Re 2005 Sagittario victories

[kaki3152]

Just out of curiosity, did the Re 2005 score any victories? With only 48 produced, I have never run across any Sagittario victories and wonder if they scored any.

[roncosano]

Good morning Kaki3152.
You can find some information here:

http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_torresi.htm
http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_minguzzi.htm

Best Regards,
Corrado Ferrari

[Ludovico Slongo]

Dear kaki3152,

First of all a note you may find interesting. Total production of Re 2005 was only 32 planes.
Only 28 were completed and tested before September the 8th 1943 and four of these most likely never reached an operational unit, thus the number of Re 2005s that were used in action was around 24.
I've not a complete collection of data on their combats , but according to my sources, (the most authoritative of which is the book of Sergio Govi) the first victory claimed by a Re 2005 was on 2 April 1943 over Naples when magg. Vittorio Minguzzi (22° gruppo's CO) shot down a B24 of 98° BG flying on the prototype Re 2005.
On April the 11th the first Re 2005 was lost to the defensive fire of the American bombers the pilot was s.ten. Armando Moresi, who surived.
Two more B24 were claimed on the 28th of April by Minguzzi and serg. Donati, these losses are not confirmed by the American unit that fought against the Reggianes, the 376° BG.
Before the invasion of Sicily on July the 2nd 1943, the unit that had in charge most (if not all) of the Reggianes, namely 362 squadriglia, was moved to the airfield of Catania-Sigonella with all the combat ready planes that were 8.
During the period from 10 July to 14 July 1943 they were involved in combat many times mostly against Malta based Spitfires, losing two planes with their “green” pilots: s.ten Traiano Dilissano on 12 July and s.ten Carlo Nitoglia on 11 July, having others damaged and claiming at least five victories (all Spitfires) credited to ten. Giulio Torresi (2), to the squadriglia CO cap. Germano La Ferla, to ten Edoardo Vaghi and to m.llo Tullio Arduini. For two of these five victories it is possible to find some sort of corroboration in the RAF documents: a 111 sqn Spit heavily damaged and crash-landed on late afternoon of 11 July and a Spit of 93 sqn shot down over Catania airfield the morning of 13 July. Four of the six surviving Reggianes were subsequently destroyed on ground to avoid their capture, while the last two were flown back to their base in continental Italy.
Most of these data, however, are reconstructed based on memories of the pilots as no documents, detailing the activities of 362 sq. or 22 gruppo in the period, survived.
The Reggianes continued to operate until 25 August 1943 when they were grounded to investigate problems of vibrations arising during dives at high speed. I have no detail regarding their claims or losses in this period.
Ciao

Ludovico

[kaki3152]

Wow, Thanks Ludovico for the exquisite detail. I knew the production run was ~50 examples, so I figured limited use.
You only hear of G-55 and Mc 205V after 1943 so I also figured the limited production run was used up. Truly a forgotten bird.

[Pilot]

Grazie Ludovico- very interesting info

[knusel]

Hi there Gentlemen,

Flavio Silvestri told me these Re.2005 claims:

• Giulio Torresi 4 individual (10/4/43, 11/7/43, on 12/7 and 13/7)
• Germano La Ferla 3 individual plus one shared with another pilot in 1943
• Vittorio Minguzzi 2 B-24s individual on 2/4/43 and 28/4/43 plus 3 shared with 10 pilots on 11/4 and 2 shared with 13 pilots on 28/4
• Armando Moresi 2 B-24s individual plus one shared with another pilot

Cheers,

Michael