Italian Macchi C.205 "Veltro" fighters in service with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana

Italian Macchi C.205 "Veltro" fighters in service with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana still wearing Luftwaffe markings in early 1944

The Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana was the air force of the Italian Social Republic, the World War II German puppet state in Italy after the 1943 armistice divided the nation. It received numbers of Italian aircraft, later augmented with their own local production, and further aircraft from Germany. This force was opposed to the Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, the Italian pro-Allied air force, though they never actually met in combat.

The Macchi C.205 Veltro was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, this plane was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. The C.205 was a development of the earlier C.202 Folgore. With a top speed of around 640 km/h and equipped with a pair of 20mm cannon as well as 12.7mm Breda machine guns, the C.205 was highly respected by Allied and Axis pilots alike. Widely regarded as one of the best Italian fighters of World War II, it proved to be extremely effective, destroying a significant number of Allied bombers. The Macchi C. 205 also proved capable of meeting advanced Allied fighters on relatively equal terms.

While able to match the best Allied opponents in speed and maneuverability, the type's impact was limited as it was introduced late in the conflict. Due to the limitations of the Italian war economy, only a small production run was delivered before the end of the war. Like the Spitfire, the Veltro was challenging in its construction and slow to build. Italy's highest-scoring ace, Adriano Visconti, achieved 11 of his 26 credited victories in the few weeks he was able to fly the Veltro, with Sergente Maggiore pilota Luigi Gorrini shooting down 14 enemy aircraft plus six damaged with the C.205.

A total of 29 C.205s reached northern airfields to be used by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. Macchi produced the remaining 72 aircraft of the third series for the ANR before production was shut down by Allied bombing in May 1944. Statistics on aircraft production post-Armistice are unclear and incomplete. In general, C.205s fought well in ANR service: they were attached to units that had homogeneous equipment, or at least of comparable quality, and were guided by German radar stations. Though few in number, they achieved success in inflicting losses on Allied bombers and fighters.

A few Veltros were delivered to 3° Gruppo, based in Vicenza, while further Veltros were scattered throughout other small units. The 1° Gruppo C.T. of the ANR based at the Campoformido airfield was equipped with C.205 and its first operation on 3 January 1944 was a success. led by Italian ace Capitano Adriano Visconti, a formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and their escort of Lockheed P-38 Lightnings bombing factories in Villar Perosa was intercepted, and four of the escorts were shot down. The aircraft were still in Luftwaffe markings as seen in this footage. On 28 January, the C.205s, now with Italian markings, succeeded in shooting down a B-24 Liberator, their first four-engined American bomber. This air victory was credited to Sergente Marconcini, Visconti's wingman.

By 25 February, 1° Gruppo C.T. had reported 26 victories for nine losses. An extremely bitter aerial combat took place on 11 March, where the Italians claimed 12 victories while losing three of their own pilots. These included 1st Lt Boscutti, who was reportedly killed by gunfire from a US P-38 Lightning after he had bailed out from his stricken fighter and was hanging from his parachute. On 18 March, 30 C.205s from 1° Gruppo C.T. and 60 Bf 109s from JG.77 tangled with about 450 Allied bombers and their escorts, shooting down at least four enemy aircraft. Corp. Zaccaria was killed in action, again apparently shot at by a P-38 after bailing out.

Allied bombing in April 1944 destroyed most of the Macchi and Fiat facilities, bringing fighter production to an end. With production interrupted, the Italians were forced to re-equip their three groups almost fully with Bf 109s, largely because the Germans were quick to offer some of their best models, including Bf 109G-6s and Bf 109K-4s. The Allies were less generous with the Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, and Veltros, including some upgraded C.202s, were slowly replaced with worn-out P-39s and Spitfires, but not before Summer 1944.