World War II
The aerobatic characteristics of the CR.32 and its success in Spain misled the Italian air ministry, which formed the view that a fighter biplane still had potential as a weapon of war. Consequently, in May 1939, prior to Italy entering World War II, the CR.32 fighters in bis, ter and quater versions, represented two thirds of all fighters in the Regia Aeronautica. A total of 288 were based in Italy and North Africa, while 24 were stationed in East Africa. When Italy declared war on Britain and France on 10 June 1940, 36 "Freccias" together with 51 Fiat CR.42s formed the operational fighter force of the Regia Aeronautica in Libya. The first combat of the CR.32 with British aircraft came the following day; six CR.32s intercepted a formation of Bristol Blenheim bombers attacking the airfield at El Adem, claiming two Blenheims shot down and the remaining four damaged (compared with actual British losses of two Blenheims lost and two damaged), for no losses.
The greatest wartime successes achieved by CR.32 were in Italian East Africa. Here, 410a and 411a Squadriglia CR.32s (that represented half of all the fighters operative in the Italian colony) destroyed a number of British and South African aircraft. Their opponents included Bristol Blenheims and Hawker Hurricanes and 410a Squadriglia managed to shoot down 14 enemy aircraft before being disbanded.
The Fiats had their baptism of fire on 17 June, when the Cr. 32s of 411a Squadriglia, flown by Tenente Aldo Meoli and Maresciallo Bossi, attacked three Junkers Ju 86 from 12 SAAF squadron (bound to bomb Wavello), escorted by two Hurricanes of 1 SAAF Squadron. The Fiats shot down one of the Ju 86s and then pounced the Hurricanes, shooting down the one flown by 2/Lt B.L. Griffiths that was killed in the crash. In the hands of a skilful pilot the CR.32 could still defeat faster, more powerful, better armed monoplanes. On 23 February 1941, while he was attacking Makale airfield, flying a Hurricane, Maj Laurie Wilmot was bounced by ace Alberto Veronese on a Fiat biplane. Wilmot was forced to crash land (and became a PoW). Soon after, Capt Andrew Duncan hit Veronese, who bailed out wounded.
Fourteen CR.32s of 160° Gruppo and nine of 2° Gruppo from 6° Stormo saw action against Greece in the first weeks after the attack of 28 October 1940. Eight more from 163aa Squadriglia, based in Gadurrà airport, on Rhodes island, took part in the occupation of Crete. CR.32s of 3° Gruppo operated in Sardinia but in the period July–December 1940, their number had fallen from 28 to seven serviceable aircraft. The last front line CR.32 survived until mid-April 1941 when the "Freccias" were sent to the Scuola Caccia (Schools for fighter pilots). By 1942, the type was relegated to only night missions as newer fighters were put into service.
Read more about this topic: Fiat CR.32
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