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#Post#: 10766--------------------------------------------------
Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: vonofterdingen Date: April 13, 2020, 4:54 pm
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This is another plane that falls into that controversial
category, “Possible Best Plane of WW2.” The Fiat G.55 Centaur
transcended all other Italian designs, at least, and was much
admired by the Luftwaffe. As for me, I will say that in addition
to being a highly regarded fighter aircraft, it was one of it
not the finest looking planes of WW2. Beautiful, fast, heavily
armed, high service ceiling, there is a lot to like about this
plane. I wonder aloud why we don’t see it in more missions and
campaigns. Perhaps it gets overlooked because it is just another
Italian fighter that bears a resemblance to the late Macchi
fighters. Whatever the reason, it is unfortunate.
From Wikipedia:
The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Italian: "Centaur") was a
single-engine single-seat World War II fighter aircraft used by
the Regia Aeronautica and the A.N.R. (Aeronautica Nazionale
Repubblicana) in 1943–1945. It was designed and built in Turin
by Fiat. The Fiat G.55 was arguably the best type produced in
Italy during World War II, (a subjective claim also frequently
made for the Macchi C.205 Veltro as well as for the Reggiane
Re.2005 Sagittario) but it did not enter production until 1943,
when, after comparative tests against the Messerschmitt Bf 109G
and the Focke-Wulf 190, the Luftwaffe itself regarded the Fiat
G.55 as "the best Axis fighter".
During its short operational service, mostly under the
Repubblica Sociale Italiana insignia, after the 8 September 1943
armistice, this powerful, robust and fast aircraft proved itself
to be an excellent interceptor at high altitude. In 1944, over
Northern Italy, the Centauro clashed with British Supermarine
Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning,
proving to be no easy adversary. Italian fighter pilots liked
their Centauro but by the time the war ended, fewer than 300 had
been built. By comparison, the Germans produced 35,000 Bf 109s.
The first Centauro to see operational use was the third
prototype. On 21 March 1943, the aircraft was assigned to 20°
Gruppo (squadron), 51° Stormo (wing) CT, based at Roma-Ciampino,
for operational evaluation. In May, the G.55 followed the unit
to Capoterra, near Cagliari having its baptism of fire on 5 June
1943, against Allied aircraft attacking Sardinia. The two first
pre-production series flew, respectively, on 10 April and in May
1943. In early June they were assigned to 353a Squadriglia
(flight) CT based in Foligno, Umbria, were, until August, were
transferred nine more aircraft. Pilots were delighted when they
began to receive the new fighter in summer 1943.
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In June, the first Serie I were assigned to Gruppo
Complementare of 51° Stormo in Foligno, near Perugia, but in
July the 11 G.55 of Gruppo Complementare were transferred to
353a Squadriglia, that already had in charge the "pre-series"
machines, to operate from Roma-Ciampino Sud airfield. The 353a
Squadriglia, commanded by Capitano Egeo Pittoni, flew many
missions against the American bomber formations, but the flights
were stopped when Rome was declared "Città aperta" (open city).
On 27 August, the Squadriglie 351a and 352a left Sardinia and
arrived in Foligno to be re-equipped with G.55. But at the date
of the 8 September the G.55 had not been delivered yet. During
the first week of September, 12 Centauros had been assigned to
372a Squadriglia of 153° Gruppo in Torino-Mirafiori. On 8
September 1943, the date of Armistice, the Regia Aeronautica had
received 35 G.55s. Only one of them flew to southern Italy,
accepting the invitation of Maresciallo d'Italia Pietro Badoglio
to surrender to Allied forces.
There still is no exact data about the G.55's captured by the
Luftwaffe or acquired by Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana.
About 18 G.55s were acquired by ANR while 12–20, or even 42,
according to some reports, were requisitioned by the Luftwaffe.
The Centauro entered in service with the ANR; a decision was
made to produce 500 G.55s, of which 300 were G.55/I and 200
G.55/II Serie II, armed with five 20 mm MG 151/20s and no
machine guns (one in the centerline, two in the upper cowling,
two in the wings). Only 148 were delivered to the ANR units
that, as the number of available G.55s dwindled, were
progressively re-equipped with the Bf 109G, of various
sub-versions, even though Italian pilots preferred the G.55,
with cancellation of production being extremely unpopular.
The ANR had two Gruppi Caccia terrestre (fighter squadrons),
the first was initially equipped with the Macchi C.205, from
November 1943 to May 1944, then, re-equipped with the G.55/I in
June 1944 until it switched to the Bf 109G starting from
November 1944. The 2nd Gruppo was the main unit equipped with
the G.55, of which it had 70 examples from December 1943 –
August 1944, before being progressively re-equipped with the Bf
109G.
The first unit in ANR to be equipped with G.55 was the
Squadriglia Montefusco, in November 1943, operating from
Piemonte until 29 March 1944, when it was absorbed by the 1st
Gruppo and transferred in Veneto. The 2nd Gruppo was formed at
Bresso. It was initially commanded by Lt Col Antonio Vizzoto,
and later by Lt Col Aldo Alessandrini. It had three Squadriglie
(the 4th, Gigi Tre Osei, the 5th, Diavoli Rossi, and the 6th,
Gamba di Ferro). The unit operated near Milan and Varese until
April 1944, then it was transferred near Parma and Pavia, then
again near the Lake Garda (Brescia and Verona). At the end of
May, the 2° Gruppo gave its G.55s to 1° Gruppo and re-equipped
with 46 ex I./JG 53 and II./JG 77 Bf 109G-6/R6.
With the ANR, the G.55s gave a good account of themselves
against Allied fighters like the Spitfire and Mustang.
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In game…
To me this plane is a dream to fly. It plays in game like an
Italian sports car. The G.55 turns, climbs, and dives in steady
and predictable ways. It has a powerful engine. Did I mention
how good it looks? Oh yes, I guess I did. And unlike most other
Italian fighters of the day it has sufficient weaponry to do
serious damage to enemy fighters and bombers.
#Post#: 10767--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: Beowolff Date: April 13, 2020, 11:09 pm
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Good show, Von! One of the SEXIEST planes ever made...beautiful
but deadly. I don't fly this wonderful bird near enough and in
fact, other than your nice article here had even sort of
forgotten about it being in the game (heaven forbid! LOL!)
Thank you for reminding me about it!
S!
Beo
#Post#: 10768--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: Beowolff Date: April 13, 2020, 11:22 pm
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An OLD G55 model that I put together YEARS ago and managed to
hang on to both model and box. A wonderful kit!
#Post#: 10773--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: vonofterdingen Date: April 14, 2020, 12:22 am
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I've had that same experience Beo of forgetting that we even
have this plane in the game. I don't understand why but I do it
myself.
#Post#: 10778--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: larsresult Date: April 14, 2020, 6:05 am
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Good choice Von. A fighter that gives you confidence against all
comers. In QMB I have bested all Allied fighters up to 1945. No
wonder the Luftwaffe was thinking of equipping the Berlin
defence with them. Lack of production facilities meant it was
not as numerous as it probably warranted.
Between the mid war Italian fighters - Macchi MC205N, Regianne
2005, and Fiat G55 - there was not much to choose performance
wise although the G55 had an edge. Post war the Macchi won
contracts because it was readily available for say the Egyptian
AF but I believe they would have preferred the G55.
#Post#: 10788--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: E69_Haukka Date: April 14, 2020, 12:39 pm
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It's a big plane, I've flown many times online, on the server
disappeared "Spits versus 109 Dogfight". I have adapted a single
mission to be flown in VP Modpack, I hope you all have this
great modpack, otherwise you are already taking a long time to
have it! I'll post that mission for G.55 in the missions
section. Thank you very much Von, for another very interesting
historical article. Cheers
#Post#: 10829--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Fiat G.55 Centaur
By: cafs Date: April 16, 2020, 5:32 am
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Thanks for another great PoW, Von. The final batch of Italian
fighters, Macchi MC.205 and Fiat G.55, were excellent fighters,
very maneuverable, fast and, finally, well armed.
The Macchi MC.202 was very good too, at least on par with
Spitfire Mk V and Me-109F.
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