	Sottotenente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Gino Callieri	Capitano	Pilot	351a Squadriglia	CO of 351a Squadriglia. Later served as CO of the 360a Squadriglia, 160o Gruppo C.T.
F. Campanile	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	Wounded on 23 November 1940 when making a forced landing back at base after combat.
Oreste Campioli	1o Avieri	Aircrew	243a Squadriglia	KIA on 11 November when 243-10/MM22620 was shot down by enemy fighters.
Carlo de Capoa	Colonnello	CO	13o Stormo B.T.	CO of the 13o Stormo B.T.
Ersio Caponigro	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Giovanbattista Caracciolo Carafa	Tenente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Gennaro Carlucci	Sergente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Luigi Caroli	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Cassano	Sergente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia
Luigi Catena	Sergente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Angelo Cattaneo	Sottotenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia
Cavallar	Sergente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia	Crash-landed with 85-12 in October 1940.
Corrado Ceccacci	Tenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia	Later served as CO of the 165a Squadriglia, 12o Gruppo C.T.
Elvino Cerrosi	1o Avieri	Aircrew	243a Squadriglia	Front air gunner and bombardier. POW when BR.20M 243-2/MM22621 was shot down by enemy fighters on 11 November 1940. After a few months, he was sent together with other Italians POWs, to a prisoner's camp in the Unites States where he remained until the end of the war. Cerrosi returned to Italy in 1946 and continued to serve in the new Italian Air Force until his retirement. Cerrosi passed away in October 2005.
Umberto Chiesa	Colonnello	CO	56o Stormo C.T.	CO of the 56o Stormo C.T.
Chiesa	Sergente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Gian Battista Ciccu	Tenente Colonnello	CO	99o Gruppo	CO of the 99o Gruppo.
Mario Cifonelli	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Mario Cini	1o Avieri	Aircrew	1a Squadriglia	KIA on 29 November 1940 when BR.20M MM21908 crashed when trying to land back at base after mission. The aircraft was probably damaged after combat and hit some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing the crew.
Pirelli Cippo	Capitano	CO	179a Squadriglia
Alessandro Citterio	Tenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia
Giacomo Columbano	Avieri	Aircrew	1a Squadriglia	KIA on 29 November 1940 when BR.20M MM21908 crashed when trying to land back at base after mission. The aircraft was probably damaged after combat and hit some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing the crew.
Rocco Conte	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Aldo Conti	Sottotenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Bruno Corsi	Sergente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Rino Corso-Fougier	Generale sa	Air Officer Commanding	CAI
Carlo Cugnasca	Tenente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia	KIA on 14 April 1941 over Tobruk.
Luigi Dal Forno	Tenente	Aircrew	1a Squadriglia	KIA on 29 November 1940 when BR.20M MM21908 crashed when trying to land back at base after mission. The aircraft was probably damaged after combat and crashed in some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing the crew.
Emmanuelle De Gasperi	1o Avieri Motorista	Flight engineer	243a Squadriglia	POW when BR.20M 243-2/MM22621 was shot down by enemy fighters on 11 November 1940.
Giampiero Del Prete	Tenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Renato De Silvestri	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Ezio Dell’Acqua	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Gino Domenici	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Severino Fabris	1o Avieri Mont.	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Stefano Faga	Sergente Maggiore Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Francesco Fagiolo	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Angelo Fanello	Tenente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Antonio Farini	Tenente	Pilot	242a Squadriglia
Giovanni Favia	Maresciallo	Co-pilot	5a Squadriglia	Veteran from the Spanish Civil War. Took part in the French campaign. KIFA on 24 October 1940 when BR.20M MM21928 (5-8) crashed during take-off from Melsbroeck.
Giovanni Ferrari	Maresciallo	Pilot	95a Squadriglia
Corrado Ferretti	Maggiore	CO	241a Squadriglia	CO of the 241a Squadriglia. Wounded after forced-landing near Kuurne, Belgium with BR.20M 243-3 on 29 October 1940.
Guido Fibbia	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	95a Squadriglia
Filippi	Tenente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
Raffaele Foa	Sottotenente	Pilot	242a Squadriglia
Umberto Fonda	Sottotenente	Pilot	5a Squadriglia	MIA when BR.20M MM22257 was shot down by an enemy night fighter on 20/21 November 1940.
Derio Formini	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Luigi Gaggi	Sergente Maggiore Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Giacomo Galante	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Artidoro Galetti	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Vittorio Galfetti	Tenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Pietro Garfagnoli	Tenente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Gastaldi	Capitano	Pilot	43o Gruppo
Aldo Giambottini	Avieri Sc. Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Raffaele Giampieretti	1o Avieri Armiere	Aircrew	5a Squadriglia	MIA when BR.20M MM22257 was shot down by an enemy night fighter on 20/21 November 1940.
Gino Gigante	Avieri Sc. Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Eugenio Giunta	Maresciallo	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Giulio Cesare Giuntella	Tenente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia	Aircraft damaged in combat on 23 November 1940
Luigi Gnechi	Tenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	Made an emergency landing at Bray-Dunes on 11 November 1940 with BR.20M 243-6/MM22628 after combat with a dead radio-operator aboard.
Luigi Gorrini	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
Giacomo Grillo	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	95a Squadriglia	MIA on 23 November 1940 when MM5665 was bounced by Spitfires from 603 Squadron off Folkestone and shot down into the sea.
Carlo Grisetti	Avieri Sc. Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Pietro Guerci	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Maurizio Iannucci	Maresciallo	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Vittorio Lanfaloni	1o Avieri	Aircrew	242a Squadriglia	KIA on 11 November when 242-3/MM22267 was shot down by enemy fighters.
Antonio Lazzari	Sergente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia	POW on 11 November 1940 when CR.42 MM6976 (‘16’) crashed with near Corton Railway Station after combat.
Erasmo Lesignoli	1o Avieri Motorista	Aircrew	5a Squadriglia	MIA when BR.20M MM22257 was shot down by an enemy night fighter on 20/21 November 1940.
Giovanni Libri	Sergente Maggiore Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Gino Lodi	Capitano	Pilot	95a Squadriglia	CO of the 95a Squadriglia.
Gualtiero Lolli	Sergente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia
Delo Lombardi	Sottotenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia
Dino Lombardi	Tenente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Felice Longhi	Maresciallo	Pilot	95a Squadriglia
Ugo Machieraldo	Capitano	Pilot	240a Squadriglia	CO of the 240a Squadriglia . Force-land a BR.20M at Lille-Epinoy on 24 October 1940.
Giuseppe Magi	Tenente	Pilot	242a Squadriglia
Willy Malagola	Sergente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Donato Mancini	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Angelo Marinelli	Maresciallo	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Fiorenzo Marini	Tenente	Pilot	242a Squadriglia
Giuseppe Maruelli	1o Avieri	Aircrew	1a Squadriglia	KIA on 29 November 1940 when BR.20M MM21908 crashed when trying to land back at base after mission. The aircraft was probably damaged after combat and hit some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing the crew.
Mastropietro	Maresciallo	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Guido Mazza	Tenente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	MIA on 23 November 1940 when CR.42 MM5694 was bounced by Spitfires from 603 Squadron off Folkestone and shot down into the sea.
P. Melano	Sergente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	Wounded on 23 November 1940 when making a forced landing back at base after combat.
Remo Meneghini	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	353a Squadriglia	KIFA on 3 April 1941.
Remo Mengoni	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Vittorio Merlo	Tenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Mincuzzi	Sergente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Fabio Minozzi	Sottotenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Oreste Minuto-Rizzo	Tenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia	He later served as CO of the 357a Squadriglia, 157o Gruppo C.T.
Giuseppe Mirrione	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Edoardo Molinari	Capitano	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	CO of the 83a Squadriglia.
Serafino Molinari	Tenente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Aldo del Monte	Sergente	Flight engineer	5a Squadriglia	Veteran from the Spanish Civil War. Took part in the French campaign. KIFA on 24 October 1940 when BR.20M MM21928 (5-8) crashed during take-off from Melsbroeck.
Mario Montefusco	Tenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Giulio Monteleone	Maggiore	CO	43o Gruppo	CO of the 43o Gruppo.
Giuseppe Monti	1o Avieri	Air gunner	243a Squadriglia	Killed after an unsuccessful parachute-jump from BR.20M 243-3 near Courtrai on 29 October 1940.
Romualdo Montobbio	Capitano	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	CO of the 243a Squadriglia. Wounded after forced-landing near Kuurne, Belgium with BR.20M 243-3 on 29 October 1940.
Morellato		Pilot	85a Squadriglia	KIA later in the war during an bombing attack on Habu Haggag, North Africa.
Nicola Moscati	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Tullio Mussolini	Capitano	Pilot	242a Squadriglia
Vittorio Mussolini	Capitano
Furio Niclot Doglio	Capitano	Pilot	353a Squadriglia	Later served as CO of the 151a Squadriglia, 20o Gruppo C.T. KIA over Malta on 27 July 1942 by George Beurling of 249 Squadron after having claimed 7 victories.
Giorgio Oberweger	Sottotenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Alighiero Oggiano	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Ferdinando Paci	Avieri Sc. Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Tommaso Pacini	Sergente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Carlo Pagani	Capitano	Pilot	5a Squadriglia	CO of 5a Squadriglia. Born in 1907 and was from Ferrare. He served in the Regia Aeronautica from 1931 and had flew the BR.20 since 1938. Took part in the French campaign. KIFA on 24 October 1940 when BR.20M MM21928 (5-8) crashed during take-off from Melsbroeck.
Enzo Panicchi	Sergente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	KIA on 11 November 1940 when CR.42 MM6978 was shot down into the sea apparently by Flight Lieutenant Lionel Manley Gaunce of 46 Squadron.
Sergio Paoli	Tenente	Pilot	5a Squadriglia	MIA when BR.20M MM22257 was shot down by an enemy night fighter on 20/21 November 1940. The body was washed ashore at Wassenaar, without parachute but with lifejacket.
Armando Paolini	1o Avieri	Radio-operator	5a Squadriglia 243a Squadriglia	Baled out of a BR.20M MM22624 on 24 October 1940 over Belgium after that the aircraft became lost. He was wounded in a foot. KIA when BR.20M 243-2/MM22621 was shot down by enemy fighters on 11 November 1940.
Sergio Parma	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Patrignani	Sergente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
Francesco Pecchiari	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Mario Pensa	Avieri Sc.	Photographer	43o Stomo B.T.	POW when BR.20M 243-2/MM22621 was shot down by enemy fighters on 11 November 1940.
M. Pesso	Tenente	Pilot	5a Squadriglia	Baled out of BR.20M MM22624 between Namur and Charleroi together with his crew on 24 October 1940 after becoming lost. The aircraft crashed in Lustin.
Pilatone	Tenente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
Efisio Pilloni	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Riccardo Piovano	Capitano	CO	4a Squadriglia	CO of the 4a Squadriglia.
Ovidio Podda	1o Avieri	Aircrew	243a Squadriglia	Force-landed in BR.20M MM21904 on 29 Ocotber 1940. KIA on 11 November when 243-10/MM22620 was shot down by enemy fighters.
Pier Antonio Poggi	Tenente	Pilot	242a Squadriglia	Force-landed in BR.20M MM21904 on 29 Ocotber 1940. KIA on 11 November. Probably co-pilot in Sottotenente Enzio Squazzini’s 242-3/MM22267.
Bruno Pomare’	Sergente Maggiore El.	Mechanic	351a Squadriglia
Eugenio Porta	Maresciallo	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Francesco Prigione	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Luigi Questa	Colonnello	CO	43o Stormo B.T.	CO of the 43o Stormo B.T.
Agostino Rabino	Capitano	CO	243a Squadriglia
Nello Raimondo	Tenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia
Peppo Re	Sottotenente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia	Overturned with 85-4 near Dunderlewe when returning after combat on 11 November 1940.
Rella	Tenente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Talete Rebuscini	Tenente	Aircrew	1a Squadriglia	KIA on 29 November 1940 when BR.20M MM21908 crashed when trying to land back at base after mission. The aircraft was probably damaged after combat and crashed in some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing the crew.
Giuliano Rigolone	Sergente	Co-pilot	243a Squadriglia	WIA when BR.20M 243-2/MM22621 was shot down by enemy fighters on 11 November 1940. He later died of his wounds.
Gino Rildani	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	5a Squadriglia	MIA when BR.20M MM22257 was shot down by an enemy night fighter on 20/21 November 1940. The body was washed ashore at Wassenaar, without parachute but with lifejacket.
Bruno Rocca	Maresciallo Motorista	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Antonio Romeo	Sottotenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia
Elvio Romito	Maresciallo	Aircrew	1a Squadriglia	KIA on 29 November 1940 when BR.20M MM21908 crashed when trying to land back at base after mission. The aircraft was probably damaged after combat and crashed in some workers houses at Diegem-Lo, burning out and killing the crew.
Mario Roncali	Tenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia	Born in 1911. He served in the Regia Aeronautica from 1930. Took part in the Spanish Civil War. KIFA on 13 April 1941. Last C.A.I. pilot to be lost.
Paolo Rossi	Sergente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Riccardo Roveda	Capitano	Pilot	353a Squadriglia	CO of the 353a Squadriglia. He served as CO of the 352a Squadriglia, 20o Gruppo C.T. during Operation Compass.
Celestino Rubagotti	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	243a Squadriglia
Giuseppe Ruzzin	Maresciallo	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
Sala	Avieri	Aircrew	242a Squadriglia	Force-landed with BR.20M MM21904 on 29 October 1940.
Pietro Salvadori	Sergente	Pilot	95a Squadriglia	Born in 1917. Salvadori was a reservist with several hours on sailplanes. He was called into military service in 1938 and received 100 hours of flight time at various flying schools before being sent to his unit where he received approximately another 100 hours of flying time. POW on 11 November 1940 when CR.42 MM5701 (‘95-13’) force-landed due to engine problems on a beach near the Orfordness lighthouse. The aircraft was made serviceable by the RAF and flown on evaluation trails as BT474 and is now on exhibition in the Battle of Britain Museum, Hendon. Salvadori remained in the Italian Air Force post-war to be killed eventually, flying an F-84G Thunderjet of 51o Stormo in April 1953.
Eugenio Salvi	Tenente	Pilot	95a Squadriglia	Veteran from the Spanish Civil War.
Mario Sandini	Maresciallo	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	Crashed as a result of either combat damage or shortage of fuel in MM5676 on 11 November 1940. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed in a public square in Amesterdam.
Vincenzo Sant’Andrea	Tenente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Angelo Santopadre	Sergente Maggiore Motorista	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Antonio Semeria	1o Avieri R. T.	Mechanic	352a Squadriglia
Michele Simonetti	Sergente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Giorgio Solaroli	Sottotenente	Pilot	95a Squadriglia
Felice Sozzi	Maresciallo	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	Wounded in combat on 23 November 1940. Received the Medaglia d’argento for this combat.
Riccardo Spagnolini	Tenente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia	He later served as CO of the 351a Squadriglia, 155o Gruppo C.T.
Specker	Tenente	Pilot	18o Gruppo
Enzio Squazzini	Sottotenente	Pilot	243a Squadriglia	Shot down by enemy fighters and KIA while flying BR.20M 242-3/MM22267 on 11 November 1940.
Felice Squassoni	Sergente	Pilot	85a Squadriglia
P. Tacchini	Tenente	Pilot	83a Squadriglia	Landed away from base as a result of either combat damage or shortage of fuel in MM5676 on 11 November 1940. The aircraft was destroyed.
Giuseppe Tenti	Maggiore	CO	98o Gruppo	CO of the 98o Gruppo.
Luigi Tosello	Avieri Sc. Mont.	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Bruno Trevisan	Tenente	Pilot	353a Squadriglia
Mario Tronconi	1o Avieri Motorista	Mechanic	353a Squadriglia
Giuseppe Valitutti	Sergente	Aircrew	243a Squadriglia	Force-landed with BR.20M 243-3 on 29 October 1940.
Arrigo Vardabasso	Tenente	Aircrew	5a Squadriglia	Born in 1914 and was from Beie d' Istra. He had flew in the BR.20 since 1936 and was a veteran from the Spanish Civil War. Took part in the French campaign. KIFA on 24 October 1940 when BR.20M MM21928 (5-8) crashed during take-off from Melsbroeck.
Giovanni Vescovi	Sergente	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Francesco Visentin	Sergente Maggiore	Pilot	352a Squadriglia
Nicola Volpe	Capitano	CO	242a Squadriglia	CO of the 242a Squadriglia.
Ferruccio Vosilla	Maggiore	Pilot	18o Gruppo	CO of the 18o Gruppo.
Ferdinando Zanardi	Sergente	Pilot	351a Squadriglia
Zarillo	Avieri Sc.	Aircrew	242a Squadriglia	Force-landed with BR.20M MM21904 on 29 October 1940.
Mario Zucca	Maresciallo	Pilot	353a Squadriglia

Sources:
3^o Stormo, storia fotografica - Dai biplani agli aviogetti - Carlo Lucchini and Leproni Enrico, 1990 Gino Rossato Editore
Aces High - Christopher Shores and Clive Williams, 1994 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-898697-00-0
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume One – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN 978-1908117076
Air International/June 1988
Ali d'Aquila - Flaminio Pagani, 1999 Genoa kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
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Bombe sull’Inghilterra - Giovanni Massimello, Storia militare No. 136, January 2005
Courage Alone - Chris Dunning, 1998 Hikoki Publications, Aldershot, ISBN 1-902109-02-3
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Eagles High - Peter North, 1990
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The Fiat CR.42 - Gianni Cattaneo, 1971 Profile Publications, Berkshire
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