Fiat CR.32
Encyclopedia
The Fiat
CR.32 was an Italian
biplane
fighter
used in the Spanish Civil War
and World War II
. This nimble little Fiat was compact, robust and highly manoeuvrable and gave impressive displays all over Europe in the hands of the Pattuglie Acrobatiche. The CR.32 fought in North and East Africa, in Albania and in the Mediterranean theatre. The CR.32 saw service in the air forces of China
, Austria
, Hungary
, Paraguay
and Venezuela
. Used extensively in Spanish Civil War
, it gained a reputation as one of the outstanding fighter biplanes of all time. But then it was overtaken by more advanced monoplane
designs and was obsolete by 1939.
. Derived from earlier Fiat CR.30
designs, the CR.32 was a more streamlined and smaller biplane fighter. The prototype
MM.201 first flew the 28 April 1933 from the Fiat company airstrip at Turin
.
had same structure as the CR.30, utilizing aluminium
and steel
tubes covered by duraluminium on the nose up to the cockpit
, on the back, in lower section under the tail
, and with fabric on the sides and "belly". The wings and tail also had mixed structure, with aluminium frame covered by fabric. A notable feature was that the lower wing was shorter than the upper wing making it sesquiplane
. Aileron
s were only on the upper wings. Armament included initially two 7.7 mm (.030 in) Breda-SAFAT machine-guns (later two 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT), located on top of the engine cowling, with 350 rounds each.
The engine was the water-cooled Fiat A.30 RA. Designed in 1930, it was a 60° V 12, producing 447 kW (600 hp) at 2,600 rpm, inspired by the American Curtiss D-12
. It drove a 2.82 meter two-blade metal propeller with variable pitch
("a passo variabile") but only adjustable on the ground, not in flight. The engine did not use the usual avio-petrol but a mixture of petrol (55%), alcohol
(23%) and benzole
(22%). The main fuel tank, located between the engine and cockpit, carried 325 liters. There was another small tank (25 liters) in the "torpedo" fairing in the center of the upper wing.
Although fully instrumented, the RA.80-1 radio was optional.
. The CR.32 was well liked by its crews, being very maneuverable and having a strong fuselage structure.
The Fiat biplanes were used for many aerobatic shows, in Italy and abroad. When foreign statesmen visited the Holy City, the 4° Stormo, Regia Aeronautica élite unit, based in Rome, put on impressive displays with formations of five or 10 aircraft. In 1936, air shows were organized in other European capitals and major cities, and, during the following year, in South America. When the team returned a brilliant display was put on in Berlin.
built 100 examples under the designation HA-132-L Chirri, some of these remaining in service as C.1 aerobatic trainers up to 1953.
The Fiat CR.32 was used extensively in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the military rebellion against the Spanish Republic
. At least 380 took part in the air battles fought over Spain, proving formidable adversaries to the Soviet Polikarpov I-15
and Polikarpov I-16
monoplanes that formed the backbone of the Spanish Republican Air Force
. It had its baptism of fire in 1936. On 18 August 1936, the first 12 CR.32 Freccias arrived in Spain
and formed the Squadriglia "Gamba di Ferro", "Cucaracha" and "Asso di Bastoni" of 3° Stormo. Three days later, Tenente Vittorino Ceccherelli, Gold Medal of Military Valor
, shot down the first enemy aircraft, a Nieuport 52, over Cordoba
. In total, the Italian government sent 365–405 C.R.32s to Spain
while 127–131 were delivered directly to the Nationalist Aviation units. Six aircraft were captured by Republican FARE, with one sent to the USSR for evaluation.
Thanks to the agile CR.32, the Italians managed to obtain air superiority against its Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española loyalist opponents, that flew a motley collection of very different, often obsolete aircraft. The Fiat biplane proved to be effective with Aviación Legionaria claiming 60 (48 confirmed) modern Russian bombers Tupolev SB
, once believed impossible to intercept, 242 Polikarpov I-15
biplane fighters and 240 Polikarpov I-16
monoplane fighters, plus another hundred not confirmed. Fiat C.R.32 losses were only 73.
According to other sources, of the 376 Fiat shipped to Spain, 175 (43 Spanish operated and 132 Italian) were lost, including 99 (26 Spanish and 73 Italian) shot down, while, by January 1939, the I-15s shot down were just 88.
. He achieved 36 of his 40 victories flying the Fiat biplane. He used, until his death, the same aircraft, which carried the number 3-51 on the fuselage. On April 1939, the war over, while performing low aerobatics on his faithful 3-51, Morato crashed to his death.
Another Nationalist CR.32 ace was Capitán Manuel Vasquez Sagaztizabal, who claimed 21 1/3 victories with Grupo 2-G-3, before he was shot down and killed on 23 January 1939.
Comandante Angel Salas Larrazabal, after one kill flying a Nieuport-Delage 52, flew CR.32s, shooting down, on 29 October 1936, the first of the fast Soviet monoplane Tupolev SB-2 bombers to fall to Nationalist fighters. He shot down four more aircraft with the CR.32 before moving to a Heinkel He 51
unit. But after two more victories, he joined the new Grupo 2-G-3. With this unit, flying CR.32 again, he raised his score to 16, including three SB-2s and a I-16 in a single sortie on 2 September 1938. Capitán Miguel Guerrero Garcia achieved nine of his 13 victories flying the Fiat biplane: four I-15s, three “Papagayos” (R-5
s and Polikarpov-RZ
s assault bombers) and two I-16s.
, while 34 were stationed in East Africa
. When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, the CRs soldiered on into World War II. About 40 "Freccias" in Libya
were the first to see action, flying escort missions over Tripoli
. The first combat with British aircraft came the following day; six CR.32s intercepted a formation of Bristol Blenheim
bombers, shooting down two and damaging the other four, for no losses.
The greatest wartime successes achieved by CR.32 were in Italian East Africa
. Here, 410a and 411a Squadriglia CR.32s (that represented half of all the fighters operative in the Italian colony) destroyed a number of British and South African aircraft. Their opponents included Bristol Blenheims and Hawker Hurricane
s and 410a Squadriglia managed to shoot down 14 enemy aircraft before being disbanded.
The Fiats had their baptism of fire on 17 June, when the Cr. 32s of 411a Squadriglia, flown by Tenente Aldo Meoli and Maresciallo Bossi, attacked three Junkers Ju 86
from 12 SAAF squadron (bound to bomb Wavello), escorted by two Hurricanes of 1 SAAF Squadron. The Fiats shot down one of the Ju 86s and then pounced the Hurricanes, shooting down the one flown by 2/Lt B.L. Griffiths that was killed in the crash.
In the hands of a skilful pilot the CR.32 could still defeat faster, more powerful, better armed
monoplanes. On 23 February 1941, while he was attacking Makale
airfield, flying a Hurricane, Maj Laurie Wilmot was bounced by ace Alberto Veronese on a Fiat biplane. Wilmot was forced to crash land (and became a PoW). Soon after, Capt Andrew Duncan
hit Veronese, who bailed out wounded.
Fourteen CR.32s of 160° Gruppo and nine of 2° Gruppo from 6° Stormo saw action against Greece
in the first weeks after the attack of 28 October 1940. Eight more from 163aa Squadriglia, based in Gadurrà airport, on Rhodes
island, took part in the occupation of Crete
. CR.32s of 3° Gruppo operated in Sardinia
but in the period July–December 1940, their number had fallen from 28 to seven serviceable aircraft. The last front line CR.32 survived until mid-April 1941 when the "Freccias" were sent to the Scuola Caccia (Schools for fighter pilots). By 1942, the type was relegated to only night missions as newer fighters were put into service.
for China that already in 1933 ordered 16 (according to other sources 24) CR.32s of the first series. The aircraft had Vickers 7.7 mm machine guns instead of the Breda-SAFAT, electric headlights, the little cooling fins on the oil tank in the nose were removed and some were equipped with radios. They were based at Nangahang airport, near Shanghai. Some officers of the Chinese high command disliked the Fiat, but Chinese pilots appreciated that the Italian biplanes in comparative tests proved superior to American Curtiss Hawk
and Boeing P-26. The Chinese Government did not order more Fiats as it was difficult to import alcohol and benzole to mix with petrol for the engines. In May 1936, only six "Freccias" were still operational. In August 1937, the remaining CR.32s were used with some initial success in Shanghai against the invading Japanese. By late 1937 when the Chinese capital at Nanjing fell, all Fiats were lost.
. But in March 1938 the Austrian units were absorbed into Luftwaffe. After a brief period the 36 remaining aircraft were handed over to Hungary.
. The CR.32s, with the red/white/green chevrons insignia, easily gained air superiority over the new Slovak Air Force that lost a few Avia B.534s and Letov S-328
s.
During the short conflict against Yugoslavia
, in April 1941, the MKHL lost three CR.32s and, on 6 May 1941, the Hungarian Air Force had still 69 Fiat CR.32 on line. When, in June 1941, the kingdom of Hungary declared war to Soviet Union
, the CR.32s equipped two of the units that supported the Hungarian Army on the Eastern Front: 1./I Group of 1st Fighter Wing, based in Szolnok
, and 2./I Group, of 2nd Fighter Wing, based at Nyíregyháza.
On 29 June, the first aerial combat over Hungary took place, when seven Tupolev SB-2 bombers attacked the railway station of Csap and where intercepted by the Fiat CR.32s from 2/3 Fighter squadron. The Fiat biplanes shot down three of the raiders, for no loss to themselves.
in the second half of 1938 and equipped the 1° Regimiento de Aviación Militar del Venezuela. With five CR.32s still servicable, the aircraft were struck off charge in 1943.
A small number, estimated at four, went to Paraguay in 1938. Five CR.32quater fighters (registered 1-1, 1-3, 1-5, 1-7 and 1-9) were assigned to 1.a Escuadrilla de Caza of the Fuerzas Aéreas del Ejército Nacional del Paraguay. They did not arrive in time for military operations against Bolivia
, but were in service for several years.
CR.32
CR.32bis
CR.32ter
CR.32quater
CR.33
CR.40
CR.40bis
CR.41
HA-132L Chirri
Nazi Germany
Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
Paraguay
Venezuela
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
CR.32 was an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
used in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This nimble little Fiat was compact, robust and highly manoeuvrable and gave impressive displays all over Europe in the hands of the Pattuglie Acrobatiche. The CR.32 fought in North and East Africa, in Albania and in the Mediterranean theatre. The CR.32 saw service in the air forces of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Used extensively in Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, it gained a reputation as one of the outstanding fighter biplanes of all time. But then it was overtaken by more advanced monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
designs and was obsolete by 1939.
Development
The Fiat CR.32 was designed by Celestino RosatelliCelestino Rosatelli
Celestino Rosatelli was an Italian aeronautics engineer.Celestino Rosatelli was born in Belmonte in Sabina, close to Rieti, to Bernardino Rosatelli and Apollonia Santini. His parents noticed his brilliant mathematical skills and were able to support his studies. Sent to Rome to study engineering,...
. Derived from earlier Fiat CR.30
Fiat CR.30
|-See also:-References:*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1794...
designs, the CR.32 was a more streamlined and smaller biplane fighter. The prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
MM.201 first flew the 28 April 1933 from the Fiat company airstrip at Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
.
Design
The fuselageFuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
had same structure as the CR.30, utilizing aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
tubes covered by duraluminium on the nose up to the cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
, on the back, in lower section under the tail
Tail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
, and with fabric on the sides and "belly". The wings and tail also had mixed structure, with aluminium frame covered by fabric. A notable feature was that the lower wing was shorter than the upper wing making it sesquiplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
. Aileron
Aileron
Ailerons are hinged flight control surfaces attached to the trailing edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The ailerons are used to control the aircraft in roll, which results in a change in heading due to the tilting of the lift vector...
s were only on the upper wings. Armament included initially two 7.7 mm (.030 in) Breda-SAFAT machine-guns (later two 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT), located on top of the engine cowling, with 350 rounds each.
The engine was the water-cooled Fiat A.30 RA. Designed in 1930, it was a 60° V 12, producing 447 kW (600 hp) at 2,600 rpm, inspired by the American Curtiss D-12
Curtiss D-12
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.-External links:*...
. It drove a 2.82 meter two-blade metal propeller with variable pitch
Blade pitch
Blade pitch or simply pitch refers to turning the angle of attack of the blades of a propeller or helicopter rotor into or out of the wind to control the production or absorption of power. Wind turbines use this to adjust the rotation speed and the generated power...
("a passo variabile") but only adjustable on the ground, not in flight. The engine did not use the usual avio-petrol but a mixture of petrol (55%), alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
(23%) and benzole
Benzole
In the United Kingdom, the word benzole means a coal-tar product, consisting mainly of benzene and toluene. It was formerly mixed with petrol and sold as a motor fuel under trade names including "National Benzole Mixture" and "Regent Benzole Mixture"....
(22%). The main fuel tank, located between the engine and cockpit, carried 325 liters. There was another small tank (25 liters) in the "torpedo" fairing in the center of the upper wing.
Although fully instrumented, the RA.80-1 radio was optional.
Operational history
The new biplane was an instant success. After a period of testing. The first production orders were received in March 1934, and the type soon equipped the 1°, 3° and 4° Stormi of the Regia AeronauticaRegia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
. The CR.32 was well liked by its crews, being very maneuverable and having a strong fuselage structure.
The Fiat biplanes were used for many aerobatic shows, in Italy and abroad. When foreign statesmen visited the Holy City, the 4° Stormo, Regia Aeronautica élite unit, based in Rome, put on impressive displays with formations of five or 10 aircraft. In 1936, air shows were organized in other European capitals and major cities, and, during the following year, in South America. When the team returned a brilliant display was put on in Berlin.
Spain
In 1938 Spain acquired a license to build the CR.32. Hispano AviaciónHispano Aviacion
Hispano Aviación was a Spanish aircraft factory which began production in 1939, after a section of the Hispano-Suiza factory was isolated into a "Nationalist" area during the Spanish Civil War....
built 100 examples under the designation HA-132-L Chirri, some of these remaining in service as C.1 aerobatic trainers up to 1953.
The Fiat CR.32 was used extensively in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the military rebellion against the Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
. At least 380 took part in the air battles fought over Spain, proving formidable adversaries to the Soviet Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-15
The Polikarpov I-15 was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s. Nicknamed Chaika because of its gulled upper wings, it was operated in large numbers by the Soviet Air Force, and together with the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans during...
and Polikarpov I-16
Polikarpov I-16
The Polikarpov I-16 was a Soviet fighter aircraft of revolutionary design; it was the world's first cantilever-winged monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear. The I-16 was introduced in the mid-1930s and formed the backbone of the Soviet Air Force at the beginning of World War II...
monoplanes that formed the backbone of the Spanish Republican Air Force
Spanish Republican Air Force
The Spanish Republican Air Force, , was the air arm of the Second Spanish Republic, the legally established government of Spain between 1931 and 1939...
. It had its baptism of fire in 1936. On 18 August 1936, the first 12 CR.32 Freccias arrived in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and formed the Squadriglia "Gamba di Ferro", "Cucaracha" and "Asso di Bastoni" of 3° Stormo. Three days later, Tenente Vittorino Ceccherelli, Gold Medal of Military Valor
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
, shot down the first enemy aircraft, a Nieuport 52, over Cordoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
. In total, the Italian government sent 365–405 C.R.32s to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
while 127–131 were delivered directly to the Nationalist Aviation units. Six aircraft were captured by Republican FARE, with one sent to the USSR for evaluation.
Thanks to the agile CR.32, the Italians managed to obtain air superiority against its Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española loyalist opponents, that flew a motley collection of very different, often obsolete aircraft. The Fiat biplane proved to be effective with Aviación Legionaria claiming 60 (48 confirmed) modern Russian bombers Tupolev SB
Tupolev SB
The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB , and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934....
, once believed impossible to intercept, 242 Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-15
The Polikarpov I-15 was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s. Nicknamed Chaika because of its gulled upper wings, it was operated in large numbers by the Soviet Air Force, and together with the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans during...
biplane fighters and 240 Polikarpov I-16
Polikarpov I-16
The Polikarpov I-16 was a Soviet fighter aircraft of revolutionary design; it was the world's first cantilever-winged monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear. The I-16 was introduced in the mid-1930s and formed the backbone of the Soviet Air Force at the beginning of World War II...
monoplane fighters, plus another hundred not confirmed. Fiat C.R.32 losses were only 73.
According to other sources, of the 376 Fiat shipped to Spain, 175 (43 Spanish operated and 132 Italian) were lost, including 99 (26 Spanish and 73 Italian) shot down, while, by January 1939, the I-15s shot down were just 88.
Fiat CR.32 Spain aces
The top scoring Fiat CR.32 ace was Spanish Joaquín García Morato y Castaño. He was the leading Nationalist fighter pilot of the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. He achieved 36 of his 40 victories flying the Fiat biplane. He used, until his death, the same aircraft, which carried the number 3-51 on the fuselage. On April 1939, the war over, while performing low aerobatics on his faithful 3-51, Morato crashed to his death.
Another Nationalist CR.32 ace was Capitán Manuel Vasquez Sagaztizabal, who claimed 21 1/3 victories with Grupo 2-G-3, before he was shot down and killed on 23 January 1939.
Comandante Angel Salas Larrazabal, after one kill flying a Nieuport-Delage 52, flew CR.32s, shooting down, on 29 October 1936, the first of the fast Soviet monoplane Tupolev SB-2 bombers to fall to Nationalist fighters. He shot down four more aircraft with the CR.32 before moving to a Heinkel He 51
Heinkel He 51
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Donald, David, ed. Warplanes of the Luftwaffe. London: Aerospace, 1994. ISBN 1-874023-56-5.* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "The Cadre Creator...Heinkel's Last Fighting Biplane". Air Enthusiast No. 36, May-August 1988. pp. 11–24. ISSN 0143-5450.*...
unit. But after two more victories, he joined the new Grupo 2-G-3. With this unit, flying CR.32 again, he raised his score to 16, including three SB-2s and a I-16 in a single sortie on 2 September 1938. Capitán Miguel Guerrero Garcia achieved nine of his 13 victories flying the Fiat biplane: four I-15s, three “Papagayos” (R-5
Polikarpov
Polikarpov Design Bureau was a Soviet OKB for aircraft, led by Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov. After his death on 30 July 1944 at the age of 52, his OKB was absorbed into Lavochkin, but with some of its engineers going to Mikoyan-Gurevich and its production facilities going to Sukhoi...
s and Polikarpov-RZ
Polikarpov R-Z
|-See also:-External links:* * *...
s assault bombers) and two I-16s.
World War II
The aerobatic characteristics of the CR.32 and its success in Spain misled the Italian air ministry, which formed the view that a fighter biplane still had potential as a weapon of war. Consequently, in May 1939, prior to Italy entering World War II, the CR.32 fighters in bis, ter and quater versions, represented two thirds of all fighters in the Regia Aeronautica. A total of 294 were based in Italy and North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, while 34 were stationed in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, the CRs soldiered on into World War II. About 40 "Freccias" in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
were the first to see action, flying escort missions over Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. The first combat with British aircraft came the following day; six CR.32s intercepted a formation of Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
bombers, shooting down two and damaging the other four, for no losses.
The greatest wartime successes achieved by CR.32 were in Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
. Here, 410a and 411a Squadriglia CR.32s (that represented half of all the fighters operative in the Italian colony) destroyed a number of British and South African aircraft. Their opponents included Bristol Blenheims and Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s and 410a Squadriglia managed to shoot down 14 enemy aircraft before being disbanded.
The Fiats had their baptism of fire on 17 June, when the Cr. 32s of 411a Squadriglia, flown by Tenente Aldo Meoli and Maresciallo Bossi, attacked three Junkers Ju 86
Junkers Ju 86
The Junkers Ju 86 was a German monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed in the early 1930s, and employed by both sides during World War II. The civilian model Ju 86B could carry 10 passengers. Two were delivered to Swissair and five to Luft Hansa...
from 12 SAAF squadron (bound to bomb Wavello), escorted by two Hurricanes of 1 SAAF Squadron. The Fiats shot down one of the Ju 86s and then pounced the Hurricanes, shooting down the one flown by 2/Lt B.L. Griffiths that was killed in the crash.
In the hands of a skilful pilot the CR.32 could still defeat faster, more powerful, better armed
monoplanes. On 23 February 1941, while he was attacking Makale
Makale
Makale is a Turkish-Swiss-Italian hip hop crew from Basel, Switzerland. Original members are Casus and Cesaret . They first appeared on the compilation "Dar Beïda 04 - Impiria Consequential"...
airfield, flying a Hurricane, Maj Laurie Wilmot was bounced by ace Alberto Veronese on a Fiat biplane. Wilmot was forced to crash land (and became a PoW). Soon after, Capt Andrew Duncan
Andrew Duncan
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, GBE was a British businessman who was brought into government during the Second World War, serving twice as both President of the Board of Trade and Minister of Supply....
hit Veronese, who bailed out wounded.
Fourteen CR.32s of 160° Gruppo and nine of 2° Gruppo from 6° Stormo saw action against Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in the first weeks after the attack of 28 October 1940. Eight more from 163aa Squadriglia, based in Gadurrà airport, on Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
island, took part in the occupation of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. CR.32s of 3° Gruppo operated in Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
but in the period July–December 1940, their number had fallen from 28 to seven serviceable aircraft. The last front line CR.32 survived until mid-April 1941 when the "Freccias" were sent to the Scuola Caccia (Schools for fighter pilots). By 1942, the type was relegated to only night missions as newer fighters were put into service.
China
The first international operator of the CR.32 was Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
for China that already in 1933 ordered 16 (according to other sources 24) CR.32s of the first series. The aircraft had Vickers 7.7 mm machine guns instead of the Breda-SAFAT, electric headlights, the little cooling fins on the oil tank in the nose were removed and some were equipped with radios. They were based at Nangahang airport, near Shanghai. Some officers of the Chinese high command disliked the Fiat, but Chinese pilots appreciated that the Italian biplanes in comparative tests proved superior to American Curtiss Hawk
BF2C Goshawk
-External links:*** Popular Science, July 1934...
and Boeing P-26. The Chinese Government did not order more Fiats as it was difficult to import alcohol and benzole to mix with petrol for the engines. In May 1936, only six "Freccias" were still operational. In August 1937, the remaining CR.32s were used with some initial success in Shanghai against the invading Japanese. By late 1937 when the Chinese capital at Nanjing fell, all Fiats were lost.
Austria
In spring 1936 45 CR.32s were ordered by Austria to equip Jagdgeschwader II at Wiener NeustadtWiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
. But in March 1938 the Austrian units were absorbed into Luftwaffe. After a brief period the 36 remaining aircraft were handed over to Hungary.
Hungary
The Magyar Királyi Honvéd Légierő, the Royal Hungarian Air Force, acquired a total of 76 CR.32s in 1935 and 1936. MKHL Fiat biplanes had their baptisme of fire in 1939, during the short conflict with the new state of SlovakiaSlovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. The CR.32s, with the red/white/green chevrons insignia, easily gained air superiority over the new Slovak Air Force that lost a few Avia B.534s and Letov S-328
Letov Š-328
- Bibliography :* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven - Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. London:Macdonald, 1967....
s.
During the short conflict against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, in April 1941, the MKHL lost three CR.32s and, on 6 May 1941, the Hungarian Air Force had still 69 Fiat CR.32 on line. When, in June 1941, the kingdom of Hungary declared war to Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the CR.32s equipped two of the units that supported the Hungarian Army on the Eastern Front: 1./I Group of 1st Fighter Wing, based in Szolnok
Szolnok
Szolnok is the county seat of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county in central Hungary. Its location on the banks of the Tisza river, at the heart of the Great Hungarian Plain, has made it an important cultural and economic crossroads for centuries....
, and 2./I Group, of 2nd Fighter Wing, based at Nyíregyháza.
On 29 June, the first aerial combat over Hungary took place, when seven Tupolev SB-2 bombers attacked the railway station of Csap and where intercepted by the Fiat CR.32s from 2/3 Fighter squadron. The Fiat biplanes shot down three of the raiders, for no loss to themselves.
South America
In 1938, Venezuela acquired nine (according to other sources, 10 aircraft ) CR.32quaters. Modifications included a larger radiator to assist engine cooling in tropical climate conditions. The aircraft were delivered to MaracayMaracay
Maracay is a city in north-central Venezuela, near the Caribbean coast, and is the capital and most important city of the state of Aragua. Most of it falls under the jurisdiction of the Girardot Municipality. The population as per the 2001 census was 750,000...
in the second half of 1938 and equipped the 1° Regimiento de Aviación Militar del Venezuela. With five CR.32s still servicable, the aircraft were struck off charge in 1943.
A small number, estimated at four, went to Paraguay in 1938. Five CR.32quater fighters (registered 1-1, 1-3, 1-5, 1-7 and 1-9) were assigned to 1.a Escuadrilla de Caza of the Fuerzas Aéreas del Ejército Nacional del Paraguay. They did not arrive in time for military operations against Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, but were in service for several years.
Variants
The Regia Aeronautica ordered 1,080 CR.32s (including the two prototypes and 23 aircraft rebuilt by SCA factory in Guidonia, near Rome, plus 52 without military registry numbers for Hungary). With 100 more CR.32quaters licence-built in Spain (as the Hispano Ha. 132L Chirri), the total CR.32 production numbers range from 1,306 to 1,332 examples.CR.32
- Armed with twin 7.7 mm (.303 in) or 12.7 mm (.5 in) machine guns and powered by 447 kW (600 hp) Fiat A.30 RAbis engine. Delivered to the Regia Aeronautica between March 1934 and February 1936.
CR.32bis
- Close-supportClose air supportIn military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
fighter version armed with twin Breda-SAFAT Mod.1928Av. 7.7 mm (.303 in) (a common field modification was to discard the 7.7 mm armament to reduce weight) and twin 12.7 mm (.5 in) machine guns. Bomb racks with ability to carry 100 kg (220 lb) bombload possible: 1 × 100 kg (220 lb) or 2 × 50 kg (110 lb).
CR.32ter
- Revised CR.32bis with many improved features.
CR.32quater
- Revised CR.32ter with reduced weight, added radio and max speed 356 km/h (221 mph) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft); 337 built for the Regia Aeronautica.
CR.33
- Only three prototypes were built.
CR.40
- One prototype powered by a Bristol MercuryBristol Mercury|-See also:-Bibliography:* Bridgman, L, Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
IV radial engineRadial engineThe radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
.
CR.40bis
- One prototype only.
CR.41
- One prototype only.
HA-132L Chirri
- Spanish version; 100 were built and 49 more of those used during the war were re-built. A total of 40 were transformed into two-seaters and kept in service as an aerobatic trainerTrainer (aircraft)A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
till 1953.
Operators
- Austrian Air ForceAustrian Air Force (1927-1938)The Austrian Air Force of the interwar period began as a paramilitary organisation and was secretly built up by the government before union with Germany .- History :...
received 45 CR.32bis aircraft
- Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Nazi Germany
- LuftwaffeLuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
operated former Austrian aircraft
- Royal Hungarian Air Force
Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
- Regia AeronauticaRegia AeronauticaThe Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
Paraguay
- Paraguayan Air Arm ordered five aircraft in 1938.
- Spanish Air ForceSpanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
Venezuela
- Venezuelan Air Force ordered nine aircraft in 1938.