Warplanes of the USA: Ohio, Dayton, National Museum of the USAF: Regia Aeronautica Italiana Macchi MC-200 Saetta fighter

Warplane Survivors USA: Ohio, Dayton, National Museum of the USAF: Macchi MC-200 Saetta

(Regia Aeronautica Photo)

The Macchi C.200 Saetta (Italian: "Lightning"), or MC.200, was a fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy. Various versions were flown by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) who used the type throughout the Second World War.The C.200 was designed by Mario Castoldi, Macchi's lead designer, to serve as a modern monoplane fighter aircraft, furnished with retractable landing gear and powered by a radial engine. The C.200 possessed excellent maneuverability, and its general flying characteristics left little to be desired. Its stability in a high-speed dive was exceptional, but it was underpowered and underarmed in comparison to its contemporaries. Early on, there were a number of crashes caused by stability problems, nearly resulting in the grounding of the type; these problems were ultimately addressed via aerodynamic modifications to the wing.

From the time Italy entered the Second World War on 10 June 1940, until the signing of the armistice of 8 September 1943, the C. 200 flew more operational sorties than any other Italian aircraft. The Saetta saw operational service in Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia, across the Mediterranean, and in the Soviet Union (where it obtained an excellent kill to loss ratio of 88 to 15). The plane's very strong all-metal construction and air-cooled engine made the aircraft ideal for conducting ground attack missions; several units flew it as a fighter-bomber. Over 1,000 aircraft had been constructed by the end of the war. (Wikipedia)

(Regia Aeronautica Photos)

Macchi M.C.200 Saetta (Crossbow Bolt), fighter.

A summary of the Italian expeditionary force operations included 2,557 offensive flights (of which 511 with bombs drops), 1,310 strafing attacks, and 1,938 escort missions, with the loss of 15 C.200s overall. The top-scoring unit was 362a Squadriglia, commanded by Capitano Germano La Ferla, which claimed 30 Soviet aircraft shot down and 13 destroyed on the ground.

Following the signing of the armistice, which resulted in Italy's withdrawal from the Axis, only 33 C.200s remained serviceable. Shortly thereafter, 23 Saettas were transferred to Allied airfields in southern Italy, and flown for a short time by pilots of the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. In mid-1944, the C.200s of Southern Italy were transferred to the Leverano Fighter School. A lack of spare parts had made maintenance increasingly difficult, but the type continued to be used for advanced training until 1947. A small number of C.200s were also flown by the pro-German National Republican Air Force, based in northern Italy. The latter was only recorded as using the type for a training aircraft but using them for combat operations. (Wikipedia)

(USAAF Photo)

Macchi M.C.200 Saetta, 357, captured in Italy by USAAF.

(ZLEA Photo)

(Valder137 Photos)

(Arjun Sarup Photo)

NMUSAFs Saetta carries the markings of Regia Aeronautica's 372ᵃ Squadriglia, 153° Gruppo.

Macchi MC-200 Saetta (Serial No. MM8146), 372-5. The NMUSAF's MC.200 was transferred from the Regia Aeronautica's 372nd Squadron in Italy to the 165th Squadron in North Africa in Nov 1942. It was abandoned at Banghazi airfield following the battle of El Alamein. It appears that it retained its 372nd markings. Captured by British forces, it was subsequently shipped to the USA where it was exhibited around the country to sell war bonds. it was later obtained by the New England Air Museum. In 1989 it was purchased by a private owner who had it restored in Italy by a team from Aermacchi, the original builder, before its acquisition by the NMUSAF. It is displayed in the markings of the 372nd Squadron of the Regia Aeronautica that it carried at the time of its capture.