After Italy signed the Armistice of Cassibile in early September 1943, the Germans seized whatever materials they could obtain from the areas of Italy they occupied. This included several of the "Serie 5" aircraft - the Macchi C.205, the Fiat G.55, and the Reggiane 2005. These Italian planes marked the apex of Italian design, finally offering fast, agile, and heavily armed to its pilots. However, the Italians were too little, too late. Italian manufacturing struggled throughout the course of the war, and these designs simply could not be produced in numbers to have any significant impact on Italy's participation. But, these fighters did have a chance to serve.
The Germans incorporated the captured Italian aircraft into some of their jagdgeschwader but were not very active in engaging with the Italian planes. There was, however, quite a favorable impression of these three types by the German pilots, to the point where they were considered for manufacture in Germany. However, nothing came of this idea, and the Germans would release the planes back to the Italians.
The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana was the socialist air force that Germany allowed to be created a few months after the armistice was signed. The Germans were initially leery of the Italian commitment, but nearly 7,000 Italians joined the ANR, including several aces. The ANR really got its start at the beginning of 1944 with the formation of the 1st Group. In all three fighter groups, a torpedo bomber group, and a bomber group were formed, along with other support elements, and in addition an independent fighter squadron for a period. The fighter groups used a mixture of aircraft, but the primary types were the Macchi C.205 and the Fiat G.55. Later, as Italian factories were being targeting by the Allied bombing effort, the fighter groups switched over to the Messerschmitt Bf 109G.
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| Digging this splinter camo! |
The second book is Marco Mattioli's Mussolini's Hawks, The Fighter Units of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-1945. Published by IBN Editore in 2012, it focuses just on the fighters, but does so in 293 pages! This paperback book gives a day by day, group by group, accounting of the aerial activities of the fighter units, at times with enough detail to sketch out some Check Your 6! scenarios. There are numerous black and white photographs and like the Gil Martinez effort, the translation into English can be a little hit or miss. There are no color profiles in this effort.
I'm sorry, you said you wanted a slew of artwork on the ANR? Then I have the book for you - in 2005 Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini co-authored Camouflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-1945, A Photographic Analysis Through Speculation and Research. Published by Classic Publications in 2005, this oversized hardback is the shite when it comes to the colors of the ANR. Fighters are featured (both German and Italian), but also included are bombers, transports, and scout aircraft. Within its 220 pages are nearly 400 black and white photographs, and numerous aircraft illustrations. While there are many profiles, the strength of this book, or I should say one of the many strengths of this book, are the views from above and below the aircraft. The details given to squadron and individual markings are nearly overwhelming, as is the coverage of the ANRs national insignia. This title is the painter's dream.
While I recommend all three titles, the costs for these limited in scope works might break the bank. If you want one book with decent coverage, then the Gil Martinez book is the way to go. If you are looking for scenario creation, then Mattioli's book is for you. And if you are going all in, then at the very least pick up Mussolini's Hawks and the camouflage/markings books.
