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{{Short description|WWII Italian Fighter Aircraft}}
{{redirect|C.202|the 2024 film|C 202 (film)}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
| name = C.202 ''Folgore''
| image = File:Mc 202 folgore.sized.jpg
| image_caption = An early Macchi C.202 (no radio mast) of 81ª Squadriglia, 6° Gruppo, 1° Stormo CT, likely in Libya
| aircraft_type = Fighter
| manufacturer = [[Aermacchi|Macchi Aeronautica]]
| designer = [[Mario Castoldi]]
| first_flight = 10 August 1940
| introduction = July 1941
| retired = 1951
| status = Out of service
| primary_user = ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]''
| more_users = [[Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia]] <br /> ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
| produced = 
| number_built = 1,150<ref name="Skulski p. 12">Skulski 2012, p. 12.</ref>
| unit cost = 
| developed_from = [[Macchi C.200]]
| developed_into = [[Macchi C.205]]
}}

The '''Macchi C.202 ''Folgore''''' ([[Italian language|Italian]] "thunderbolt") is an Italian [[fighter aircraft]] developed and manufactured by [[Aermacchi|Macchi]] Aeronautica. It was operated mainly by the ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'' (''RA''; Royal ([[Kingdom of Italy|Italian]]) Air Force) in and around the [[World War II|Second World War]]. According to aviation author David Mondey, the ''Folgore'' has been considered to be one of the best wartime fighters to serve in large numbers with the ''Regia Aeronautica''.<ref name="Mondey p. 155">Mondey 2006, p. 155.</ref>

The C.202 was designed by a team headed by the company's chief of design, Italian [[Aerospace engineering|aeronautics engineer]] [[Mario Castoldi]]. As per company tradition, Macchi aircraft designed by Mario Castoldi received the "C" letter in their model designation, hence the ''Folgore'' is commonly referred to as the C.202 or MC.202. The C.202 was a development of the earlier [[Macchi C.200|C.200 ''Saetta'']], powered by an Italian-built version of the German [[Daimler-Benz DB 601]]Aa engine and featuring a redesigned fuselage for greater [[wikt:streamline|streamlining]].<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi p. 219.">Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 219.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 34.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 3-4.</ref>

During July 1941, the ''Folgore'' went into service with the ''Regia Aeronautica.'' In combat, it very quickly proved itself to be an effective and deadly [[dogfight]]er against its contemporaries.<ref name="Sgarlato">Sgarlato 1998, pp. 8–20.</ref><ref name="Winchester p172">Winchester 2004, p. 172.</ref> During its service life, the C.202 was deployed on all fronts in which Italy was involved.<ref name="Matricardi pp. 70–71">Matricardi 2006, pp. 70–71.</ref> During late 1941, it commenced offensive operations over [[Malta]] and in [[North Africa]], where Italian and German forces were engaged in heavy combat against British and later [[United States|American]] operations. The C.202 continued to be used in North Africa as late as mid-1943, by which point the type was withdrawn to support defensive efforts in [[Sicily]] and the Italian mainland following their invasion by Allied forces. It also saw limited use on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. Following the 1943 [[Armistice with Italy]], the type was mostly used as a trainer aircraft. It was also operated by [[Independent State of Croatia|Croatia]].

The Macchi C.202 was flown by almost all of the most successful Italian aces. During mid-1942, in North Africa, the ''Folgore'' achieved a ratio kill/loss better than that of the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-30 |title=The Italian C202 & 205 Fighters – as Good as Many of the Top Line Fighters of WWII |url=https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/the-italian-c-202-and-205.html |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=warhistoryonline |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Palermo|2014|pp=255–264}} The Australian ace [[Clive Caldwell]], who fought a wide variety of German, Italian and Japanese fighters during 1941–45, later stated that the C.202 was "one of the best and most undervalued of fighters".<ref name="Dunning p. 209">Dunning 2000, p. 209.</ref> The type also had well-known design flaws: in particular, like the C.200, the C.202 was prone to suddenly entering dangerous [[Autorotation (fixed-wing aircraft)|spins]].<ref name="Duma pp. 232-233">Duma 2007, pp. 232–233.</ref> Its radios were also unreliable, routinely forcing pilots to communicate by waggling their wings. The C.202 was lightly armed relative to its contemporaries, with just a pair of machine guns that had a tendency for jamming. To improve its performance it was developed into its successor: the [[Macchi C.205 Veltro]].

==Development==
===Origin===
[[File:Macchi M.C.202 MM445.svg|thumb|First ''Folgore'' prototype]]
During the 1930s, the Italian military authorities chose to adopt only [[radial engine]]s to power their aircraft; consequently, during the second half of the 1930s, the Italian aeronautical industry had been sufficiently de-incentivised to the point of completely avoiding the development of more powerful engines based on streamlined liquid-cooled designs, which would become popular abroad.<ref>Mondey 2006, p. 153.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 3.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 3.</ref> As a result of this preference, Italian aircraft manufacturer Macchi Aeronautica was forced to rely on the aging [[Fiat A.74]] radial to power its C.200 fighter. However, by 1941, the C.200, which was armed with a pair of 12.7&nbsp;mm (.50&nbsp;in) machine guns and capable of a maximum speed of 504&nbsp;km/h (315&nbsp;mph), was considered to be obsolete in comparison to competitors in production overseas.

During July 1939, the ''Regia Aeronautica'' requested that [[Reggiane]] construct a single [[prototype]] [[Reggiane Re.2000|Re.2000]] that was powered by a German [[Daimler-Benz DB 601]]Aa, liquid-cooled [[supercharger|supercharged]] inverted V-12 engine rated at 1,175&nbsp;PS (1,159&nbsp;hp, 864&nbsp;kW); this became the [[Reggiane Re.2001|Re.2001]]. At the time, the most powerful reliable Italian inline engine was the 715&nbsp;kW (960&nbsp;hp) [[Isotta Fraschini Asso XI R.C.40]], which was designed in 1936. During November 1939, the Italian automotive company [[Alfa Romeo]] acquired a [[licensed production|license to produce]] the DB 601Aa as the [[Alfa-Romeo RA.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone|Alfa Romeo RA.1000 R.C.41-I ''Monsone'']]; it was this engine that was to be used in the production of the C.202.

While waiting for domestic production of the engine by Alfa Romeo to ramp up, Aeronautica Macchi decided to import a single DB 601Aa engine; this was initially performed as a private venture without any state support.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 3." /> Macchi chief of design [[Mario Castoldi]] commenced work on mating the Macchi C.200 wings, [[Landing gear|undercarriage]], [[Vertical stabilizer|vertical]] and [[Tailplane|horizontal tail units]] to a new [[fuselage]] that incorporated the imported DB 601Aa.<ref name="Gentilli and Gorena 1980, p.5.">Gentilli and Gorena 1980, p. 5.</ref> During January 1940, formal design work on the new fighter commenced and, shortly thereafter, construction began on a single prototype of the design. Castoldi, whose background included working on [[Schneider Trophy]] racers design, followed [[Celestino Rosatelli]] as the main designer of new fighters for the ''RA''.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 3." /> His new project was robust and small, utilizing a conventional but complex structural arrangement based on his experience with wooden designs, and at the same time paying great attention to its aerodynamics (Castoldi had previously designed the [[Macchi M.C.72|MC.72]], the world's fastest aircraft of its time).

===Flight testing===
On 10 August 1940, less than seven months following the start of design work and two months after Italy's entry into the [[World War II|Second World War]], the sole prototype conducted its [[maiden flight]].<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8." /> The prototype differed in some respects from the production aircraft; the headrest fairing incorporated two windows for rear visibility, while production versions replaced this with a narrower, scalloped headrest. The square-sectioned supercharger air intake was replaced by an elongated round sectioned fairing, which was later redesigned to incorporate a dust filter. From the onset of flying trials, it was evident that the C.202 was an advanced design for the era, owing much of its performance to the use of the Daimler Benz DB 601, which represented a departure from the standard practice of using engines of Italian origin.<ref name="Matricardi pp. 70–71" />

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Macchi C.202 rear view.png|thumb|left|Revised and camouflaged C.202 prototype from the rear, showing the three-bladed propeller and wing profile]] -->
Following its initial flights, the prototype was flown to the ''Regia Aeronautica''{{'}}s main test airfield at [[Guidonia Montecelio|Guidonia]], where it reportedly met with an enthusiastic response from test pilots.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8." /> A speed of 603&nbsp;km/h (375&nbsp;mph) was recorded during testing, while an altitude of 5,486&nbsp;m (18,000&nbsp;ft) was attained within the space of six minutes; in addition, little of the favourable manoeuvrability of the earlier C.200 had been lost.<ref name="Gentilli and Gorena 1980, p.5." /><ref name="Cattaneo p. 3." /> Another of its positive attributes was its extremely strong construction, which allowed its pilots to dive the aircraft steeply.<ref name="Caruana">Caruana 1996, p. 175.</ref> The performance figures gathered during these tests indicated that Italy had caught up with both [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and Germany in the field of fighter airplanes.<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi p. 219." /><ref name="Cattaneo p. 3." />

===Production constraints===
As a result of the favourable flight test reports, the C.202 was immediately ordered into production; the first examples (built by Macchi as Serie II) appearing in May 1941.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 3." /> However, the complexity of the structure was not well suited to mass production, and resulted in a relatively limited production rate. According to aviation author Giuseppe Ciampaglia, in comparison to the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Bf 109]]E/F, which was rated at typically requiring 4,500–6,000 [[man-hour]]s per aircraft to complete, the Macchi routinely needed in excess of 22,000 man-hours.<ref>Ciampaglia 1994, p. 79.</ref> The growth of the C.202 project was slower than that of the rival Re. 2001 effort; but, by employing both mass production techniques and less expensive advanced technologies, the production cost was slightly less than that of the Reggiane Re.2001, (525,000 [[Lira|lire]] vs 600,000); this latter, the only other DB 601 fighter in mass production, was slower and heavier (2,460/3,240&nbsp;kg)<ref>Sgarlato 2005, p. 28.</ref> but had a bigger wing and a more advanced and adaptable structure.<ref>Sgarlato, Nico. ''Reggiane''. Lu-August 2005, pp. 26–27.</ref>

To expand production, the [[Milan]]-based industrial manufacturer [[Società Italiana Ernesto Breda]] was selected to also construct the C.202.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8." /> Breda would eventually produce the majority of the type.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 35.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 3, 5.</ref> [[SAI-Ambrosini]], based in [[Passignano sul Trasimeno]], also served as another sub-contractor on the C.202, ultimately building around 100 fighters of the type.<ref>Gentilli and Gorena 1980, pp. 5, 7.</ref> For some time, supplies of the DB 601 engine continued to be provided directly from Germany to supplement Italian production.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8." /> Throughout the type's production life, manufacturing was near-permanently constrained by the limited availability of the engine.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 12.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 12.</ref>

==Design==
[[File:Macchi M.C.202D prototype.jpg|thumb|The nose of a Macchi C.202D]]
The Macchi C.202 ''Folgore'' was developed from the earlier [[Macchi C.200|C.200 ''Saetta'']], the principal differences being the use of an Italian-built version of the German Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa engine and the adoption of a revised [[wikt:streamline|streamlined]] fuselage. Both the wing and fuselage structures were metal, with a single vertical tail, and a wing of relatively conventional design{{clarify|date=June 2022}} with two main spars and 23 ribs. The ailerons, elevators and rudder were metal structures with fabric covering.  The  trailing edge of the wing inboard of the ailerons was occupied by a pair of all metal [[Flap (aircraft)|split flaps]].<ref name="Gentilli and Gorena 1980, p.5." /> The undercarriage had two widely set [[hydraulics|hydraulically]]-actuated main legs retracting inwards into recesses in the wing;  the tail wheel was non-retractable.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4." />

The fuselage of the C.202 was a semi-[[monocoque]] structure, comprising four light-[[alloy]] [[longeron]]s and ovoidal formers.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4." /> It was significantly better streamlined than the preceding C.200 to increase performance by reducing parasitic drag. The forward section housed both the main armament and the [[Alfa Romeo RA.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone]] engine, which drove a Piaggio P1001 three-blade, [[Variable-pitch propeller (aeronautics)|variable pitch]], [[constant speed propeller]].<ref name="Cattaneo p. 34." /> As with the C.200, to counteract the [[torque]] of the engine Castoldi extended the left wing by 21&nbsp;cm (8.5&nbsp;inches) so that the left wing developed more lift, offsetting the tendency of the aircraft to roll to the left due to the rotation of the propeller. The wing was a two spar structure, attached to the fuselage center section via steel forgings; it was fitted with [[Flap (aeronautics)|flaps]] that were both statically and dynamically balanced.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4." />

The main coolant radiator was housed in a rectangular fairing under the fuselage beneath the cockpit, and the oil cooler was placed under the nose within a streamlined, rectangular housing.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4." /> From the cockpit aft, the fuselage was formed into a round monocoque structure; the aft fuselage tapered into the tail and contained the radio, oxygen and flight control mechanisms. The canopy was hinged on the starboard base and opened sideways. Behind the canopy, the pilot's headrest was fixed to a triangular turn-over pylon which was covered by a streamlined, tapered fairing.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 4.</ref> This fairing was shaped into an inverted 'T' which enabled the pilot to have a reasonable field of view to the rear. The unpressurised cockpit had an armor plate fitted behind the armored seat for protection. While early C.202s had a very short "stub" radio mast projecting from the fairing, most used a tall, slim mast.<ref name="Gentilli and Gorena 1980, p.5." />

Situated behind the engine and under the 12.7&nbsp;mm (.5&nbsp;in) ammunition boxes there was a single 270&nbsp;L (71.3&nbsp;US gal) fuel tank; all tanks were of the [[self-sealing fuel tank|self-sealing]] variety.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4." /> Another 80&nbsp;L (21.1&nbsp;US gal) fuel tank was placed behind the pilot, along with a pair of additional tanks, each with a capacity of 40&nbsp;L (10.5&nbsp;US gal), being housed in the wing roots; the total fuel capacity was 430&nbsp;L (113.6&nbsp;US gal).<ref name="Gentilli and Gorena 1980, p.5." /> Jettisonable tanks, containing either 22 or 33 gallons of fuel, could be installed upon some of the later built aircraft.<ref name="Cattaneo pp. 45" />

[[File:Macchi MC-202 (16760028958).jpg|thumb|left|A Macchi C.202 in flight]]
Initially, all the armament was fitted within the nose of the Macchi. Ammunition carried was up to 800 rounds (standard: 700 rounds).<ref name="Cattaneo pp. 45">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 4-5.</ref> An additional pair of Breda 7.7&nbsp;mm (.303&nbsp;in) machine guns was fitted in the wings in the VII series onward, but these, along with 1,000 rounds of ammunition, added 100&nbsp;kg (220&nbsp;lb) to the aircraft's weight and were typically removed by pilots to save weight, since they were relatively ineffective against most enemy aircraft in 1942.<ref>Sgarlato 1998, p. 33.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 3." /> A synchronizing unit allowed the nose guns to fire through the propeller disk, but with a 25% loss in rate of fire.<ref>Ghergo 2006, p. 12.</ref> A "San Giorgio" reflector gun sight was fitted.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 4." />

Australian air ace [[Clive Caldwell]] felt the ''Folgore'' would have been superior to the Messerschmitt Bf 109 had it been better armed.<ref>Ethell and Christy 1979, p. 51.</ref> The C.202 was lightly armed by the standards of the time carrying the same armament as the [[Fiat CR.32|C.R.32]], a 1933 design.<ref>Williams and Gustin 2003, p. 107.</ref> The C.202 carried as standard two 12.7&nbsp;mm (.5&nbsp;in) [[Breda-SAFAT machine gun]]s. The Breda design was as heavy as the [[M2 Browning machine gun|Browning M2]], the model from which it was derived. The Breda fired 12.7x81&nbsp;mm "[[Vickers machine gun|Vickers]]" ammunition —  while its cartridges were longer than the 13 x 64&nbsp;mm rounds of its German rough equivalent, the [[MG 131 machine gun|MG 131]], the 81&nbsp;mm Italian rounds were still shorter than the standard 12.7x99&nbsp;mm rounds of the American "Ma Deuce"; with the result that the energy at the muzzle was 10,000&nbsp;[[joule]]s vs. 16,000. The rate of fire was about 18 rounds/second (1,080 rounds per minute) or 0.63&nbsp;kg (1.39&nbsp;lb).<ref>Massimello, Giorgio. ''La caccia italiana 1940–43'', p. 11.</ref>

[[File:Macchi C202 Folgore 112511.jpg|thumb|A C.202 on display at the Smithsonian's [[National Air and Space Museum]], [[Washington D.C.]]]]
On 21 August 1941, ''Tenente'' Giulio Reiner, one of the most skillful and experienced pilots of 9° ''Gruppo'', flew the "military control flight" in Lonate Pozzolo, The ''Ufficio tecnico'' (Technical Bureau) recorded the maximum speed of {{cvt|1078.27|km/h}} in the ''Folgore'' in a vertical dive, with 5.8 G.  while pulling out of the dive. ''Ingegner'' Mario Castoldi, the designer of the 202 questioned whether Reiner had properly flown the test. In fact, during the vertical dive, Reiner had to face very strong vibrations throughout the airframe and in the control stick, while the flying controls were locked and the propeller blades were jammed at maximum pitch.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} The clean aerodynamics offered by the inline engine permitted dive speeds high enough for pilots to encounter the unknown phenomenon of [[compressibility]].<ref name="Cattaneo p. 5." />

The empty weight of the new C.202 (approximately 2,350&nbsp;kg/5,180&nbsp;lb) gradually increased throughout production, and due to the thickness of metal used it was also comparatively heavy, yet this class of aircraft was still considered lightweight compared to other contemporary fighter designs. The Macchi's mass was around 300&nbsp;kg (660&nbsp;lb) higher than the comparable Bf 109E German fighter, consequently, the power-to-weight ratio was considerably lower while wing loading was higher.<ref>Marcon, Tullio. "P-40." ''Storia Militare'', January 2001. p. 21, gives a ratio of 2.1 kg/hp for the Bf 109, 2.5 for the MC.202, 2.1 for the Spitfire VC and 3.3 for the P-40E.</ref> The relatively high diving speed of the type has been attributed to the exceptionally clean design of its fuselage.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 5." />

Some of the defects present on the new fighter could have been easily resolved, such as a tendency for the landing gear to inadvertently lower when pulling out of a steep dive, a machine gun bonnet that often broke, frequent jamming of the ammunition belts and the rapid crystallizing and eventual shearing of the air cleaner intake caused by vibrations generated by the engine. Other defects, such as the unreliability of the radio sets and of the oxygen systems and the limited armament could not be addressed with such ease.<ref name="Duma p. 217.">Duma 2007, p. 217.</ref> However, different types of radio sets and accompanying [[Antenna (radio)|antenna]] were installed in some aircraft.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 5.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 5.</ref>

==Operational history==

===Service introduction===
[[File:C.202 fighter taking off.jpg|thumb|C.202 of Regia Aeronautica 168ª ''Squadriglia'', 54° ''Stormo CT'' {{circa}}&nbsp;1943]]
During 1940, the ''Folgore'' was put into production using imported DB 601Aa engines, while Alfa Romeo set up production of the engine under license as the RA.1000 R.C.41-I ''Monsone'' (Monsoon). Due to initial delays in engine production, Macchi resorted to completing some C.202 airframes as C.200s, powered by Fiat-built radial engines. Nevertheless, by late 1942, ''Folgores'' outnumbered all other fighter aircraft in the ''Regia Aeronautica''.

The first units selected to be equipped with the C.202 Series I were the 17° and 6° ''Gruppi'', from 1° ''Stormo'', based at the airfield of [[Campoformido]], near [[Udine]], and the 9° ''Gruppo'' of 4° ''Stormo'', based in [[Gorizia]].<ref name="Cattaneo p. 5." /> Their pilots started to train on the new fighter in May–June 1941, at [[Lonate Pozzolo]] ([[Varese]]), the airfield of the [[Aermacchi|Macchi]].<ref name="Malizia pp. 92-93.">Malizia 2002, pp. 92–93.</ref> Although first deployed in mid-1941, the C.202 did not see action until later that year; this delay came as a consequence of the many defects that were discovered upon the first fighter deliveries. Some defects appeared similar to those on the early C. 200 version: on 3 August, during a mock dogfight, ''Sergente Maggiore'' Antonio Valle – an experienced pilot, credited with two kills in [[Marmarica]] and recipient of a ''Medaglia di Bronzo al Valor Militare'' ([[Bronze Medal of Military Valor]]) – at a height of {{convert|4000|m|ft}} entered in a [[Flat spin (aviation)|flat spin]] and could not recover or bail out, losing his life.<ref name="Duma pp. 216-217.">Duma 2007, pp. 216–217.</ref>
The oxygen system was also regarded as being inefficient, causing, at least during the first sorties, up to 50/60 per cent of the pilots to abandon their missions and in some cases having been determined to have caused fatal accidents.<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi p. 219." />
By November 1941, the C.202 had appeared on the Libyan front.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 5." /> However, according to aviation author Gianni Cattaneo, the type may have been more of a hindrance than help in that theatre, attributing this to the pilots flying it only being semi-trained, which was in turn caused by the type being rushed into service as Axis air superiority had faded in North Africa, and a lack of spares to maintain it with. The C.202 had a better time on the home front, where supplies were more plentiful and units had more time to prepare and familiarise themselves with the type.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 56.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 5-6.</ref> The type was quickly put to use outside of North Africa, seeing limited service against the [[Soviet Union]] on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] where, between 1941 and 1943, together with C.200s, the fighter reportedly achieved an 88 to 15 victory/loss ratio.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 8.</ref> However, according to authors Jeffery Ethell and Pietro Tonizzo, that ratio refers only to the C.200 "Saetta".<ref>Ethell 1996, p. 69.</ref><ref>De Marchi, Italo – Tonizzo, Pietro. ''Macchi MC. 200 / FIAT CR. 32''. Modena, Edizioni Stem Mucchi 1994, p. 10.</ref>

===Malta===
[[File:Macchi M.C.202 Folgore Flight.jpg|thumb|A C.202 in camouflage scheme, circa 1941]]

The ''Folgore'' first saw service during the [[Siege of Malta (World War II)|Siege of Malta]] on 29 or 30 September 1941; their first mission was the interception of British Hurricanes over Sicily.<ref name="Duma p. 223.">Duma 2007, p. 223.</ref><ref name="Malizia p. 95.">Malizia 2002, p. 95.</ref>

From early October 1941, the Italian units commenced extensive operations over Malta, which provided many opportunities for encounters with RAF fighters. From its initial combat missions, the C.202 displayed marked superiority over the [[Hawker Hurricane]] II, which formed the island's main form of aerial defence at the time.<ref>Caruana 1999, p. 175.</ref> However, the Macchi's main weakness, its weak armament, proved to be a problem even at this stage.<ref name="Skulski p. 25.">Skulski 2012, p. 25.</ref> Over the skies of the besieged island, the new Macchi fighter was not only used to conduct fighter operations, but also for performing ground attack runs and [[aerial reconnaissance]] missions. Among the pilots who flew recce C.202s on Malta was [[Adriano Visconti]], later to become a famed ace and credited with at least 10 air victories.<ref name="Skulski p. 25.">Skulski 2012, p. 25.</ref>

The presence of the ''Folgores'' in Maltese skies was to last only until the end of November, when most of the unit was transferred to the deteriorating North Africa front. The 4° ''Stormo'' returned to Sicily at the beginning of April 1942, with 10º ''Gruppo'', to Castelvetrano. The airport was already the base of ''Gruppi'' 7º and 16º from 54º ''Stormo'' equipped with some C.202s besides the Macchi C.200s and Fiat CR.42s.<ref name="Duma p. 267.">Duma 2007, p. 267.</ref> The 4° ''Stormo'' C.202s flew the first sortie, on 21 April, claiming a Spitfire V, while escorting three more "recce" Macchis from 54º Stormo.<ref name="Duma p. 268.">Duma 2007, p. 268.</ref> The 4º ''Stormo'' flew its last mission on Malta on 19 May before moving back to North Africa.<ref name="Duma p. 277.">Duma 2007, p. 277.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 6.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 6.</ref> In the meantime, the 16° ''Gruppo'' had started to re-equip with the C.202s at the end of 1941. During May 1942, the Macchis of 51° ''Stormo'' and 23° ''Gruppo'' (3° ''Stormo'') also arrived.<ref>Caruana 1999, pp. 175-177.</ref>

During [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]], one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated central Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942, C.202s were involved in clashing with Sea Hurricanes.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 6." /> It was during this time that the Axis had to abandon their plans for the invasion of Malta, [[Operation Herkules]] (Operation C 3) due to the aircraft and men being necessary elsewhere. On 7 March 1942, the carrier {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|6}} delivered the first Spitfires to Malta, and the Axis' air-superiority started to shift in favour of the Allies.<ref>Shores et al. 1991, pp. 106–110.</ref> At the end of June, however, about 60 C.202s could be mustered in Sicily to operate against Malta, which had been receiving the Spitfire Mk. V in ever-increasing quantities.<ref>Caruana 1999, pp. 175–177.</ref> The Macchi could out-turn the Spitfire, but the ''Folgores'' suffered from the lack of a more powerful armament and, without radios, the ''Regia Aeronautica'' pilots were forced to communicate with one another by waggling their wings and, consequently, had to adopt formations that were too tight and less effective in combat. Their performance had also suffered due to the lack of [[radar]], which the RAF were making extensive use of to successfully vector their fighters against their aerial opposition.<ref>Beurling with Roberts 1943, pp. 165–166.</ref>

Nevertheless, the C.202's pilots were able to achieve many successes against the British Spitfires. The top scoring Italian pilots in this theatre included ''Capitano'' [[Furio Niclot Doglio|Furio Niclot-Doglio]] (a 7 kills ace, shot down and killed on 27 July 1942 by RAF ace [[George Beurling|George "Screwball" Beurling]]) and ''Sergente'' Ennio Tarantola. Both pilots flew with 51° ''Stormo'' C.T., the most successful Italian unit over Malta, having reportedly achieved a score of 97 aircraft destroyed for the loss of only 17 ''Folgores''.<ref name="Skulski p.29">Skulski 2012, p. 29.</ref>

===North Africa and Pantelleria===
On 29 July 1941, the three first operational C.202s of 4° ''Stormo'', 97ª ''Squadriglia'', landed at Merna airport.<ref name="Duma p. 215.">Duma 2007, p. 215.</ref> On 26 November, during [[Operation Crusader]], 19 Macchis of 9° ''Gruppo'', 4° ''Stormo'' were sent to Africa, and by the end of the month the whole 1° ''Stormo'' was in Libya, both units taking part in the last stages of the British offensive that led to the raising of the siege of [[Tobruk]], and the retreat of Italian and German troops in [[Cyrenaica]] in December.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 67.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 6-7.</ref> During its initial combats over the Western Desert, the ''Folgore'' was quite a surprise to British pilots and it remained a respected adversary.<ref name="Ethell p. 71">Ethell 1995, p. 71.</ref> Squadron Leader Dennis Harry Clark, [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|D.F.C.]] and [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|A.F.C.]], in his book ''What Were They Like to Fly'' (1964), stated: "Sleek, supremely fast (..) the 202 was capable of out-turning our P-40s with ease; but the majority would pull away effortlessly into a climbing roll off or a roll off the top when things became at all hectic... Their aircraft was superior to ours on all counts." {{sfn|Palermo|2014|p=237}}

In the desert war, incursions by the [[Special Air Service|SAS]] behind enemy lines were often aimed at destroying aircraft on the ground. Macchi 202s of 1° ''Stormo'' based at [[Uadi Tamet]] had been transferred from Italy one month before and recently relocated from [[Bir el Merduma]] because the airbase was too exposed to SAS attacks. 1° ''Stormo'' had 60 fighters, 17°''Gruppo'' around 30. In a month of combat, the latter lost a total of eight fighters to raids. On the night of 28 December 1941 the SAS managed to destroy a further nine aircraft. After this attack the Italians were forced to move their remaining aircraft well away from the front lines to avoid incurring further losses to such raids.<ref>Massimello, Giorgio. "Il SAS e la R.A." ''Storia Militare'', February 2008, pp. 9–10.</ref>

During 1942, Bf 109F/Gs and Macchi C.202s fought against the Allied air forces in North Africa. At the time of [[Erwin Rommel|Rommel]]'s offensive on Tobruk, 5ª "''Squadra Aerea''" ("Aviation Corps"), based in North Africa, had three Macchi wings: 1° ''Stormo'' had 47 C.202s (40 serviceable), 2° ''Stormo'' had 63 C.200s (52) while 4° ''Stormo'' had 57(47). This, coupled with the 32 [[Cant Z.1007]]s, was one of the most powerful fighter forces that the Italians fielded in the war, and constituted almost a tenth of the overall ''Folgore'' production.<ref name="Sgarlato" />{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}
During April 1942 the 4° ''Stormo'' solved the frequent problems to the [[oxygen masks]] by adopting the German Dräger "oxygen apparatus" that already equipped the Bf 109s.<ref name="Duma pp. 270.">Duma 2007, pp. 271.</ref>

[[File:Castel Benito airfield destroyed hangar 1943.jpg|thumb|left|Wrecked fighters in a destroyed hangar at [[RAF Castel Benito|Tripoli-Castel Benito Airport]], [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], [[Libya]], early 1943]]
During the [[Battle of Bir Hakeim]] the C.202s performed successfully against the assorted fighters of the Desert Air Force, typically using "dive and zoom" tactics, similar to those of Luftwaffe fighters.{{sfn|Palermo|2014|p=222}} In the morning of 26 May, about 60 ''Folgore'' from 1° and 4° ''Stormo'' attacked Gambut airfield destroying and damaging many Allied aircraft surprised while taking off.<ref name="Emiliani, Ghergo, Vigna p. 111.">Emiliani, Ghergo, Vigna 1979, p. 111.</ref> Even if often outnumbered, the C.202s achieved 22 confirmed air victories against Hurricanes and P-40s for the loss of just five of their number, a kill/loss ratio of 4,4/1, bettering the Bf 109s' (3,5/1).{{sfn|Palermo|2014|pp=255–264}} On 23 December 1942, the ''Regia Aeronautica'' authorized the use of under-wing jettisonable tanks on the C.202s of 6° and 7° ''Gruppo'' based in [[Pantelleria]], significantly boosting their endurance.<ref name="Borgiotti p. 3.">Borgiotti 1994, p. 3.</ref> By the end of the year, the growing strength of the Allied forces was overwhelming and after the defeat in the skies over Malta as well as [[El-Alamein]] the last operational Axis units lost their air superiority in the Mediterranean.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 7.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 7.</ref> The Germans and the Italians succeeded in establishing a bridgehead in Tunisia, and later in December the ''Regia Aeronautica'' transferred four fighter squadrons there; the 5ª ''Squadra Aerea'', which had left Libya and retreated to Tunisia, had previously repatriated all unserviceable aircraft to Italy. By early 1943, ''Regia Aeronautica'' had only 54 serviceable C.202 across 12 squadrons.<ref name="Skulski p. 36">Skulski 2012, p. 36.</ref>

By 21 February 1943 the 5ª ''Squadra Aerea'' still had the 6°''Gruppo'' C.T. with three squadrons of C.202s at [[Sfax]] and [[Gammarth]] in the northern sector, and in the southern sector, 3°''Stormo'' with six squadrons of C.200s and C.202s at El Hamma. Although these forces were insufficient they nevertheless achieved notable successes. On 6–7 March 1943, C.202 pilots claimed 19 RAF and two USAAF aircraft, for the loss of two ''Folgore''.<ref name="Skulski p. 36">Skulski 2012, p. 36.</ref> Pilots of 16° ''Gruppo Assalto'', an attack unit, downed no fewer than 10 aircraft.<ref name="Skulski p. 37">Skulski 2012, p. 37.</ref>

The Macchis continued fighting while retreating to Tunisia and then in the defence of Sicily, Sardinia and Italy against an increasingly stronger opponent. The Macchis of two groups at [[Korba, Tunisia|Korba]] were forced to concentrate 40 C.202s (both 7° and 16°, 54° ''Stormo''), and on 8 May 1943, almost all their C.202s were destroyed on the ground by marauding Spitfires.<ref>Massiniello 1996</ref> Only eleven aircraft were repaired by 10 May 1943 and retreated to Italy. Because no transport aircraft were available every surviving fighter had two men inside, a pilot and a mechanic. At least one was destroyed and the two crewmen wounded after crash-landing on a beach near [[Reggio Calabria]]. During the Tunisian operation the ''Regia Aeronautica'' lost a total of 22 C.202s in the air and 47 on the ground.<ref name="Skulski p. 37">Skulski 2012, p. 37.</ref>

===Eastern Front operations===
During May 1942, the 22° ''Gruppo Caccia'', which had reached its operational limit, was replaced by the newly formed 21° ''Gruppo Autonomo C.T.'' composed of 356ª, 382ª, 361ª and 386ª ''Squadriglia''. This unit, commanded by ''Maggiore'' (Major) Ettore Foschini, brought new C.202s and 18 new Macchi C.200 fighters.<ref name="Neulen p. 63">Neulen 2000, p. 63.</ref> During August 1942, at the beginning of the German offensive, they were deployed at the [[Stalino]], [[Luhansk|Lughansk]], Kantemirovka and [[Millerovo]] airfields, typically performing ground attack strikes against the [[Red Army]] positions along the east [[Don River (Russia)|Don river]] during October–November 1942.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 7." /> In this theatre, the fighters were operated under adverse climate conditions (40° to 45° below zero and heavy snow storms) as well as frequently coming under heavy harassment from Russian fighter-bombers.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} As a consequence of these operational circumstances, 21° ''Gruppo'' – which had 17 C.202s on strength – were rarely able to conduct sorties; as such, only a total of 17 missions were flown with ''Folgores'' on the Eastern Front during a four-month period.<ref name="Bergström p. 98">Bergström 2007, p. 98.</ref>

When they were able to conduct combat operations, the C.202 were frequently used as escorts alongside their older C.200 siblings for [[Fiat BR.20]]M and [[Caproni Ca.311]] bombers in attacks against Soviet columns, during which they would typically be facing aerial opposition from great numbers of [[Soviet Air Forces]] (VVS) fighters. The C.202 were also regularly used to escort [[CANT Z.1007]]bis during the latter's reconnaissance missions,{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} as well as for German transport aircraft. During one such mission, on 11 December 1942, which involved the escorting of several [[Junkers Ju 52]]s en route to [[Stalingrad]], ''Tenente Pilota'' Gino Lionello was shot down and forced to bail out from his ''Folgore''.<ref name="Bergström p. 98">Bergström 2007, p. 98.</ref>

After the abandonment of [[advanced airfield]]s between December 1942 – January 1943 at [[Voroshilovgrad]], Stalino and Tscerkow, the Italian air units were operated in a series of defensive actions against a more potent Soviet air offensive, consisting mainly of [[Ilyushin Il-2|Ilyushin IL-2s]] ''Shturmoviks'' and [[Petlyakov Pe-2]]s. During March 1943, the ''Corpo Aereo Italiano'' was detached to [[Odessa]] airbase, joining [[Reggiane Re 2000|Reggiane Re. 2000]] Héja I of the Hungarian ''MKHL'' 1 and 2/1 ''Vadászszázad'', as well as [[IAR 80]]C and [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Bf 109]]E/G of Romanian ''FARR'' 4 and 5 detached at the same base and [[Saky]] (Crimea) in a holding action against the VVS armada of 2,000 aircraft, at a time when the Axis air forces only countered with 300 operative aircraft, which were further constrained by having very small quantities of fuel, munitions and equipment available.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} On 17 January 1943, the last effective operation of ''Corpo Aereo Italiano in Russia'' occurred, when a single mixed formation of 25 surviving Macchi fighters (out of a remaining total of 30 C.200s and nine C.202s) attacked several Red Army armored and motorized infantry columns in support of German and Italian units that were encircled in Millerovo.<ref name="De Marchi p. 10">De Marchi 1994, p. 10.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 7." />

===Sicilian and Italian campaigns===
[[File:Macchi C.202 at Dayton.jpg|thumb|A Macchi C.202 captured during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] of [[World War II]] being evaluated at [[Wright-Patterson Field]] outside [[Dayton, Ohio]], for the [[United States Army Air Forces]]]]

The C.202s played a significant role in the defense of Sicily and Southern Italy against bombing attacks launched by the USAAF, however, by the time of Allied invasion of Sicily during July 1943, their effectiveness had been diminished considerably as a result of attrition, which had reduced the number available.<ref name="Mondey p. 155">Mondey 2006, p. 155.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 89.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 8-9.</ref> Furthermore, it was increasingly recognised that 20&nbsp;mm cannons were required in order to cause enough damage, thus a mixture of Bf 109F/Gs, [[Macchi MC.205]]s and [[Fiat G.55]]s were deployed to replace the remaining C.202s as soon as possible. Mixed units (such as the 51° ''Stormo'', [[Sardinia]]) were formed with C.202s, yet were often serving with C.205s as well.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8." />

By the signing of the 1943 [[Armistice with Italy]], there were only 186 ''Folgores'' remaining, of which roughly 100 aircraft were still considered to be in a serviceable condition.<ref>Sgarlato, ''Macchi 202'', p. 38.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 9.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 9.</ref> Several C.202s served with the Allied-aligned [[Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force]], and some of these were subsequently reconstructed into C.205s or C.202/205 with the Veltro's engine. Others served as trainers in the Axis-aligned ''[[Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana]]'' (National Republican Air Force) of the [[Italian Social Republic]] (RSI) and the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' (German Air Force).<ref name="Sgarlato p. 40" /><ref name="Cattaneo p. 910.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 9-10.</ref>

===''Folgore'' aces===
The Macchi C.202 was flown by almost all of the most successful Italian aces, Adriano Visconti, [[Leonardo Ferrulli]], [[Luigi Gorrini]], [[Franco Lucchini]], [[Franco Bordoni Bisleri]], Furio Niclot Doglio and top scorer ''Sergente Maggiore'' [[Teresio Vittorio Martinoli]], credited with 22 individual "kills" plus two probables, as well as 14 shared.<ref name="Sgarlato" /> Seventeen of these victories were obtained in 73ª ''Squadriglia'', 9° ''Gruppo'' (from 4° ''Stormo''). On 25 August 1944, Martinoli was killed during a training flight with the P-39 Airacobra. ''Capitano'' Franco Lucchini, who was credited with 21/26 individual victories and 52 shared, began to fly the ''Folgore'' after having already shot down 10 enemy aircraft. On 5 July 1943, Lucchini was killed in his C.202 while attacking a B-17 over Gerbini, [[Sicily]].<ref name="Sgarlato" />

===In Croatian service===
About 20–22 Macchi C.202s were flown by Croatia, who typically operated them in the interceptor role against Allied bombers.<ref name="Skulski p.57">Skulski 2012, p. 57.</ref> During 1944, the [[Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia]], ''Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske'' (ZNDH), received several batches of C.202s. During January, eight brand-new ''Folgore'' fighters arrived at [[Zagreb]]'s [[Lucko]] airfield. Two weeks later, another four aircraft arrived; one of these was reportedly lost during a test-flight. The first batch of 16 "Folgores" delivered to the ZNDH was from the XII series, built by Breda following the German occupation of Northern Italy. These fighters equipped ''Kroat. JGr 1'' and retained their Luftwaffe markings whilst in service with the unit.<ref name="Savic & Ciglic p. 63" /> During 1944,  the [[Croatian Air Force Legion]] (HZL) fighter squadron had returned to Croatia from service on the Eastern Front. Upon its return, the HZL was redesignated ''Kroat. JGr 1'', while its operational fighter squadron was redesignated ''2./(Kroat.)JGr''; this unit was equipped with Macchis. A second training / operational conversion squadron was also formed, designated ''3./(Kroat.)JGr'' and equipped with [[Fiat G.50]], Macchi C.200 and [[Fiat CR.42]] fighters. During March 1944, they were scrambled for the first time against an American raid west of Zagreb but combat was avoided; Croatian Macchi pilots had been initially instructed to attack only those aircraft which had already been damaged or had become separated from their main formations.<ref name="Savic & Ciglic p. 63">Savic & Ciglic 2002, p. 63.</ref>

On 24 April 1944, the first confirmed air victory was claimed by ''Unteroffizier'' Leopold Hrastovcan against an American B-24 that was shot down near the village of [[Zaprešić]] (Zagorje).<ref name="Skulski p.57" /> According to some sources, during these first sorties, Croat C.202s claimed between 11 and 16 aerial victories, but only three further were confirmed. During May 1944, the Croatians received four C.202s from the Luftwaffe in [[Niš, Serbia|Niš]], [[Serbia]]; during the ferry flight, a single Macchi crash landed near [[Zemun]] airfield. Around June 1944, the Croat unit received the last six ''Folgore'' and three or four brand new [[Macchi C.205]]s.<ref name="Skulski p.57" /><ref name="Savic and Ciglic 2002, p. 64">Savic and Ciglic 2002, p. 64.</ref> Irrespective of the Croatian Air Force Legion having been disbanded at the end of July, after which it was replaced by the Croatian Air Force Group (''HZS''), the fighters themselves remained at [[Borovo, Croatia|Borovo]].<ref name="Skulski p.57" /> During a period of intensive activity in mid-1944, the squadron had claimed some 20 Allied aircraft shot down.<ref name="Savic and Ciglic 2002, p. 64" />  By late 1944, those C.202s that were still in a flight-worthy condition, based in Borovo, were used by Croatian cadets for training purposes. During September 1944, Luftwaffe pilots flew all of the remaining airworthy ''Folgores'' to Borongaj, where they were used only for training.<ref name="Skulski p.57" />

According to aviation authors Dragan Savic and Boris Ciglic, Croatian pilots did not at first have a high opinion of the Macchi fighter, in part due to its armament consisting of just a pair of 12.7&nbsp;mm and two 7.7mm machine guns, which were regarded as scarcely effective against the heavily armed US four-engined bombers.<ref name="Savic & Ciglic p. 63" /> Eastern front veteran ''Major'' Josip Helebrant, an 11-kill [[flying ace]]<ref>Savic and Ciglic 2002, p. 82.</ref> (used to flying Bf 109 Gs) and the CO of ''2./(Kroat.)JGr'', had reportedly initially regarded the Macchis as "old, weary and unusable", and described the morale of his men as "low", and his unit's results as "nil", primarily because of the [[NDH]]'s underdeveloped air-raid warning system, which saw the Croatian Macchi fighters often taking off to intercept attacking Allied bombers that were already flying overhead.<ref name="Savic and Ciglic 2002, p. 63">Savic and Ciglic 2002, p. 63.</ref>

===Postwar service===
As a consequence of the Allied aerial bombing against the Italian Social Republic, during which the manufacturing facilities of the Macchi company had sustained damage during 1944, both the production life and combat career of both the C.202 and the further refined C.205 were cut short. Post-war, some of the aircraft which had survived the conflict were joined by a small number of newly manufactured C.205s. The surviving aircraft were operated by the [[Aeronautica Militare Italiana]], where they were used as trainer aircraft as late as 1948 before being phased out entirely.<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi p. 219." />

The [[Royal Egyptian Air Force]] ordered a total of 42 C.205s, but 31 of these were in fact re-engined ''Folgores'' (C.202s), armed with only a pair of 12.7&nbsp;mm Breda machine guns. Some of these aircraft later fought during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] the [[Israel|State of Israel]]; the Egyptian fighters were reportedly still in service as late as 1951.<ref>Sgarlato 1998, pp. 41–45.</ref> [[Switzerland]] had placed an order for 20 C.202s, however, none of these were ever delivered; this was due to the deteriorating war situation at the time (May 1943) that meant that Italy no longer had the capability to export these types of aircraft.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 40">Sgarlato 1998, p. 40.</ref><ref name="Savic and Ciglic 2002">Savic and Ciglic 2002</ref> During mid-1944, at least 12 C.202s, and probably another 12 aircraft, were delivered to the Croatian Air Force Legion for operational use against the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Army Air Forces]] over Croatia, all of which being ex-LW fighters.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 40" /><ref name="Savic and Ciglic 2002" />

Those allied pilots who flew against the ''Folgore'' were frequently impressed with its performance and manoeuvrability.<ref name="Spick p. 117.">Spick 1997, p. 117.</ref> The C.202 was often considered to have been superior to both the British Hawker Hurricane and the American [[Curtiss P-40]] Kittyhawk that it commonly fought against, at first on the Libyan front, as well as being the equal of the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] Mk. V. The C.202 was able to out-turn all three, although the Spitfire possessed a superior rate of climb.<ref>Glancey 2007, pp. 165–166.</ref> The C.202 could effectively fly against the Hurricane, [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]], [[Bell P-39 Airacobra]], Curtiss P-40 and even the Spitfire at low altitudes, but the aircraft's combat effectiveness was somewhat hampered by its weak armament.<ref name="Cattaneo">Cattaneo 1971, {{page needed|date=January 2018}}.</ref>{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}

==Variants and production==
Like its predecessor C.200, the C.202 had relatively few modifications, with only 116 modifications during its career, most of them invisible, externally. The total series production ordered was 1,454: 900 to Breda, 150 to SAI Ambrosini, 403 to Aermacchi. The amount produced was actually 1,106 and not 1,220 as previous stated. Breda built 649 (Series XVI deleted, Series XII and XV partially completed caused the difference); Aermacchi made 390 examples, SAI only 67.<ref>Sgarlato 2008</ref>

One of the differences between prototype and series production was the lack of radio antenna and the retractable tailwheel (these differences resulting in a slightly higher top speed); the difference in speed was not so great and so, the series version had the fixed tailwheel and the radio antenna. The support for the engine, originally steel, was replaced with a lighter aluminium structure.<ref>Sgarlato Nico, Folgore Monography Feb 2008</ref>
;C.202
: Starting with the ''Serie'' VII, the fighter had a new wing with a provision for two 7.7&nbsp;mm (.303&nbsp;in) [[Breda-SAFAT]] machine guns and an armored windscreen (previously, only the armored seat and the self-sealing tanks were provided). Serie IX's weight was 2,515/3,069&nbsp;kg with the 7.7 machine guns seldom installed.<ref name="Sgarlato 2008, p. 36">Sgarlato 2008, p. 36.</ref>

;C.202AS
:Dust filters for operations in North Africa (AS – ''Africa Settentrionale'', North Africa); they affected the speed little and so, almost all Folgores had them and thus were in C.202AS standard; finally, starting with Serie XI there was a provision for two 50, 100 or 160&nbsp;kg bombs, small bombs clusters (10, 15, 20&nbsp;kg) or 100 L drop tanks. These underwing pylons were rarely utilized, as Folgores were needed in the interceptor roles.<ref>Sgarlato 2008, p. 29.</ref>

;C.202CB
:Underwing hardpoints for bombs or drop tanks (CB – Caccia Bombardiere, Fighter-Bomber)

;C.202EC
:Likely standing for ''Esperimento Cannoni'', it was another link between ''Veltro'' and ''Folgore''. One aircraft (Serie III, s/n MM 91974) was fitted with a pair of gondola-mounted 20&nbsp;mm cannon with 200 rounds each (it flew on 12 May 1943); later it was turned into a C.205V. Another four examples were so equipped, but, despite the good results in the trials (aimed to boost the Folgore's firepower), there was no further production, because the cannons penalized the aircraft's performance. There was, in the ''Folgore'', no room to mount them inside the wings or the nose, so the MC.205V/Ns was developed.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 37" /> Nevertheless, the XII series could have introduced a new wing with MG 151 provisions. This is not well documented, as this series was produced by Breda after the Armistice, and was interrupted with the devastating USAAF bombings, together with many other aircraft; among them, also Macchi 205 production and the 206 prototype (30 April 1944; in five days, the USAAF destroyed both Fiat and Macchi facilities, eliminating all of Italy's fighter production).<ref>Sgarlato Nico. ''I caccia Serie 5 Monography'', March 2009, pp. 16, 30, 43.</ref>

;C.202RF
:Equipped with cameras for photo-reconnaissance missions (R – Ricognizione, Reconnaissance), very few produced, later the recce role was covered by Veltros.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 37">Sgarlato 2008, p. 37.</ref>

;C.202D
:Prototype with a revised radiator, under the nose, similar to the P-40 (s/n. MM 7768)

;C.202 AR.4
:At least one such aircraft was modified to server as a "drone director" (coupled with S.79s), and it was planned to use ''Folgores'' also as 'Mistel', with an AR.4 "radiobomba" (a form of remote-control kamikaze bomber).<ref name="Sgarlato 2008, p. 36" />

;C.202 with DB 605 and other engines
:Macchi MC.202 with DB 605 were initially known as MC.202 bis; later as the C.205 Veltro. Macchi C.200, C.202 and C.205 shared many common components. The MC.200A/2 was a MC.200 with ''Folgore'' wings (MM.8238). After the Armistice, Aeronautica Sannita or the Co-Belligerent Italian AF began MC.205 modifying C.202s with DB 605s. These aircraft were known also as ''Folgeltro''. Around two dozen were made. Another ''Folgore'' was modified with DB 601E-1 (1,350 PS) in mid-1944, but this hybrid with Bf 109F technology crashed on 21 January 1946. The MC.204 was a version with a L.121 Asso (1,000 hp); proposed early in the war (28 September 1940), but all the effort continued only with DB 601 engines.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 37" /> Early Folgores had original DB 601s, while from the ''Serie'' VII, RC.41s were available.

After the war, 31 C.202 airframes were fitted with license-built [[Daimler-Benz DB 605]] engines and sold to Egypt as C.205 ''Veltros'', with another 11 'real' MC.205s (with MG 151 cannon in the wings).

==Operators==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-468-1415-11, Süditalien, italienisches Flugzeug Macchi.jpg|thumb|Flight crew boarding a C.202, 1943]]

;{{flag|Independent State of Croatia}}
* [[Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia]]
;{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
* ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
** [[Jagdgeschwader 77|II/JG 77]] operated 12 captured aircraft.
;{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
* ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]''
* [[Italian Co-belligerent Air Force]]
;{{flag|Italian Social Republic}}
* ''[[Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana]]''
;{{ITA}}
* [[Italian Air Force]]  operated some Macchi C.202 until 1948

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:Macchi C.202 (A19600332000).jpg|thumb|C.202 of the Smithsonian Institution]]
;Macchi C.202 "73-7/M.M. 9667 (serial no. 366)"
:Presently on display at the [[Italian Air Force Museum]] in Vigna di Valle Airport, near [[Bracciano]], Italy. This C.202 was built by [[Breda]] in early 1943 as a ''Serie'' XI sample. In March 1943 this ''Folgore'' was assigned to 54° ''Stormo'' of the ''Regia Aeronautica'' and subsequently it served in 5° ''Stormo'', with ''Aeronautica Cobelligerante'' (Italian Co-Belligerant Air Force).  After the war it was a training aircraft at the ''Accademia Navale'' in [[Livorno]]. Currently the aircraft has the markings of the ace Giulio Reiner. Not all the parts of the aircraft are original (a panel of the engine cowling comes from a Macchi C.205 ''Veltro'').<ref name="Skulski p. 22.">Skulski 2012, p. 22.</ref>

;Macchi C.202 "M.M. 9476(?)"
:Shown in the markings of the 90ª ''Squadriglia'', 10° ''Gruppo'', 4° ''Stormo'', was dramatically displayed in Gallery 205 above the World War II Aviation diorama at the US [[National Air and Space Museum]], [[Smithsonian]], Washington, DC. Still airworthy at [[Freeman Field]], [[Indiana]], US, in 1945, as FE-300, was stored for many years. Restoration was completed in mid-1970. No identity marking was found, though this is the least reconstructed ''Folgore'' survivor. It may have originally been a ''Serie'' VI to IX, probably the M.M. 9476 sample.<ref name="Skulski p. 22.">Skulski 2012, p. 22.</ref>

==Specifications (C.202CB Serie IV-VIII)==
[[File:Macchi MC.202.svg|thumb|3-view drawing of Macchi MC.202]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''The Macchi C.202 and The Complete Book of Fighters'' <ref name="Cattaneo p. 10.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 10.</ref><ref name="Green">{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=William |title=The Complete Book of Fighters |year=1994 |publisher=Salamander |location=London |isbn=1-85833-777-1 |last2=Swanborough |first2=Gordon |page=360}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
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|crew=1
|length m=8.85
|span m=10.58
|height m=3.49
|wing area sqm=16.82
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|airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23018 (modified)]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23009 (modified)]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=2491
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight kg=2930
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|more general=
*'''Drop tanks:''' 2 × {{Convert|100|L|usgal impgal|1|abbr=on}} drop tanks<!--
        Powerplant
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Alfa Romeo RA.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone]]
|eng1 type=V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine
|eng1 kw=864
|eng1 note=at 2,500 rpm for takeoff

|prop blade number=3
|prop name=constant-speed propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
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|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
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|max speed kmh=600
|max speed note=at {{cvt|5600|m}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|stall speed kmh=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|range km=765
|combat range km=
|ferry range km=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=11500
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=18.1
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=174.2
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|armament=
* 2 × {{cvt|12.7|mm|3}} [[Breda-SAFAT]] machine guns in the engine cowling, 360/400 rpg
* 2 × {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the wings, 500 rpg
* 2 × {{cvt|50|kg}}, {{cvt|100|kg}} or {{cvt|160|kg}} bombs
|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
|power/mass note={{cvt|0.21| hp/lb|kW/kg|order=flip}} This is using empty weight for the calculation, gross weight should be used instead which is currently not given, so this incorrect ratio shouldn't be displayed.}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Macchi C.200]]
* [[Macchi C.205]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk]]
* [[Kawasaki Ki-61]]
* [[Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Goudkov LaGG-3]]
* [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]F
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1]]
* [[Supermarine Spitfire]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of Regia Aeronautica aircraft used in World War II]]
}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{commons category}}
* {{cite book |last1=Angelucci |first1=Enzo |last2=Matricardi |first2=Paolo |title=World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I |series=Sampson Low Guides |publisher=Sampson Low |location=Maidenhead, UK |year=1978 |isbn=978-0-528-88170-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Bergström |first=Christer |title=Stalingrad—The Air Battle: 1942 through January 1943 |publisher=Midland |location=Hinckley, UK |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85780-276-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Beurling |first1=George |last2=Roberts |first2=Leslie |title=Malta Spitfire: The Story of a Fighter Pilot |publisher=Farrar & Rinehart Inc. |location=New York/Toronto |year=1943}}
* {{cite book |last1=Borgiotti |first1=Alberto |last2=Gori |first2=Cesare |title=Le Macchine e la Storia, Profili 1: Macchi MC 202 Folgore |publisher=STEM-Mucchi |location=Modena, Italy |year=1970 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Caruana |first=Richard J. |title=Victory in the Air |publisher=Modelaid International Publications |location=Malta |year=1996 |isbn=1-871767-12-1}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Cattaneo |first=Gianni |title=The Macchi C.202 |magazine=Aircraft in Profile |issue=28 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Windsor, Berkshire, UK |year=1966}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Ciampaglia |first=Giuseppe |title=La Produzione Aeronautica nella II GM |magazine=RID |date=May 1994 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last1=De Marchi |first1=Italo |last2=Tonizzo |first2=Pietro |title=Macchi MC. 200 / FIAT CR. 32 |publisher=Edizioni Stem Mucchi |location=Modena, Italy |year=1994 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Duma |first=Antonio |title=Quelli del Cavallino Rampante – Storia del 4° Stormo Caccia Francesco Baracca |publisher=Aeronautica Militare – Ufficio Storico |location=Roma |year=2007 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Dunning |first=Chris |title=Solo coraggio! La storia completa della Regia Aeronautica dal 1940 al 1943 |publisher=Delta Editrice |location=Parma, Italy |year=2000 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last1=Emiliani |first1=Angelo |last2=Ghergo |first2=Giuseppe |last3=Vigna |first3=Achille |title=REGIA AERONAUTICA: I FRONTI AFRICANI |publisher=Albertelli |location=Parma, Italy |year=1979 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Ethell |first=Jeffrey L. |title=Aircraft of World War II |publisher=HarperCollins/Jane’s |location=Glasgow |year=1995 |isbn=0-00-470849-0}}
* {{cite book |last1=Ethell |first1=Jeffrey L. |last2=Christy |first2=Joe |title=P-40 Hawks at War |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd |location=Shepperton, UK |year=1979 |isbn=0-7110-0983-X}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gentilli |first1=Roberto |last2=Gorena |first2=Luigi |title=Macchi C.202 In Action |publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications |location=Carrollton, Texas |year=1980 |isbn=0-89747-100-8}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Ghergo |first=Federico |title=La Caccia Italiana 1940–43 |magazine=Storia Militare |date=February 2006 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Glancey |first=Jonathan |title=Spitfire: The Illustrated Biography |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=London |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84354-528-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Green |first=William |title=The Macchi-Castoldi Series |series=Famous Fighters of the Second World War, vol.2 |publisher=Macdonald |location=London |year=1962}}
* {{cite book |last1=Green |first1=William |last2=Swanborough |first2=Gordon |title=The Great Book of Fighters |publisher=MBI Publishing |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |year=2001 |isbn=0-7603-1194-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=Robert |title=The Forgotten Aces |publisher=Sphere Books Ltd |location=London |year=1989 |isbn=0-7474-0310-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Malizia |first=Nicola |title=Aermacchi Bagliori di Guerra – Flashes of War (Macchi MC.200–MC.202–MC.205/V) |publisher=Ibn Editore |location=Rome |year=2002 |language=it |isbn=88-7565-030-6}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Malizia |first=Nicola |title=L'armamento Dei Velivoli Della Regia Aereonautica |magazine=Storia Militare |date=September 1997 |language=it}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Marcon |first=Tullio |title=Hawker in Mediterraneo |magazine=Storia Militare |issue=80 |language=it}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Massiniello |first=Giorgio |title=Lo Sviluppo del (Macchi) Veltro |magazine=Storia Militare |issue=150 |language=it}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Massiniello |first=Giorgio |title=Via da Korba, con ogni mezzo |magazine=Storia Militare |issue=31 |date=1996 |publisher=Ermanno Albertelli Ed. |location=Parma, Italy |language=it}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Mattioli |first=Mario |title=L'esordio del Macchi C 202 |magazine=Storia Militare |date=1996 |publisher=Ermanno Albertelli Ed. |location=Parma, Italy |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Matricardi |first=Paolo |title=Aerei Militari: Caccia e Ricognitori |publisher=Mondadori Electa Editore |location=Milan, Italy |year=2006 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Mondey |first=David |title=The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II |publisher=Bounty Books |location=London |year=2006 |isbn=0-7537-1460-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Neulen |first=Hans Werner |title=In the Skies of Europe |publisher=The Crowood Press |location=Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK |year=2000 |isbn=1-86126-799-1}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Nicolle |first=David |title=Arab-Italian Fighters: Fiats and Macchis in Egyptian and Syrian Service 1948–1956 |magazine=Air Enthusiast |issue=55 |date=Autumn 1994 |pages=32–36 |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite book |last=Nijboer |first=Donald |title=Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore – Malta 1942 |series=Osprey Duel; 60 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-78200-356-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Nolan |first=Brian |title=Hero: The Buzz Beurling Story |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |year=1981 |isbn=0-14-006-266-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Palermo |first=Michele |title=Eagles over Gazala: Air Battles in North Africa, May–June 1942 |publisher=IBN Editore |location=Roma |year=2014 |isbn=978-88-7565-168-8}}
* {{cite book |last1=Pesce |first1=Giuseppe |last2=Massimello |first2=Giovanni |title=Adriano Visconti Asso di Guerra |publisher=Albertelli Edizioni Speciali s.r.l. |location=Parma, Italy |year=1997 |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last=Rogers |first=Anthony |title=Battle over Malta: Aircraft Losses & Crash Sites 1940–42 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=London |year=2000 |isbn=0-7509-2392-X}}
* {{cite book |last1=Savic |first1=Dragan |last2=Ciglic |first2=Boris |title=Croatian Aces of World War II |series=Osprey Aircraft of the Aces–49 |publisher=Oxford |location=Oxford, UK |year=2002 |isbn=1-84176-435-3}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Sgarlato|first1=Nico|title=Le chasseur italienne par excellence... Macchi C.202 "Folgore" (1) |journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=October 1977 |issue=95 |pages=10–13 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=An Excellent Italian Fighter, the Macchi C.202 "Folgore", Part One}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Sgarlato|first1=Nico|title=Le chasseur italienne par excellence... Macchi C.202 "Folgore" (2) |journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=November 1977 |issue=96 |pages=12–15 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=An Excellent Italian Fighter, the Macchi C.202 "Folgore", Part Two}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Sgarlato|first1=Nico|title=Le chasseur italienne par excellence... Macchi C.202 "Folgore" (3) |journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=December 1977 |issue=97 |pages=12–17 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=An Excellent Italian Fighter, the Macchi C.202 "Folgore", Part Three}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sgarlato |first=Nico |title=Macchi Folgore |magazine=Aerei Nella Storia |issue=8 |date=1998 |pages=8–20 |publisher=West-Ward sas |location=Parma, Italy |language=it}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sgarlato |first=Nico |title=Macchi Folgore |date=2008 |language=it}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sgarlato |first=Nico |title=Reggiane Fighters |series=Monography N.17 |date=July 2005 |publisher=Delta Editions |language=it}}
* {{cite book |last1=Shores |first1=Christopher |last2=Cull |first2=Brian |last3=Malizia |first3=Nicola |title=Malta: The Hurricane Years (1940–1941) |publisher=Grub Street |location=London |year=1987 |isbn=0-948817-06-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Shores |first1=Christopher |last2=Cull |first2=Brian |last3=Malizia |first3=Nicola |title=Malta: The Spitfire Year (1942) |publisher=Grub Street |location=London |year=1991 |isbn=0-948817-16-X}}
* {{cite book |last=Skulski |first=Przemysław |title=Macchi C.202 Folgore |publisher=Mushroom Model Publications |location=Petersfield, Hampshire |year=2012 |isbn=978-83-614-21-66-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Skulski |first=Przemysław |title=Macchi C.202 Folgore, seria "Pod Lupa" 7 |publisher=Ace Publications |location=Wrocław, Poland |year=1997 |language=pl |isbn=83-86153-55-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Skulski |first=Przemysław |title=Macchi C.202 Folgore |publisher=Stratus/Mushroom Model Publications |location=Sandomierz, Poland / Redbourn, UK |year=2005 |language=pl |isbn=83-89450-06-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Skulski |first=Przemysław |title=Macchi C.202 Folgore |publisher=MMPBOOKS |year=2012 |isbn=978-83-61421-66-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Snedden |first=Robert |title=World War II Combat Aircraft |publisher=Parragon |location=Bristol, UK |year=1997 |isbn=0-7525-1684-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |title=Allied Fighter Aces of World War II |publisher=Greenhill Books |location=London |year=1997 |isbn=1-85367-282-3}}
* {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Anthony G. |last2=Gustin |first2=Emmanuel |title=Flying Guns: World War II – Development of Aircraft Guns, Ammunition and Installations 1933–1945 |publisher=The Crowood Press |location=Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-84037-227-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Winchester |first=Jim |title=Aircraft of World War II: The Aviation Factfile |chapter=Macchi M.C.202 and M.C.205V |publisher=Grange Books plc |location=Kent, UK |year=2004 |isbn=1-84013-639-1}}

{{Macchi aircraft}}
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[[Category:Macchi aircraft|C.202]]
[[Category:1940s Italian fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]