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"American aircrasft production is all show. Deigned to impress at air shows, but lack the robust qualities needed for combat." Ironically, American World WarvII arcraft would be known for how robustly they were built.
--Marshall Italo Balbo, the Italian Lindberg and Fascist father of the Regia Aeronautica
"America aircraft are built for comfort, not combat. They have heaters and cushion seats while our pilots fly with warrior spirit. Even if they could build 50,000 planes, which is doubtful, they woild be flying luxury cars, not weapons of war."
--Gen. Francesco Pricolo, Chief of Air Staff, Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Regia Aeronautica (RA--Royal Air Force) was founded as an independent service after World War I (1923). It was one of the most important world air force's at the time and into the mid-1930s. The RA fielded aircraft comparable to those of the other European powers. This was possible because the major powers were limiting military spending and Germany was not allowed to have an air force. The RA This air force was known as the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force). During the 1930s, the fledgling Regia Aeronautica was involved in its military operations in Libya (1920s) and more importantly Ethiopia (1935). The RA also supported the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). In Libya, Ethiopia and Spain there was no effective opposition. Italy's substantial investments, however, were poorly timed. Beginning about 1935, major advances were made in aviation producing advanced aircraft types that left the RA outdated. The new Luftwaffe benefited from this, but by the end of the decade, Britain and France were catching up and finding their air forces beyond the levels that Italy was capable. Mussolini was hesitant to enter the War that Hitler and Stalin launched (September 1939). Only when it looked like Germany had won the War did Mussolini declare war on Britain and France (June 1940). The RA had about 3,000 air craft, but only about 60 percent were serviceable. The RA did not play a role in the fall of France, but the RA did attempt to support the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain (September 1940). Only to find that RA aircraft were not up the standard of a modern air force and were quickly withdrawn. The RA was deployed in the Balkans, North Africa,and the Soviet Union with disappointing results. The RA supported by he Luftwaffe attempted to bomb the vital British outpost at Malta into submission (1940-42), but failed. The Allies began bombing Italy from North Africa (1942). RA fighter defenses were effectual. Italian designers produced some excellent new aircraft, but Italy did not have the industrial capacity to manufacture them in meaningful numbers. One source writes, that these aircraft "surprised Allied forces with their advanced designs and unexpected performance. While Italian aviation often takes a backseat in discussions about the war, these planes demonstrated a mix of innovation and engineering skill. Some even gained respect among enemy pilots, defying stereotypes about Italy’s wartime equipment."
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