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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hopefully just a prelude: more to follow?, January 8, 2010
This review is from: Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces) (Paperback)
The Authors of this wonderful work are two of the most remarkable young aviation historians: Gustavsson is the leading researcher of the biplane fighters of World War Two; Slongo has shown his competence in the history of the Italian Regia Aeronautica.
This book chronologically describes all the major combats in which the last biplane fighter of WWII was involved (also in foreign - Belgian, Hungarian, German and Swedish - service).
The customary Osprey formula offers plenty of unpublished pictures from important Italian collectors and accurate color profiles by the well-known illustrator Caruana.
On the other side the publisher's policy does not let the Authors fully exploit their quantitative analysis of the CR.42 operations. The few data which nevertheless leak out tell a little-known story about the actual effectiveness of this fighter: despite its outdated design and the higher performance of some of its opponents (mainly the Hurricane), the CR.42 enjoyed an overall kill-loss ratio of 2:1 in its first year of war. This proportion is by no means exceptional, yet it is much brighter than the traditionally derisive image presented so far in the English literature.
Considering the competence of the Authors, many minor errors are probably attributable to a sketchy editing (hence the loss of the fifth star) and will be hopefully amended on one of the Authors' website.
However the content of the book is so innovative that it would deserve a more in-depth edition (possibly in Italian, nothing similar still existing in the country of origin of Rosatelli's fighter): that would be the right place for some additional considerations about the technical reasons of both unsuspected victories and painful defeats (engine, gunnery, radio, training...). Will Osprey give us soon a "CR.42 vs. Gladiator" volume?
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fiat CR.2 Aces of World War 2, January 24, 2010
This review is from: Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces) (Paperback)
This most recent title in Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series came up slightly short in my opinion. The book is, as usual, full of previously unseen photos, a wealth of information, and 40 glorious color profiles of the Fiat CR.42 as it was used by Italy, Hungary, Sweden, Belgium and even Germany during the Second World War. However, the authors presented the information in a chronological order, jumping from one theater of operations to another without any type of break or warning in the chapters. It led to some confusion as I read it, first reading about Fiat's flying over North Africa, then East Africa, then Great Britain, then Greece and suddenly randomly turning up in East Africa again or a different theater of operations. It would have perhaps been better had the authors dedicated a chapter strictly to each theater and not wandered around the Mediterranean, finishing ALL Fiat CR.42 operations in North Africa between 1940 and 1943, then starting the next chapter on operations in East Africa, the chapter after that on flying over Great Britain, etc. etc. They could have still done each theater separately without the annoying jumping around. They could have still presented all information in the book but in a much more orderly fashion, theater by theater. The authors should both be complemented though for their depth of research, follow up to the post war lives of some of the aces, unit histories, and photographic presentation of this seldom covered fighter aircraft. I give it a 4-star rating, and it is a worthy addition to your library.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
'Falco' Aces in Action!, January 19, 2010
This review is from: Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces) (Paperback)
It shouldn't be surprising that the top biplane ace of World War II was an Italian! While British, French and German pilots went off to war in sleek monoplane fighters, Il Duce's fighter pilots were, in the main, flying Fiat CR. 42 biplanes. Nevertheless, during the first two years of the war, Falco units turned in a credible performance, nine pilots making ace in Fiat's robust, maneuverable fighter. Hakan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo detail the exploits of those pilots and others in this fascinating Osprey 'Aircraft of the Aces' book, #90 in the series.
In the war's early years, Falco units saw combat over North Africa, East Africa, Greece, Malta and Italy itself, performing in the fighter, fighter-bomber and nightfighter role. The CR.42 held its own against RAF Gladiators despite the Fiat's weak armament and its lack of radio or armor. Arrival of the Hurricane along with effective RAF tactics that discouraged dogfighting Falcos spelled the end of the CR.42 as a first-line fighter.
From 1939 to 1942, nine pilots made ace, the top-scorer being Mario Visintini with 16+ claims. FIAT CR.42 ACES OF WORLD WAR 2 does a nice job of relating the combats flown by Visintini, Baron, Graffer, Canella, Bordoni-Bisleri and others. My knowledge of Mussolini's air force is somewhat lacking so I found Gustavsson and Slongo's book quite interesting and informative. The CR.42's service under Belgian, Hungarian and German colors is also nicely summarized in Gustavsson and Slongo's book.
Ninety b&w photographs help illustrate the Falco's combat career along with 10 pages of absolutely superb color profiles by Richard Caruana. Caruana is a top-notch illustrator and I hope Osprey makes more use of his considerable talents.
If your interest lies in Il Duce's air force, air combat in the Med or biplane fighters, you'll enjoy FIAT CR.42 ACES OF WORLD WAR 2. It sheds a light on a comparatively little-known subject and gives well-earned credit to some talented fighter pilots waging war in Fiat's tough little biplane. Recommended.
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