Fiat CR.25

The Fiat CR.25 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance-fighter aircraft which served in small numbers for the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.

History

40 CR.25s were ordered (later reduced to ten, the two prototypes and other eight airplanes) after the operative failure of the apparently more promising Breda Ba.88 bomber. Later, it was decided to use the CR.25 as a reconnaissance plane and as escort fighter, with a total of nine aircraft (a prototype and the eight pre-production aircraft) for this role. It was used during the war by the 173^a Squadriglia Ricognizione Strategica Terrestre (Strategic Land Reconnaissance Squadron), operating from Sicily. Despite positive reports from the pilots, and a proposal by Fiat to resume production, no further aircraft were produced.

The prototype MM 332, refurbished as personnel transport, was assigned to the Italian embassy in Berlin.

Variants

File:Fiat C.R.25.jpg

• CR.25 : Twin-engined reconnaissance bomber aircraft, two prototypes built.
• CR.25bis : Strategic reconnaissance aircraft, long-range escort fighter aircraft, eight preproduction aircraft built.
• CR.25 D : The prototype MM (Matricola Militare) 332 aircraft, redesignated CR.25 D as a transport for the Italian air attaché in Berlin.
• CR.25quater : The CR.25quater, was a more heavily armed version with a slight increase in wing area and 1175 HP engines proposed from FIAT in the spring of 1943. It remained on the drawing tables.

Operators

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica

Specifications (CR.25bis)

File:Fiat CR.25 3-view.svg

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Breda Ba.88
• Caproni Ca.310

References

• Fiat CR.25
• Garello, GianCarlo. CR 25. Turin: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1997.