STORMO! Italeri 1/48 Macchi C.202 by Richard Mendes

Italeri 1/48 Macchi C.202
Folgore (Thunderbolt)
by Richard Mendes

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One of the best fighters of World War II, this classic fighter possessed a great rate of climb, high speed and maneuvreability and was a first-rate aircraft on all counts. The Macchi C.202 was the contemporary of the Bf.109F and the Spitfire Mk.V and in certain aspects the aircraft was superior to both, such as in the rate of climb, dive speed and agility. Both the Macchi and the Sptifire shared a common lineage in the Schneider Trophy racers. In fact the Supermarine (Spitfire) designs were largely influenced by the Macchi M.39. The C.202 was used extensively in North Africa, the Soviet Union and in defense of the homeland and was Italy’s best fighter of WWII, although more powerful fighters had been produced later in the war. Over 1,150 C.202s were built in little over two years. Although often overlooked, the two Breda 0.50in caliber SAFATs provided adequate firepower and had double the range of contemporary English fighter 0.303 MGs as well as greater hitting power. In fact no formal request for heavier armament was made until the appearance of the American four-engine heavy bombers. The Folgore was well liked by its pilots and its only shortcoming was that too few were built.

Africa Settentrionale
The three C.202-equipped Gruppi in North Africa at the end of 1941 found themselves compelled to retreat across Libya in front of the advancing Allied forces. 9o Gruppo engaged RAF Tomahawks the day after arriving at Martuba, 26 November. There followed a tough month of combat and retreat before it finally turned its surviving C.202s over to 1° Stormo and returned to Italy to join its mate at Gorizia. When the front stabilized at El Agheila on 8 January 1942, the two remaining Gruppi could only muster a total of 25 C.202s.

In late January 1942, when Italian and German forces took the offensive again, 1° Stormo had its 6° Gruppo at Ara Phileborum and 17o at Tamet. They started 'freelance' hunting missions in consort with JG27's Bf109s, leaving the remaining Italian aircraft in Africa, CR.42s and C.200s, to ground attack duties. With Axis advance 1° Stormo moved forward, occupying Benghazi's K3 field. Through the rest of the spring of 1942 the front remained quiet, allowing both sides to rest and build strength.

On 26 May the Axis struck again. 4° Stormo had meanwhile returned, now with both Gruppi C.202-equipped. The two Stormi were joined in a 'Brigade' led by Lt. Col. Alfredo Reglieri, 1° Stormo commander. Based at Martuba, they had a strength of over 60 aircraft. Their task was to clear the air of the RAF, allowing Stukas and Italian ground attack aircraft to attack without interference. At dawn on the 26th, 59 C.202s strafed No.250 Squadron's Tomahawks at Gambut, to start the offensive. They were then directed to gain air superiority over Tobruk and Bir Hacheim, which they were able to do. Both fortresses fell before the end of June. Over 1000 sorties were flown by C.202s during this period, only 17 of their number being lost.

During June, 1° Stormo returned to Italy, being replaced by 3° Stormo, whose 18° Gruppo was still in C.200s but whose 23° Gruppo had received C.202s in May. The new Stormo went to Abu Haggag, 4° moving to Sidi el Barrani and then Fuka. Abu Haggag and Fuka were on the Mediterranean coast between Marsa Mattruh and El Alamein, where the British retreat had finally stopped. The total number of C.202s in Africa peaked at 93 on 15 July 1942. In all, the RA had 25 bombers, 90 ground attack aircraft and the 93 C.202s, 46 C.200s and 43 G.50s, a total of 297 aircraft ready for the decisive battle at El Alamein.

73-4 of 4o Stormo over the Western Desert 1942. The Axis forces are now in retreat. The terrain over which these missions were flown may have been the most forbidding ever to witness aerial combat.

By autumn 1942, RAF Liberators and Spitfires had reached the Western Desert, new and formidable opponents for the C.202s. Having held off the Axis attacks in July and August at El Alamein, the Allies prepared a counterstroke for late October. In preparation for that offensive, the RAF attacked Axis airbases, striking Fuka and Abu Haggag on 20 October. A number of 3° and 4° Stormo Folgores were destroyed on the ground. The Allies finally attacked on 23 October 1942. In the last days of October, between aerial combat and RAF strafing, the two C.202-equipped Stormi lost 15 in the air and four on the ground with a further 46 damaged. They were soon forced to retreat along with the general Axis withdrawl. 4° Stormo passed its remaining serviceable Folgores over to 3° Stormo which now had both its Gruppi in C.202s. 3° Stormo then continued the fighting across Libya. Its continual harrassment of the British advance was instrumental in allowing the Axis to hold the British advance at Mareth on 16 February 1943. In late November 1942, 4° Stormo returned to the fray with new C.202s, supplementing 3° Stormo which was gradually being depleted of aircraft. 4° Stormo kept on with the fight into the second half of December when its 10o Gruppo gave its remaining fighters to 9o Gruppo and again returned to Italy. Until New Year's, 9o Gruppo flew sorties from Misurata and Castelbenito in the defense of Tripoli but was again forced to retreat in January. At that time 9o Gruppo once more turned its remaining Folgores over to 3° Stormo, once more leaving that unit as the last C.202 unit in Africa. 3°Stormo was at Medenine, Tunisia at the end of January 1943 where it was able to hold, and where it encountered USAAF fighters, P-38s, for the first time.

Reference: Macchi C.202 in Action, Aircraft No.41, 1980, Squadron/Signal Publications

Construction

The 2001-vintage 1/72nd scale Italeri 1222 Macchi C.202 last released in 2013 and the 2001-vintage Italeri 1227 Macchi C.205V kits were derived from new-tooled common molds similar to the 1970s-vintage SUPERMODEL Macchi C.202/205 kits, near impossible to find believing I'd never-ever find another "1222" on September 1, 2020 came across one for sale on Rare Plane Detective then-there buying it for under U.S. $30 delivered. By fate or maybe divine design this particular "1222" was my last-ever Italian aircraft model subject kit build - "The Last Italian" - constructed between December 23rd and 30th 2020 in manufacturer and theatre appropriate summer 1942 73° Squadriglia, 9° Gruppo, 4° Stormo "Baracca" livery in Humbrol and Testors enamel paint colors, Italeri kit, SKY Models 72-014 and KORA 72-202 Macchi propeller blade logotype decals as well as spare AML Aeronautica Macchi C.200 pilot seat brass and scratch-made styrene sheet plastic detailing parts.

Technical Data

Aircraft: Macchi MC.202
Manufacturer: Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A.
Type: Fighter
Year: 1941
Engine: Daimler Benz DB 601A-1, 12-cylinder V, liquid-cooled, 1,175hp
Wingspan: 34 ft 8 1/2 in (10.57m)
Length: 29 ft 1 in (8.85 m)
Height: 9 ft 11 1/2 in (3.02 m)
Weight: 6,480 lb (2,937 kg) (Loaded)
Maximum Speed: 372 mph (600 km/h) at 18,050 ft (5,500 m)
Ceiling: 37,700 ft (11,500 m)
Range: 475 miles (765 km)
Armament: 2 x 12.7 mm SAFATs (0.5 in)
Crew: 1

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