Italian Fighters
Macchi C.200 ‘‘Saetta’’ (Lightning)
Macchi C.202 ‘‘Folgore’’ (Thunderbolt)
Macchi C.205 ‘‘Veltro’’ (Greyhound)
Macchi C.205N ‘‘Orione’’ (Orion)
The Macchi C.200 Saetta (also variously identified as the MC.200) (Italian: Arrow) was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy, and used in various forms throughout the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force). From the time Italy entered war on 10 June 1940, until her surrender on 8 September 1943, the Macchi C. 200 flew more operational sorties than any Italian aircraft. The Saetta ranged over Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia, across the Mediterranean and Russia (where it obtained an excellent kill to loss ratio of 88 to 15) [1] [2] dogfighting with the best Allied types and coming out on top. The Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter that could outclimb the Saetta. [3] Its very strong all-metal construction and air-cooled engine made the aircraft ideal for ground attack and several units flew it as a fighter-bomber. Over 1,000 were built by the time the war ended.[3]