Italian Aircraft Camouflage and Markings

[harrison987]

Here's a question...

This was cut from an Italian Fighter by a NORWEGIAN PILOT, "apparently" during the Battle of the Bulge.






Info I have is this:

Was cut be a Norwegian pilot who was stationed with the 132 wing and was attached to 331 Sq in Grimbergen, Belgium. They were in operations over Belgium between 6th October and 22nd December. They made many, many sweeps and missions with their Spitfires and of course were for obvious reasons also put into the Battle of the Bulge against the Germans. They had many victories but also many casualties over Belgium and Holland.

BUT...

was recently given the following info:


-That emblem was only used until July 25, 1943. No Italian aircraft used it after that day.


-In Belgium, Italians were not using the Macchi 200 (Retired from front lines in 1943)


So...can anyone confirm or make light on any of this info?

Thanks!

mike

[jrb53]

Grimbergen is about 5 miles from Melsbroech. Thats where several of the Italian sqadrons flying the BR 20 where located in 1940 during the Battle of Britain. The Corpo Aereo Italiano also had several fighter squadrons (flying Cr42s and G50s) nearer the coast at Maldegem and Ursel.

Are you sure this came from a Macchi 200? And did the pilot claim he shot down the Italian plane? How large is it, the plaid blanket infers it's somewhat small.

This could easily be a case where a pilot found a derelict plane and procured a trophy. Lot of bad weather at that time and he would have spare time on his hands. Also, not too many stories of pilots landing and taking trophies like they could in World War One!

Jack

[harrison987]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply...

The emblem is around 13" in diameter.

The Norwegian Spitfire pilot did claim he shot this one down. Of course, like the US pilots and soldiers, sometime there were a lot of mis-ID's. Also, during the course of 60 years, info may get lost or misconstrued.

Mike

[Startiger]

Usually this emblem was applied in decal form (as the coat of arm in the white rudder cross).
Macchi C200 were not flown in Belgium but a Fiat G50 could look like a Macchi C200.. (it is the mistake I made when I was a child when first attempting to model WW2 Italian aircrafts)

[Marcogrifo]

Originally Posted by harrison987

Here's a question...

This was cut from an Italian Fighter by a NORWEGIAN PILOT, "apparently" during the Battle of the Bulge.

Hi,

IMHO there is some misinformation or confusion in this story: the Battle of the Bulge started in December 1944, while the Regia Aeronautica's expeditionary force leaved once and for all Belgium starting from January 1941 (two fighter squadrons stayed there until April).

Cheers