4. Stormo CT

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4. Stormo C.T.


Stav 10. června 1940


Organizace


9. Gruppo C.T.


10. Gruppo C.T.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/4-Stormo-CT-t30940#111536 Version : 0
Probably one of the most famous units of the Italian Air Force. Gruppo (73rd, 96th and 97th Squadriglie) and 10th Gruppo ( 84th, 90th and 91st Squadriglie), both armed with CR.42 biplanes. After a brief deployment against Malta, Stormo was moved to North Africa in mid-July.
Bomber escorts, alerts, fighter sorties and defensive missions alternated without respite over the next six months, severely testing both the machines and the men who piloted them. Originally stationed at Berka (Benghazi) and El Adem, Stormo moved to Derna and then to El Gaza in September 1940. By the end of the year, the Stormo had been re-armed with MC.200s. The 9th and 10th Gruppi were the first units in the Regia Aeronautica to be armed with these monoplanes early in the year, but the pilots of both Gruppi preferred their worn-out CR.42s and so the Macchi were handed over to the 1st Stormo.
After completing the rearmament at Gorizia, the 4th Stormo took part in the spring invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece. The 9th Gruppo was rearmed with MC.202s (again at Gorizia) in July and then joined the action against Malta from Comiso on the southern Sicilian coast in late September. Meanwhile, the 10th Gruppo supported the bombing campaign against Malta from mid-June the unit lost ten pilots (including its commander, Tenente Colenello Romagnoli) by the end of August. In December the 10th Gruppo was withdrawn from the front line and on its return to Gorizia spent the next four months training on the new MC.202. After a brief two weeks back in combat over Malta in April 1942, the entire 4th Stormo was sent to Tripoli for its second tour in North Africa. It was led by Tenente Colonello Francois and engaged in much action over Libya and the west coast of Egypt from Martuba, Sidi Barrani, Fuka North and South, Abu Smeit and Benghasi airfields.
Gradually withdrawn to defend Tripoli with the remaining MC.202 in December 1942, the 4th Stormo returned to Italy during the following month. Both groups received several MC.205Vs to increase the combat capability of the existing MC.202s in the spring of 1943, after which Stormo was moved to Sicily to take part in repelling the Allied invasion in June. In mid-July it moved back to Crotone (southern coast of Italy) and finally moved in late August - the 9th Gruppo to Gioia del Colle airfield and the 10th Gruppo to Castrovillari.
By this time it was already 4. The 4th Stormo was probably merged with the Raggruppamento Caccia and served with the 5th and 51st Stormo in the Aeronautica Co-Belligerante (on the Allied side) until the end of WWII.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/4-Stormo-CT-t30940#140695 Version : 0
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