When World War II broke out in Europe in September 1939, the finest Allied fighter in service was the Supermarine Spitfire, but it was not regarded as fully operational, and demanded special servicing facilities at three or four nominated fighter bases. Yet within a year this aeroplane came to epitomize everything that was best in [...]

The CR.42 Falco was an Italian fighter aircraft designed by Celestino Rosatelli and manufactured by Fiat for the Italian Reggia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force). It first flew and entered service in 1939. When Italy entered War World II in June 1940 there were already 330 CR.42 fighters in service. The Falco first saw combat action [...]