Greetings Folks, Taken in the Battle Of Britain Hall, Hendon, this Fiat CR42 Falco was an actual combat lose during the battle! It was built in 1940 as part of a batch of 200 CR42 aircraft, serial numbers MM5510 - MM5709. The last biplane fighter in production (until 1943). On the 10th Sept, 1940, In an effort to boost Italian home morale and as a political gesture to the Germans, units of the Regia Aeronautica were formed into the Corpo Aereo Italiano (CAI) a force of some 203 aircraft including 50 CR.42s - to operate in support of the Luftwaffe from bases at Melsbroek, Chievres, Maldeghem and Ursel in Belgium, somewhat to the chagrin of the Luftwaffe itself. On the the 11th November 1940, The CAI made one of its only three recorded daylight bombing raids on the UK, this being its largest operation. From a reduced force of 10 BR20 bombers and 40 CR42s aiming for Harwich, the Italians lost three bombers and three fighters, with three more bombers crashing back in France and Belgium with wounded on board. There were no RAF losses - two Hurricane squadrons (Nos.46 & 257 and Spitfires of 41 Squadron) engaged the Italians, who were intending to bomb Harwich; two Hurricanes were however damaged. Two CR42s were actually shot down within 15 minutes, both belonging to the 18 Gruppo, temporarily attached to 56 Stormo, and carried the squadriglia shield (the claw of an eagle) and the Gruppo shield (an axe with three arrows diagonally enclosed in a vertical rectangle and the motto `ocio che te copo!'. The unit was also given the Luftwaffe designation 18/JG56. Twenty - two CR42s took off at 1200 hours from Eechlou (modern term, Eeklo), Belgium and climbed to 18,000 feet. Before the actual combat MM5701, flown by 23 - year old Sergente Pilota Pietro Salvadori broke an oil pipe, fell behind the formation, and the engine overheated. He pressed on and force landed on the shingle beach at Orfordness, Suffolk. C.¼ mile north of the lighthouse, at c.13.45 hours. Salvadori was taken prisoner and was apparently very proud of his landing when he simply nosed gently over on the shingle. When interrogated by the British, Salvadori commented that he was happy to be out of the war, was dissatisfied with the Italian officers, and didn't like Belgian weather, the Germans, or their food! So fully restored, though pictures show it needed little, it stands as I believe the only one outside Italy.. Except the one being built to fly at Duxford with the Fighter Collection. Yesterday went to National Railway Museum, saw something I had longed to see. Pictures upcoming if your good! lol Rob