Aircraft · Italy · 1941-1943
Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II
fighter
A development of the earlier Re.2000 using the same German-derived engine as the Macchi C.202, the Re.2001 was built in smaller numbers but flew fighter, fighter-bomber and night-fighter variants. During Operation Pedestal in August 1942 a Re.2001 planted a bomb squarely on the flight deck of the carrier HMS Victorious, where it broke up on the armour without exploding, and fighter-bomber versions attacked the convoys fighting through to Malta.
| crew | 1 |
|---|---|
| top speed | 542 km/h |
| armament | 2x 12.7mm and 2x 7.7mm machine guns |
| produced | approx. 252 |
Mediterranean and North Africa