Fiat G.50 in Luftwaffe

[Pilot]

Fiat G. 50 in German markings... from which collection is this image?

[Jean-Yves Lorant]

Hi "Pilot",

For info I have a picture of another G-50 with same camo and markings (number 347 on cowling) seen in Wels/Österreich in march 1944. An instructor's aircraft of FFS A/B 115 ?

Can anyone add something about this Fiat G-50 in Wels ?

All the best

Jean-Yves Lorant

[Pilot]

A some number of G.50 was taken by Luftwaffe and used as trainer but also in the night attack role on some theatre.

[veltro]

You are probably confusing with the Fiat CR.42... the G.50 was supplied only to Finland and Croatia with fighter tasks and, after September 8, 1943 Armistice, those captured by the Germans were used only in Luftwaffe schools, AFAIK.

The CR.42 instead was used as night assault plane at least by NSGr.7 and NSGr.9 (my friend Nick Beale can be much more detailed than me on this...)

[Pilot]

I will check again about the some of this plane... somewhre I found info that this plane was in overal RLM 66 for the night assault task. I try to find source of info.

[Pilot]

Here where I get info- book is name "Fiat G 50" published by "Militaria" and author is Pawel Babinski. On the page 25 is the image which present refueling of one two seater G.50. Plane is overal very dark color, perhaps RLM66 and under the image is following caption:

"German Fiat G 50 B of the NSGr 7, Croatia,1944."

I know for the Cr.42 and wonder why author state that this planes served in night attack unit? Book is in the Polish and I am not so familiar with this language but have noted that in the text is mentioned only use of this plane by luftwaffe by JG56, JG 107 and JG 108.

[veltro]

It would be useless to make wild guesses until I could have a look at that photo, but I still suspect that it could be a wrong caption, a possibility enforced by the lack of any further support in the text to that statement...

[Pilot]

I agree with you Veltro- thank you veru much!!

[veltro]

I have managed to have a look at the photo you quoted since (after some research) I discovered to have already received it by e-mail on September 1999 by someone pointing at me that very caption!

I am thus able to confirm that it has nothing to do with NSGr.7, being part of a series still present at the Bundesarchiv and showing a rare twin-place Fiat G.50 in German markings while refueled.

That version was meant only for training but in this case it was employed as a liaison aircraft by the Luftwaffe and the plane is painted in Italian Verde Oliva Scuro 2 uppersurfaces with Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 undersurfaces. The photo was presumably taken in late 1943/early 1944 and the personnel shown was probably Italian too (the photo I've in my Mac is too little to discern the badge on the cap), which would imply it was taken in Italy.

Hope to have been of some help.

[Pilot]

Yes- info are really helpful!! Thank you again