Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Good morning Gentlemen,

has it ever been estimated how many kills the Italians claimed with the Bf 109?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

You could start with "The Messerschmitt 109 in Italian Service, 1943-1945"
by Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini (Monogram, 1985):

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/978091414...0914144308/plp

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Good evening,

Imre Pánczél is sometimes associated with four Reggiane Re.2000 kills with maybe a fifth upgraded from unconfirmed to confirmed later. However, György Punka's book clearly says 3 Reggiane and 4 Messerschmitt kills.
Did really no Italian ever score 5 Reggiane Re.2000 kills ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Regia Aeronautica received only 26 RE 2000, included 8 of the type "catapultabile" modified in order to be lauched from italian battleship of the Littorio Class.

As far as I know, the pilots of the "normal" land based aircraft, operated by 377a Sq., made only one claim on 15 june 1942 (not included in "Malta the Spitfire Year); the battleship based aircraft didn't made any claim.


Gianandrea

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Very interesting
Any further details such as time, place, name of the pilot and what he actually claimed?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

15 june 1942, during a flight in order to escort the VII Naval Division of the Regia Marina south of Pantelleria, Cap. Luciano Marcolin (377a Sq. Commander) claimed a Blenheim as effectively machinegunned (probable for the pilot flight book).

During the third escort of the day, the same pilot claimed a Blenheim s/d together Serg. Ugo Sgubbi.

I don't know the time of these claims.

Gianandrea

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Thanks Gianandrea

I cannot find any corresponding offensive patrol Blenheim loss(es) that day.
Maybe only damaged?

Will add the details to the book!

Cheers
Stig

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Good afternoon Gianandrea,

very interesting, thanks.
That makes it quite likely that Imre Pánczél is indeed the top scorer of the Re.2000.

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Stig,
I've not checked the british losses but italian pilot often misidentified Beaufighter, Blenheim, Beaufort...

Michael,

I think you are right because no italian pilot was an ace piloting RE 2000

Gianandrea

Re: Italian aircraft and their top aces
 

Good evening Gianandrea,

I've read "Reggiane Fighters in action" by G. Punka but it contains nothing about notable Reggiane pilots :-(
Did the Re.2005 produce any aces ?

Best greetings from Switzerland,

Michael