Italian aircraft and their top aces

[knusel]

Good morning Gentlemen,

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

Cheers,

Michael

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by knusel

Good morning Gentlemen,

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

Cheers,

Michael

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

[knusel]

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

[Gianandrea Bussi]

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

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Gianandrea Bussi

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).
Gianandrea

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

Cheers
Stig

[Gianandrea Bussi]

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

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[knusel]

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

[Gianandrea Bussi]

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

[knusel]

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