Fiat C.R. 32 Chirri 1/72 Scale Model

Italian C.R. 32 - This is a model of a biplane fighter that flew against the British-led invasion of Italian East Africa during 1940 and 1941. Despite its obsolescence, about 300 C.R. 32s were still in front line service when Italy entered WWII in June 1940. The C.R. 32 initially entered Italian service in 1934 and its production continued until 1939. It first saw combat in Spain in 1936, with the Nationalists and the Aviazione Legionaria, the Italian air force contingent sent by Mussolini to support the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalists gave it the nickname of "Chirri." In addition to the almost 400 C.R. 32s provided by Italy, the Nationalists built 100 of their own under a license. It was their primarily fighter, and achieved air superiority and victory over the Republican air force, composed mostly of Polikarpov fighters obtained from the Soviets. Exported Italian C.R. 32s also saw action flying for China and Hungary. The Chinese C.R. 32s saw action against the Japanese invasion of 1937. The Hungarian C.R. 32s saw action against Slovakia 1939, and during the invasions of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union in 1941. The C.R.32 was the predecessor to the C.R.42.

More Photos: Left, Right, Top, Front Angle Right, Front Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Above Right Above Left

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Aircraft of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, Gerald Howson

Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II, David Mondey

Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42, Christopher Shores

Fiat CR.32 Gianni Cattaneo

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Fighters Over the Desert: The Air Battles in the Western Desert. June 1940 to December 1942, Christopher Shores

Ground Attack Aircraft of WWII, Christopher Shores

Hungarian Air Force WWII,George Punka

In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945, John Cochrane

Italian Aces of WWII, Giorgio Apostolo

Italian Aircraft of WWII, Nico Sgarlato

Regia Aeronautica: Pictorial History of the Italian Air Force 1940-1943, Christopher Shores

Spanish Civil War Air Forces, Christopher Shores