No doubt about it the Macchi C.202 Folgore (eng: 'Lightning') has got to be one of the finest looking and most modern Italian fighter of WW2. It served in North Africa, Sicily, Southern Italy and in Russia. The Folgore continued to serve in the Egyptian Air Force in its war with Israel.

Development

The C.202 was the result of a desperate need for a more modern, competent fighter for the Regia Aeronauitca to replace already outdated designs like the Fiat G.50 and Macchi C.200. While the C.200 was a fine aircraft with excellent flying characteristics it was underpowered by it's 800 hp radial engine. Having acquired rights to build the proven German Daimler Benz DB 601 inline engine under license, the plan was to build an entirely new airframe around it while using as many parts from the C.200 as possible. Things like the wings, stabilizers, vertical tail and landing gear were incorporated from the C.200 on to an all new fuselage to ease and simplify production. The resulting aircraft was a success and was said to be superior to the Hawker Hurricane and on par with other Allied fighters of the time like the Curtiss P-40. It was noted for it's handling skills and was a formidable fighter even though it was somewhat inadequately armed with only a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns in the cowling. Later examples would be fitted with a pair of 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings, one gun per wing. These were rarely used even when fitted due to the ineffectiveness of the rifle caliber round against American heavy bombers and the well protected fighters now being encountered later in the war. Eventually faced with superior competition the need arose to make the C.202 faster and give it a bigger punch. This is where the C.205 would come in. Although a worthy successor, the Veltro (eng:'Greyhound') wasn't produced in large enough numbers to make a difference and by then it was already too late.

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In Service

First used in North Africa and then in Russia, they were the most effective Italian fighter available, able to fight any Allied fighter on almost equal terms. The C.202s played a significant role in the defence of Sicily and Southern Italy against bombing attacks launched by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), but by the time of Allied invasion of Sicily (10 July 1943) they were less effective as attrition had reduced the number available, while 20mm cannons were needed to cause enough damage, so Bf109 F/Gs, Macchi C.205s and Fiat G.55s replaced C.202s as soon as possible. Mixed units (such as the 51° Stormo, Sardinia) were formed with C.202s often serving with C.205s. At the Armistice, there were only 186 'Folgores', with 100 aircraft still servicable. Several C.202s also served with the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, and some were transformed into C.205s or C.202/205 with the Veltro's engine. Others served as trainers in the 'Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana' (National Republican Air Force) of the Italian Social Republic (RSI) and the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). Switzerland ordered 20 C.202s, but none were delivered, because at that time (12 May 1943), Italy no longer had the capability to export these types of aircraft. However, 12 C.202s and probably another 12 were delivered to the Croatian Air Force Legion for operational use against the RAF and USAAF over Croatia in mid-1944, all were ex-Luftwaffe fighters.

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Final Production

After the bombing of Macchi Industries in 1944, the combat career of the C.202 and C.205 was nearly over. Post-war, however, some aircraft had survived along with newly manufactured C.205s to serve in Italy, C.202s were operational until 1948. The Royal Egyptian Air Force ordered a total of 42 C.205s, but 31 were re-engined C.202s armed with only two 12.7 mm Breda machine guns. Some of these aircraft fought against Israel, and were in service until 1951. Altogether some 1150 C.202s had been produced and the number of C.205s were even fractionally less. When faced with the number of aircraft that were being mass produced by the Allies, this was never a large enough number to turn the tide of the war for the Italians. Both the C.202 and C.205 still held the distinction of being some of the finest fighting aircraft of the Italians in World War 2.

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Specifications(Macchi C.202):-
Country of Origin: Italy
Crew: 1
Speed: 600 km/h (373 mph)
Empty Weight: 2.350 kg(5.181 lbs) Loaded: 2.937 kg(6.475 lbs)
Wing Span: 10,58 m(34,7 ft)
Length: 8,85 m(29,0 ft)
Height: 3,49 m(11,5 ft)
Performance
Maximum speed: 600 km/h (324 knots, 372 mph)
Range: 765 km (413 nm, 475 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,730 ft)
Amraments:
2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the engine cowling, 360/400 rpg
2 × 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the wings, 500 rpg(often removed in the field)
2 × 50, 100, or 160 kg (110, 220, or 350 lb) bombs
2 × 100 L (26.4 US gal; 22.0 imp gal) drop tanks