Even though biplanes were clearly a relic of the past by the beginning of WWII, some nations still fielded large numbers of them. This was especially true with Italy which kept developing new biplane fighters in late 1930s and producing them until capitulation. Fiat CR.42 Falco is the ultimate expression of this technology and it produced a number of aces for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force). The leading biplane ace, not only for Italy but of the entire war was Captain Mario Visintini. Initially rejected by Regia Aeronautica for failing the medical test, he kept trying and first served successfully in the Spanish Civil War. In 1940. he was deployed to Italian East Africa where his squadron, isolated from their home country faced strong British and South African forces.

Sources:
Giorgo Apostolo, Giovanni Massimello Italian Aces of World War 2
https://amzn.to/3xVRRmQ
Håkan Gustavsson, Ludovico Slongo Gladiator vs CR.42 Falco: 1940–41
https://amzn.to/41t5Wpa
Håkan Gustavsson, Ludovico Slongo Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2
https://amzn.to/3SznOKR
Håkans aviation page
http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_...

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