Fiat G.55 Centauro 1/72 Scale Model

Italian G.55- This is a model of a fighter that flew for the air force of Mussolini's fascist puppet state, the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR), against Allied bombers over northern Italy in 1944. Developed from the Fiat G.50, the G.55 was considered the best Italian fighter of WWII. Like the MC.205 and the Re.2005, it was outfitted with the powerful German Daimler-Benz DB 605A inline engine, built under license in Italy by Fiat. But only about 31 were put in service before the Italian government surrendered in September, 1943, and few of these saw any action. Afterwards, however, the G.55 became the ANR's primary Italian-built fighter as more than 250 were built in German-occupied northern Italy before production was ended by Allied bombing in 1944.

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

Air War Over Italy, Andrew Brookes

Camouflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, 1943-1945 Ferdinando D'Amico

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

Fiat Fighters Piero Vergnano

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 Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force 1943-1945 Ferdinando D'Amico