"Freccia" stands for "Arrow", and is a typical name for wishful thinking or ignorance on behalf of the enemy's capabilities. It was the first all-metal low-set monowing fighter with retractable main gear of the Italian airforce. It was an intermediate design with a semi open cockpit, and meant to be a compromise between a short-range lightly armed defensive fighter, a medium range fighter-bomber, and a long-range fighter. Also, the fighter had to adopt a radial engine because the Italian Air Ministry had declared that all fighters be fitted with one, since there were no powerful Vee engines built in Italy itself.
By the time the first prototype was ready, the G.50 was matched against a contemporary design: the Macchi MC.200 Saetta. The design of the Saetta had started later, and wasn't compromised to death, naturally it won the contest. Even so, the Italians by now realized that they needed fighters in numbers, and because the production lines of the G.50 were in their place and starting up, they still ordered the aircraft.
The Freccia was exported to Finland (9 G.50 Serie I, 26 G.50bis) and Croatia (5 G.50bis), and was used in the campaigns against France, Greece, during the Battle of Britain, in the North African theatre and Russia. In France it did moderately well, because the Italians were careful not to use it against french fighters. During the Battle of Britain it never encountered English fighters, saving them probably from a certain doom. In Greece, at last, they saw real combat against Gloster Gladiators (bi-wing aircraft), and had more losses than victories. Only after the Fiat CR.42 was mixed with the G.50's the Italians made progress. In the North African theatre, finally, they also were outclassed considerably by the Hawker Hurricane and the Gloster Gladiator.
This file is Freeware. Use it & enjoy it but do not make money from my work. It must not be included in a commercial.
A greeting
José Alvarez "Erafitti"
Submitted by erafitti
By the time the first prototype was ready, the G.50 was matched against a contemporary design: the Macchi MC.200 Saetta. The design of the Saetta had started later, and wasn't compromised to death, naturally it won the contest. Even so, the Italians by now realized that they needed fighters in numbers, and because the production lines of the G.50 were in their place and starting up, they still ordered the aircraft.
The Freccia was exported to Finland (9 G.50 Serie I, 26 G.50bis) and Croatia (5 G.50bis), and was used in the campaigns against France, Greece, during the Battle of Britain, in the North African theatre and Russia. In France it did moderately well, because the Italians were careful not to use it against french fighters. During the Battle of Britain it never encountered English fighters, saving them probably from a certain doom. In Greece, at last, they saw real combat against Gloster Gladiators (bi-wing aircraft), and had more losses than victories. Only after the Fiat CR.42 was mixed with the G.50's the Italians made progress. In the North African theatre, finally, they also were outclassed considerably by the Hawker Hurricane and the Gloster Gladiator.
This file is Freeware. Use it & enjoy it but do not make money from my work. It must not be included in a commercial.
A greeting
José Alvarez "Erafitti"
Submitted by erafitti
