Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore

Download or read book Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore written by Donald Nijboer and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-04-20 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An illustrated account of the Mediterranean clash between the leading RAF and Italian aces flying the Supermarine Spitfire V and the Macchi C.202 Folgore, respectively. The inability of the Italians and Germans to invade Malta proved decisive for Allied victory in the Mediterranean during World War II, as the islands provided the Allies with a base from which to project air power. Early Italian efforts to pound the islands into submission were supplemented by major German forces from January 1942 and in a few weeks the situation for the defenders reached a critical stage; in response, in March 1942 the first Spitfires were delivered to Malta. This book explores the summer that C.202s fought over Malta, escorting tiny formations of Cant Z.1007s, SM.79s and Ju 88s. The fighting subsided in August and September, but grew in strength with the arrival of more C.202s. In October the Regia Aeronautica could muster three Gruppi with a total of 74 C.202s. For ten days the Italians pressed a relentless attack before attrition brought the offensive to a halt. Throughout the bombing campaign the British were able to supply Malta with ever increasing numbers of Spitfires, and this book highlights their significance.