ITALY'S AIR ARM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 18

ITALY'S AIR ARM.

NEW UNKNOWN CHIEF. RAPID IMPROVEMENT EFFORT. FIGHTER AHD BOMBER TYPES. LONDON, May 15.

When Benito Mussolini said recently that the Italian Air Force had won two wars and was invincible no doubt he ™i S<KK ! r litkal rea *°ns for making such a statement. But last Novembe? he strengthened his air force considerably by appointing quiet, discreet General Francesco Pricolo to be Under*r and Chief of A btaff Not wrfely known, nor much publicised, Francesco Pricolo is still «ftS SJVEg*'* Ital ° Balbo Pricplo had been Deputy Chief of Air Maff for seven years before II Duce gave him command of the Air Force. He haa a high reputation for staiff work and under his guidance a rapid improvement in the equipment and technical training of the Italian Air Force can be expected. It has enthusiastic leadership and the backing of an aircraft industry with a fine engineering reputaBut Prico, ° has » l>ig job ahead Whilst a considerable number of Italy e aircraft are obsolescent, authority has been given to increase strength by one-third, aud several new types are now going into production. Out-of-date squadrons' are beino , reequipped as rapidly as possible, but it is doubtful whether the Italian aircraft industry can obtain sufficient raw materials to fulfil requirements. It is, however, well to bear in mind that under the present regime there h>l3 been a big improvement in production and training on new types. Peak efficiency should be reached in three years. The Italian Air Force, like the German, is equipped with two or three standard aircraft types in each category. Probably the best known land bomber »s the three-engined Savoia-Marchetti 81 which, with the Savoia 79, played' a large part in the Spanish war. The other chief bomber type is the 8.R.20, powered with two Fiat engines. Among the fighters the Macchi 200 eingle-engined monoplane is the best in service, followed by the Fiat G-50, a single-engined. single-seat, low-win" monoplane. The C.R. 32 and C.R. 42 are both eingle-seat fighters, the former being the fighter type chiefly used in the Spanish campaign. For sea and land reconnaissance the types in service are the CANT. Z-501 and the R.O. 37 respectively; the frame is a eingleengined flying boat resembling the Dornier D.0.18 in appearance. For bombing operations at sea the service aircraft ia the CANT. Z-506, a threeengined float seaplane. Among the service aircraft used in Libya the Ghibli twin-engined monoplane still to be found. The well known Caproni Ca 133 ie an obsolescent type, which still serves in Abyssinia, but ie now being replaced.

On the personnel eide Italy's Air Force is loyal and enthusiastic; long service personnel are trained to a high standard, reserve personnel perhaps not quite so high. It is interesting and encouraging to note that the Italian Air Staff and flying personnel admire the Royal Air Force and consider British aircraft and pilots the best in Europe.