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The "Italian Air Corps" (Corpo Aereo Italiano, or CAI) was an Italian expeditionary force that participated in the Battle of Britain during the final months of 1940 during World War II. The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The CAI supported the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and flew against the British Royal Air Force (RAF). ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. The CAI achieved limited success during its brief existence. In general, the corps was hampered by the inadequacy of its equipment.

Contents

Formation

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini insisted on providing an element of the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) to assist his German ally during the Battle of Britain. The Royal Air Force ( Regia Aeronautica) was the name of the Italian Air Force established as an independent service from 1923 until the The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and On September 10, 1940, under the aegis of "1a Squadra Aerea di Milano," the CAI was formed. Air Marshal (Generale sa ) Rino Corso-Fougier was the CAI's Air Officer Commanding.

Aircraft

Supporting aircraft included the Italian CANT Z.1007 used for reconnaissance and Caproni Ca.133 transport planes. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

On September 25, the bombers arrived at their airfield, Melsbroek in Belgium. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those They arrived after an eventful journey which saw several planes force landed or even crashed due to malfunctions and poor weather. The fighter element arrived later at Ursel, also in Belgium.

Operations

On the night of 24 October, the first raid conducted by the CAI took place when eighteen BR. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat 20s took off to attack Harwich and Felixstowe. Harwich (ˈhærɪdʒ is a town in Essex England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. Not all aircraft found their targets and three were lost in accidents or after becoming lost.

The next major operation of the CAI was on 29 October. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II This date is regarded by some historians as the last day of the Battle of Britain. In response to a raid on several northerm Italian cities, fifteen BR. 20s with a strong fighter escort bombed Ramsgate by day. Ramsgate is a seaside town on the Isle of Thanet in east Kent, England. The Italian bombers were sighted crossing the Kent at a relatively low level. The bombers flew in formation, wing tip to wing tip. The open-cockpit, fixed uncarriage fighter escorts accompanied them in a similar immaculate order. The Italian aircraft were painted pale green and bright blue. This was camouflage more suitable for a more exotic climate than that found in Britain in late October. [1] Five Italian aircraft suffered damage due to flak. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces The next few days saw several small raids.

On 11 November 1940, the day before the battle fleet of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina Italia) was attacked at Taranto, the CAI saw its first major combat against the RAF. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Regia Marina ( Italian Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. The Regia Marina ( Italian Royal Navy) dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification. The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11 November 1940 &ndash 12 November 1940 during World War II Ten bombers were escorted by forty-two CR. 42s, the G. 50s, and some German Messerschmitt Bf 109s assigned to them. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The mission was aborted due to bad weather. However, Hurricanes from 257, 46, and 17 Squadrons intercepted the aircraft from the aborted mission and destroyed three bombers and three fighters. No 257 Squadron was formed at Dundee on the 18 August 1918 from Nos No 46 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 and has been disbanded and reformed three times before its last disbandment in No XVII Squadron (or "17 Sqn" is an active Squadron of the Royal Air Force. In addition, four bombers eventually force landed, two fighters were destroyed on landing, and another eight fighters landed with damage. British losses were two fighters damaged. One of the Fiats was repaired by the British and subsequently evaluated. Of the Italian fighter aircraft, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later wrote: "They might have found better employment defending the fleet at Taranto. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 "[2]

Fighter to fighter combat was no more successful for the CAI. On 23 November, the Italian biplanes were "bounced" by Spitfire Mk. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of IIs and two were lost with several damaged, in return for one Spitfire damaged.

Further bombing raids were carried out by the CAI, mainly on the Ipswich and Harwich areas. Ipswich ( ˈɪpswɪtʃ is a Non-metropolitan district and the County town of Suffolk, England on the Estuary of the River Orwell Harwich (ˈhærɪdʒ is a town in Essex England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea But, near the beginning of January 1941, all of the bombers and biplanes were redeployed. This left the CAI with only the Fiat G. 50s which remained until mid-April 1941 when they too were redeployed.

See also

References

  1. ^ Hough, Richard, and Richards, Denis, The Battle of Britain, W. During the era of World War II (1939 - 1945 the Kingdom of Italy had a very varied and tumultuous Military history. Fighter Command was one of three functional commands that dominated the public perception of the Royal Air Force for much of the mid-20th century W. Norton Company, New York and London, 1989, ISBN 0-393-02766-X, page 305
  2. ^ Hough, Richard, and Richards, Denis, The Battle of Britain, W. W. Norton Company, New York and London, 1989, ISBN 0-393-02766-X, page 304

Bibliography

External links

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