Macchi C.200 Saetta
North Africa: Adding/removing wikilink(s)
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===North Africa=== |
===North Africa=== |
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Fitted with dust filters and designated ''C.200AS'', the ''Saetta'' saw extensive use in [[North Africa]], greater than any other theatre of war. The Macchi's introduction was not initially well received by pilots; in 1940, the first C.200 unit, the 4th ''Stormo'', replaced the type with the C.R.42. The first combat missions were flown as escorts for [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.79]] bombers attacking |
Fitted with dust filters and designated ''C.200AS'', the ''Saetta'' saw extensive use in [[North Africa]], greater than any other theatre of war. The Macchi's introduction was not initially well received by pilots; in 1940, the first C.200 unit, the 4th ''Stormo'', replaced the type with the C.R.42. The first combat missions were flown as escorts for [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.79]] bombers attacking Malta in June 1940, where one C.200 was claimed by a Gladiator. On 11 June 1940, second day of war for Italy, the C.200s of 79a ''Squadriglia'' encountered one of the Sea Gladiators that had been scrambled from [[Hal Far]], Malta. Flying Officer W. J. Wood claimed ''Tenente'' Giuseppe Pesola had been shot down, but the Italian pilot came back unscathed to his base.Malizia 2006, p. 28. |
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[[File:A formation of Macchi C.200s escorting bombers.jpg|thumb|left|A formation of Macchi C.200s escorting bombers, probably on a mission to [[Malta]] and [[Tobruk]].]] |
[[File:A formation of Macchi C.200s escorting bombers.jpg|thumb|left|A formation of Macchi C.200s escorting bombers, probably on a mission to [[Malta]] and [[Tobruk]].]] |
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