Fiat G.55 "Centauro" Sottoserie 0, M.M 91060 "yellow 3", squadriglia caccia complementare d allarme (complementary scramble sqn) "Montefusco - Bonet", flown by Sergente Maggiore Ennio "Banana" Tarantola (10 kills), Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana ANR (National Republican Airforce), based at Venaria Reale (Province of Torino) March/April 1944

Having received its planes from Luftwaffe booty stocks the squadrons (7 Fiat G.55, 2 Macchi C.205) task was the protection of the Torino FIAT aircraft industry against increasing allied bomber attacks. Note early "ANR-fasces" insignia and roughly overpainted traces of previous German markings. Attacking 117 intruding B-24 Liberators Tarantola was shot down by one of 40 P-47 escorts on April 25th 1944. He survived the war with severe burns and fractures and served in the post-war Italian Air Force, finally reaching the rank of maresciallo. He died in June 2001. His plane was finally recovered in February 2003. Knowing of the plan to salvage his plane he had desired to "touch his beast" only once again. One prop blade of his plane was posted on his grave.

Credits:

3dz model by Captain Kurt
cockpit and medium distance model Claudio Wilches
retractable tailwheel by RedEyes
Skin, medium distance skin and wingview by Fran_Zee

Fran_Zee
November 2005

Updated with Flyrights new improved 3dz model
Some smaller retouches and additional details

Fran_Zee
December 2006

Fran_Zee@t-online.de