Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War (Aircraft of the Aces)

The CR.32 Falco was a handsome and highly maneuverable bi-plane fighter. During General Franco's fight with the Republicans for the control of Spain from 1936 - 39, no fewer than 477 CR.32s were involved, with an astounding 709 confirmed aerial victories, and an additional 320 kills claimed, against just 62 losses. As these statistics reveal, the CR.32 was the unrivaled master of the skies over Spain. By the war's end, the five leading aces of the conflict were all Spanish CR.32 pilots. Their exploits, and those of the other leading CR.32 aces, are examined for the first time in English in this exciting volume.

At the heart of the Italian Regia Aeronautica throughout the 1930s, the CR.32 was both a handsome and a highly manoeuvrable biplane fighter. Some 400 were in service in 1936 when Gen Franco asked Germany and Italy for air support in his fight with the Republicans for the control of Spain. By the end of that year 120 CR.32s had been sent to help protect Nationalist transports and bombers, and by dint of their numbers, and superior performance over the German He 51, the Fiat fighter was soon tallying up numerous successes in aerial combat. Initially, CR.32s were flown exclusively by Italian volunteers, and by late 1936 the first all-Spanish unit had also been formed. In the thick of the action through to the end of the civil war in April 1939, no fewer than 477 CR.32s were involved in the conflict. Italian pilots flying the fighter were credited with an astounding 709 confirmed aerial victories, and an additional 320 kills were claimed by Spanish and other non-Italian Nationalist pilots. In return, just 118 Fiat fighters were lost to all causes.

Osprey Aircraft of the Aces

Comprehensive histories of the elite fighter pilots, and the aircraft that they flew

A unique source of information researched by recognised experts, and brought to life by first-hand accounts from the combat veterans themselves

Concise, authoritative text is supported by at least 30 specially commissioned original colour artworks, new scale plans and the best archival photography from around the world

The CR.32 Falco was a handsome and highly manoeuvrable biplane fighter. During General Franco's fight with the Republicans for the control of Spain from 1936 – 39, no fewer than 477 CR.32s were involved, with an astounding 709 confirmed aerial victories, and an additional 320 kills claimed, for just 62 losses. As these statistics reveal, the CR.32 was the unrivalled master of the skies over Spain. By the war's end, the five leading aces of the conflict were all Spanish CR.32 pilots. Their exploits, and those of the other leading CR.32 aces, are examined for the first time in English in this exciting volume. The CR 32 Falco was a handsome and highly manoeuvrable biplane fighter. By the war's end, the five leading aces of the conflict were all Spanish CR 32 pilots. This title examines their exploits, and those of the other leading CR 32 aces.