Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War – Aircraft of the Aces 94

The Fiat CR.32 was an Italian biplane fighter used in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. This nimble little Fiat was compact, robust and highly maneuverable. The Fiat CR.32 was designed by Celestino Rosatelli. Derived from earlier Fiat CR.30 designs, the CR.32 was a more streamlined and smaller biplane fighter. The prototype MM.201 first flew the 28 April 1933 from the Fiat company airstrip at Turin. The CR.32 fought in North and East Africa, in Albania and in the Mediterranean theatre. The CR.32 saw service in the air forces of China, Austria, Hungary, Paraguay and Venezuela. Used extensively in Spanish Civil War, it gained a reputation as one of the outstanding fighter biplanes of all time. But then it was overtaken by more advanced monoplane designs and was obsolete by 1939.

Osprey publishing newest addition in Aircraft of the aces library is titled Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War. Book is printed on 96 pages paperback and covers CR.32 clashes in Spanish Civil War. Book is divided in seven chapters and content is as follows:

• Blue Arena
• Fighter Escalation
• Forming of the Aviazione Legionaria
• Unit Reorganisation
• War continues eastward
• Last battles
• Nationalist Victory
• Appendices
• Colour plates commentary
• Index

Author covered with this book the most significant clashes of Spanish War that Fiat biplane was engaged. At the very beginning of the book author gives an interesting story about the time that first Fiat CR.32 fighters arrived to the battlefield. Upon arrival these planes started producing aces and overtaking the sky providing air superiority. Republican forces fighters were no match to CR.32 so by the end of the conflict many aces were established mostly on CR.32 Thanks to the agile CR.32, the Italians managed to obtain air superiority against its Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española (Republican) opponents, that mainly flew a motley collection of very different aircraft. 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. Not only Italian pilots flew CR.32 but Spanish also, and comprehensive list of the aces and units thy served can be found in the appendices section. 36 outstanding color profiles with commentary are also contained inside this book, and not to mention great 1/48 scale drawings.

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This is another great book in this most interesting edition for me as a modeler, and I can warmly recommend this title as a great and interesting literature filled with useful informations and great number of archive photos.  Book can be purchased here!

Darko Mladenovic

Sample book provided by Joseph McCullough, Marketing Coordinator Osprey Publishing