World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe G.50 Freccia ("arrow") fighters were the first Italian low-wing monoplane fighters. Armed with German Daimler-Benz engines, these Italian fighters were maneuverable and dangerous in combat. They proved their worth during the Spanish Civil War and in North Africa. Many of them also served in Finland during the two wars, the Winter War and the Continuation War, that she fought with Russia; unfortunately, their effectiveness was limited due to the lack of spare parts.

SPECIFICATIONS

G.50

Machinery	One Fiat A.74 RC38 radial engine rated at 838 hp
Armament	2x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
Span	10.99 m
Length	7.79 m
Height	2.96 m
Wing Area	18.20 m²
Weight, Empty	1,975 kg
Weight, Loaded	2,415 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,706 kg
Speed, Maximum	472 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,835 m
Range, Normal	670 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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1.  Hobilar says:
20 Sep 2007 09:21:07 AM

The comment that the G.50 was used in the Winter War is incorrect. In 1939 thirty-five G.50 fighters were ordered by Finland, but these were detained by the German Government and were not delivered until after the cessation of hostilities between Finland and the Soviet Union (1940). No.26 Squadron of the Finnish Air Force being the first to receive them. The Finns employed this fighter until 1944 when the survivors were relegated to a training role.

2.  Hobilar says:
21 Sep 2007 04:13:18 AM

In October 1940, forty-eight Fiat G.50 Freccias (from 20 Gruppo) accompanied the Corpo Aereo Italiano to Belgium. They were based at Ursel for a brief period but there is no record of them having been encountered in action over the British Isles.