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Re: eBay:Macchi Mc200 Princeton 1953
FWIW, I can confirm that the Princeton and Bradley Air Museum C.200 are the same. I and two colleagues made researches back in 1978 for a book on the Italian historic aircraft still preserved, and we were able to ascertain that the Macchi (originally coded "372-5" and captured early in 1942 in Lybia), was shipped in the USA together with a Ju 87 (the one actually exposed in Chicago) and a Bf 109 E-4/Trop (whose fate is unknown).
Not much is known of the C.200 until the late '40s, when it was donated to the city of Worchester, MA to be exhibited in a fair. It already was missing some parts (like the engine cowl and the airscrew) but still retained its camouflage.
Subsequently it was bought by Mr. Garganico, who exposed it in his car museum in Princeton. Unfortunately the plane was not very closely custoded and both visitors and weather furtherly damaged it.
At the death of Mr. Garganico in 1964, there was an auction and the Macchi was bought by the Bradley Air Museum. From then on, the story is known.
Hope this helps.
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All the best,
Ferdinando D'Amico
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