3. Stormo CT

3. Stormo C.T.

Status 10. June 1940

The organization

18. Gruppo C.T.

23. Gruppo C.T..

Stav 10. června 1940


Podřízeno:


2. Divisione Aerea „Borea“

Formed in 1931, 3.Stormo Caccia was placed at the airport Torino mirafiori, when Italy declared war on Britain and France, was a unit subordinated to the 18. Gruppo (83., 85. and 95. Squadriglie) and 23. Gruppo (70., 74. and 75. Squadriglie). Both were equipped with biplanes CR.42 and were deployed to defend Milan and the Ligurian coast.
10. July 1940 happened 23. Gruppo autonomous, and moved to Comisa in Sicily, to participate in the first offensive against Malta. In this period of capitano mario Rigatti was awarded the Gold medal for military bravery, thus becoming one of the žijívích holders of this medal. 18. Gruppo was transferred to Belgium in October 1940, where he became part of 56. Storm.
Because it was about both Groups was 3. Stormo 20.may 1941 repealed, and a year later 15.may 1942 at the base of Mirafiori in north-west Italy. New 3.Stormo received back into the subordination of the 18. 23. Gruppi, which were now armed with the MC.200 and later přezbrojené on the MC.202.
In July it was 3. Stormo moved to north Africa, where 50 Mckee 18. Gruppo was deployed as a fighter-bomber, its fighter jets armed with 50kg bombs. Thrown against the infantry and mechanized kolonám at El Alamein with doproveodem MC.202 of 23.Gruppo, unit nezaznamena no significant success. Numerical superiority of the enemy a very hard time deployment of airmen 3. storm. The commander of the 3. Storm in this period was tenente colonello Tito Falconi, who had the good fortune of being surrounded by important pilots like Filippi, Solara, Solaroli, Tugnoli, Bordoni-Bisleri and Gorrini.
The beginning of the tunisian campaign, in January 1943, was 18. Gruppo moved to the base of Medenine and Gebes, and from these airports to the south of the country flying unit fighter patrols over the Italian lines in Marethu. The last move to Sfax on the tunisian coast of both groups, at that time was fighting a total of 65 fighters.
In march 1943, 3. Stormo returned to Italy, where it was initially placed in Caselle Torinese, followed by a move to Ciampina to defence missions against spojenckým raids on Rome. 23.Gruppo exchanged their MC.202 for 15 messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 early July, later supplemented by six MC.205V. The same number of MC.205V received also 18. Gruppo, later supplemented with four and six SAI WITH.207 light fighter planes that were allocated to the 83. Squdriglie. Months after the conclusion of the truce in July 1944 it was 3.Stormo renamed the Stormo Baltimore and armed with twin-engine bombers Martin Baltimore..