Macchi C.200 "Saetta" (and "some" C.202), flown by a British pilot. Comparative test

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by Insuber

I agree, the book aim is not to blame anyone, and I never said that, it's only a concept that I read within the lines:

"if the 202 bore any resemblance to my 200, then the Eyeties (Brit. informal, derogatory Italian or an Italian) should have been knocking down our Kittyhawks like ninepins; and , earlier on in the war, *the 200's should have done much better than they did*"

"Sleek, supremely fast - the sight of their high, white-crossed fin would have struck fear into our hearts *had the Italians pressed home their attacks*"

I think that's the old "they boom and zoom, they ought to turn fight (then we'd get them)" that the RAF fighter pilots usually said of the Germans. It used to be said that the Italian forces weren't as committed to the fight as the Germans, I don't have any independant evidence for that (the main sources would have been allied, or axis), and it may well not have applied to their elite forces.

Just read carefully.

I did, I noticed those remarks, I just didn't take them particularly seriously.

Then compare with other books such as the one I quoted;

Much as I'd like to have these books, I don't.

my point was that this thesis (good planes, careful pilots) is quite different from what we normally read (daring pilots, not adequate planes or outnumbered). I thought it was interesting to point it out.

regards,
Insuber