The Biplane They Mocked That Took On Britain’s Mightiest in the Battle of Britain

In the late 1930s, Italy faced a choice about its military direction. The country had aligned itself with Germany through the Pact of Steel, but it hesitated to enter World War II immediately. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Italy’s leader announced that his nation was not ready to join the conflict. Despite displays of military strength in public parades, Italy’s armed forces were ill-prepared for a major war. Much of its equipment was outdated, and its military leadership overestimated the effectiveness of older strategies and designs, such as biplanes, in a rapidly changing era of aviation.

One aircraft that epitomized this misplaced confidence was the Fiat CR.42 Falco. This biplane represented the last gasp of an outdated technology at a time when monoplane fighters dominated modern warfare. Yet, the CR.42 would go on to challenge expectations, finding itself pitted against Britain’s advanced fighters during the Battle of Britain. Despite its shortcomings, the Falco revealed that even a relic of the past could still have a role in the war.

The Development of the Fiat CR.42 Falco

The Fiat CR.42 Falco was born from a long line of successful Italian biplane designs. Developed by engineer Celestino Rosatelli, it followed the highly regarded Fiat CR.32, which had proven effective in earlier conflicts like the Spanish Civil War. The CR.42 retained the agility and maneuverability of its predecessor but with some modern updates. Its unique sesquiplane wing structure, featuring a larger upper wing and a smaller lower one, improved its aerodynamics and structural integrity. Powered by a Fiat A.74 radial engine delivering 840 horsepower, the CR.42 could reach a respectable speed of 267 miles per hour. However, it was only armed with two machine guns, leaving it underpowered in terms of firepower compared to newer monoplanes.

By the late 1930s, Italy had already developed more advanced aircraft, such as the Fiat G.50 and the Macchi C.200, which were modern monoplanes with better performance and armament. Despite this progress, the Italian Air Ministry prioritized the production of the CR.42. This decision was rooted in the belief that maneuverability was more important than speed or firepower. Italian pilots had seen success with biplanes in earlier campaigns, and this fostered a dangerous overconfidence that these outdated designs could hold their own in the escalating global conflict.

The Operational History of the Fiat CR.42 Falco

The CR.42 entered service in early 1939, just as Europe moved closer to war. It quickly became the backbone of the Regia Aeronautica’s fighter squadrons. The aircraft was also exported to countries like Belgium, Hungary, Sweden, and Finland, which saw potential in its agility. However, by the time Italy officially entered the war in June 1940, the limitations of the CR.42 were already becoming apparent. The aircraft was up against far superior designs such as Britain’s Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, as well as Germany’s Messerschmitt Bf 109. All of these had retractable landing gear, more powerful engines, and significantly better armament.

Italy’s initial involvement in the war was relatively minor. During the brief campaign against France in June 1940, the CR.42 saw combat for the first time. It escorted bombers on missions and performed ground-attack operations, achieving limited success. However, the Italian air force faced minimal opposition, and these early missions did little to prove the CR.42’s capabilities in a contested airspace.

When Italy joined the German-led effort against Britain later that year, its air force formed a specialized unit called the Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI). This unit was tasked with supporting German operations in the Battle of Britain. The CAI included a mix of bombers and fighters, among them the CR.42. The biplane would now face the RAF, which had been honing its defensive tactics and deploying some of the most advanced fighters in the world.

The Fiat CR.42 Falco in the Battle of Britain

The CR.42 made its debut in the Battle of Britain in late 1940, accompanying Italian bombers on raids against British targets. These missions highlighted the biplane’s strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, its exceptional maneuverability surprised British pilots. Intelligence reports even noted that the CR.42’s ability to perform tight turns and rolls had saved many Italian pilots from being shot down. On the other hand, the aircraft’s lack of speed and firepower made it ill-suited for the role it was asked to play. British Hurricanes and Spitfires could easily outpace and outgun the CR.42, and the biplane’s pilots had to rely on their skill and agility to survive encounters with these modern fighters.

The Italian air force’s inexperience in night operations further complicated matters. Early missions by the CAI suffered heavy losses due to navigation errors and mechanical failures. A lack of coordination with German forces also undermined the effectiveness of Italian raids. Despite these setbacks, the CR.42 continued to participate in missions over Britain, providing a rare example of a biplane engaging in combat during the late stages of the Battle of Britain.