italian and german use of RE2005 fighter during ww2?

can someone tell about air battles or missions with the italian fighter RE2005?

 

"Operational history

Artist's impression of an operational Reggiane Re.2005 in flight c. 1943


After flight test evaluations in Guidonia, the prototype MM.494 was sent to Naples to defend the city from B-24 attacks. Then, several more aircraft arrived at the same squadron, 362 ima Squadriglia, and in the next weeks, this unit displayed a lot more potency than C.202 units, claiming several B-24s for the loss of a pair of Re.2005s.[2] Italian "ace" Vittorio Minguzzi was impressed by this aircraft following its tests and combat debut on 2 April 1943. He wrote:

The aircraft is in ideal flying conditions at an altitude of 7,000-7,500 meters and can make repeated attacks on American heavy bombers in all positions and from all directions... I can therefore say that the speed and handling qualities are excellent even at 7,000 meters and that compared to the Macchi 202, the Sagittario made two attacks in the time required by the Macchi C.202 for a single pass.[3]
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This statement provides a realistic comparison between the two aircraft: in terms of theoretical speed, the Macchi C.205 was only 30 km/h slower, but the Re.2005's DB-605, coupled with its larger wing, provided a substantial improvement in performance at high altitude (the difference was less marked at medium-low altitudes, as the comparison with the C.205V showed).
Reggiane Re.2005 pilots claimed a total of seven B-24s and many others damaged by 25 June 1943. However, losses "claimed" seldom matched true losses (see as an example Macchi C.205, about the Battle of Capo Pula on 2 August when none of the 12 P-38s claimed was actually lost by the USAAF). At least one Reggiane was shot down as well, the MM.092343 of Lt. Moresi.
On 2 July 1943, 362ma was sent to Sicily to face the imminent invasion and were involved in combat with Spitfires, claiming on 11-14 July to shoot down five of them (two were confirmed kills; a reconnaissance Spitfire and another downed in a strafing attack over Comiso). Spitfires were tough opponents (even if many were only Mk Vs), with two Re.2005 destroyed as well (11 July) and the rest bombed or strafed on the ground. Only two aircraft returned to Sicily. One example was captured by the United States Army Air Force and sent to the USA. Little is known of this aircraft which vanished in the postwar period. While German and some Japanese aircraft were extensively tested, the few captured Italian aircraft (another example and still in existence, is a captured Macchi C.202) were not known to be tested, so detailed information about them and their flight characteristics, is not available.
In the meantime, another 10 fighters joined 362ma but when one was damaged in a steep dive on 21 August 1943, some concern was raised. On 25 August, MM.092356 was lost during another dive and so further flights were discontinued. It was discovered that at speeds over 660 km/h TAS(true airspeed), every manoeuvre could adversely affect the flight control in the tail, and then cause damage to the fuselage from flutter being set up, subsequently, Re.2005 pilots were forbidden to attain very high speeds (VNE 800 km/h), however, by that time, operations were winding down as the Armistice was taking effect.[2] However, in July 1943 trials, Cmdr. de Prato achieved a speed of 980 km/h in a dive with no loss of control, and experienced no flutter problems.
The production Fiat R.A. 1050 Tifone engines, licensed produced DB 605s, were limited to 2,650 rpm instead of the usual 2,800 rpm with a corresponding drop in power from 1,475 hp to 1,350 hp. The MM.494 prototype fitted with a DB 605 had a recorded speed of 678 km/h when flown fully equipped.[citation needed] The Reggiane had good handling in close dogfight actions and, according to General Minguzzi, who flew both the Re.2005 and the Spitfire, the Re. 2005 was even better than the Spitfire in tight turns and handling.[citation needed].
One of the few examples of combat reports, dated 11 July 1943, seems to contradict Minguzzi's statement, when together with other Italian fighters, Eugenio Salvi's Re.2005 "tangled" with Spitfires over Sicily. A Spitfire Mk V latched onto the tail of the Reggiane. Salvi tried all the tricks he knew: dives, tight turns, climbs, but the Spitfire remained steadily attached to his tail following every move, and then started to fire. Salvi's Re.2005 was struck by many bullets, and Salvi was sure he was going to be killed when the Spitfire just as suddenly vanished, possibly out of ammunition.[4]
As Italy fell, approximately 13 Re. 2005s were seized by Germany and were used by the Luftwaffe and the ANR (Aviazione Nazionale Republicana). The Luftwaffe reputedly used the Re-2005 for air defense over Berlin or, according to other sources, Ploesti. Other research indicates that the aircraft probably never left Italy. On 18 March 1944, three aircraft of the Luftdienst Kommando Italien (M.M.096100, 096106, 096110) were severely damaged at Maniago by an U.S. air raid, while at least three others suffered accidents at Maniago (096108: 16 March 1944, 096100: 1 June 1944) and Ariasca 19 April 1944) and were returned to Reggiane for repairs. As late as 31 July 1944, five Re-2005 were listed in service with the Flieger Ziel Staffel 20, which operated them from June to December 1944.[5] Sweden was interested in the Re.2005 (already producing the DB-605 under licence) but the order for 50 airframes was never finalized."

Reggiane Re.2005 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Re.2005's operational career began in May 1943 with the 362nd Squadriglia and used to defend Sicily and Italy against Allied bombers until 8/26/43. After the armistice, the Germans seized 13 and used them to defend the Romanian oil fields"

Comando Supremo: Reggiane RE.2005 Sagittario

"The Air Force ordered 750 Reggiane, but only few were produced.A series was produced also for the Luftwaffe.


The first Sagittarios consigned to the 362th squadron and inspected by Vittorio Emanuele III,King of Italy


In May of 1943, the first Sagittarios entered service with the Regia Aeronautica. The first prototype and several of the zero series aircraft were used operationally by the 362a Squadriglia, 22o Gruppo at Naples-Capodichino starting in May 1943, being used to defend Rome and Naples. The squadron had developed a rather daring method of attacking Allied B-17s which involved diving head-on with all guns blazing, then flipping the aircraft over on its back and diving away at the last minute.The Reggiane had good behaviour in close dogfight and , according to General Minguzzi, who flew both Re 2005 and Spitfire, was even better than the Spit in tight turns and handling.The operative life of the Sagittario was concluded by the Armistice , that came in the September 1943.


Several Sagittario ready to fly on alarm.
Re 2005 was used also in R.S.I. (Italian fascist Social Republic-costituited in the north of italy after Allies invasion)with good result and by luftwaffe.About Luftwaffe's use of the Sagittario many say that it was used to defend Bucharest and Berlin; their fate thereafter being unknown.At least one Re 2005 was captured by the U.S., and the fuselage of one Re 2005 survives in the Museo Aeronautico Caproni di Taledo in Milano, been restored by GAVS.
"

Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario project-history

"The production order came too late for the Re.2005 to see significant active service with the Regia Aeronautica before the Italian surrender. The 362nd Squadron of the 22nd Group received the aircraft, and used it against the Allied invasion of Sicily, but in such small numbers as to make no difference.

Twenty nine pre-production aircraft were complete by the time of the Italian surrender of 8 September 1943. The fate of many of these aircraft is unclear. Three fell into the hands of the Co-Belligerent Air Force, but a lack of spare parts kept them grounded. Three more were used by the fascist air force in Northern Italy. The Germans took eleven of the pre-production aircraft, but after that they disappear."

Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer)

 

Reggiane Sagittario​

The last fighter Reggiane built was the best. The Re.2005 Sagittario, which many observers considered the beautiful fighter of the war, represented the final development of the formula that bad been initiated in the 1939 with the Re.2000 Falco. The Re.2005 was completely different in many respects. Although the wings were similar in plan, the structure and profile were altered and improved. The landing gear were new, with the wheels folding outward under the wings. The plane was heavily armed, with three 20 mm cannon and two 12.7 mm machine guns. The well balanced lines of the fuselage were aerodynamically perfect. Everything about the plane was designed to the most of the 1,475 hp (1100 kw) Daimler Benz engine. Overall the Re.2005's performance was superior to that of its direct rival, the Fiat G.55 Centauro. The only difficulty was a certain structural weakness in the rear section of the fuselage. This defect appeared in the first phases of its short operational life, and at one point all flights of this aircraft were suspended until this problem was corrected.

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Work on the prototype aircraft began in 1941, and the first aircraft were ready in December. But four months were lost waiting for delivery of the engine. The engine was sent from Germany by rail but disappeared in transit. It was April 1942, before the new fighter was ready for test flights. The other two Series 5 planes were readied in the meantime, The Macchi MC.205V Veltro (greyhound) and the Fiat G.55 Centauro (centaur). The MC.205V made its first test flight on 19 April 1942, the G.55 on 30 April but it wasn't until 9 May that the first Re.2005 prototype took flight. The Reggiane fighter did make a flight the week before but it had been damaged in landing because of a weak landing gear strut.
Test flights and comparative trials displayed the Re.2005's fine features. It was fast and manoeuvrable. At 6,600 feet the prototype flew at about 425 mph (686 km/h). Large scale production was not ordered immediately. Only 16 0-series and 18 pre-series were at first ordered. In February 1943, and order for 750 aircraft was finally placed, but only 48 Re.2005s ever came off the assembly line before the armistice was signed and production halted.
The plane's operational career began in May 1943, when it was assigned to the 362nd Squadrigia of the 22nd Gruppo. The unit was sent to Sicily at the time of the Allied invasion. Late in June it was based in Capua and used in operations against Allied bombers until 26 August 1943. When the armistice was signed in September, many of the surviving Re.2005s were destroyed by their pilots to prevent them from falling into German hands. Mussolini's forces in the north did manage to get six of these aircraft which they used as trainers. Some aircraft (as many as 13) were captured by the Germans. Some sources maintain that these aircraft were used late in 1943 against Allied bombing raids on Berlin. Others believe that these planes were used as interceptors in defence of the Romanian oil fields.
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Reggiane Sagittario

 

thank you very much falkenberg!