Fiat CR.42 Falco

The Fiat CR.42 Falco, meaning falcon, was a single-seat sesquiplane fighter built by Fiat Aviazione and flown mainly by the Italian Regia Aeronautica. It developed the earlier CR.32, adding a more powerful supercharged Fiat A.74 air-cooled radial engine and other improvements. Although a biplane that was outclassed in speed and firepower by monoplane fighters, it was strongly built and very agile because of its low wing loading. It entered service in May 1939 and fought in the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, over Malta, North Africa and Greece, and later on the Eastern Front and in Iraq. Belgium, Sweden and Hungary also flew it. More than 1,800 were built, making it the most numerous Italian aircraft used in the Second World War, and it later served as a trainer and with the Luftwaffe.