Category: Aircraft
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Dewoitine D.520 in Italian Service
Dewoitine D.520 in Italian Service Roughly 60 Dewoitine D.520 fighters entered service with the Regia Aeronautica (RA). Italian pilots generally respected the type for its handling qualities and its Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm cannon, which was competitive by 1940–41 standards. The first three airframes were allocated to 2° Stormo at Turin-Caselle for point-defence of the… Read more
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Dewoitine D.520 in French Service
Dewoitine D.520 in French Service The Dewoitine D.520 entered frontline service in early 1940, with Groupe de Chasse I/3 becoming the first operational user. Initial deliveries in January were unarmed and used for conversion training. Combat-standard aircraft began arriving in April and May 1940; 34 such airframes reached frontline units before major operations commenced. Pilots… Read more
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Douglas XTB2D Skypirate
Douglas XTB2D Skypirate The Douglas XTB2D Skypirate was a torpedo bomber intended for service with the United States Navy’s Midway and Essex-class aircraft carriers. Two prototypes were completed, but the dedicated torpedo bomber was becoming an outdated concept, and with the end of World War II, the type was deemed unnecessary and cancelled. Read more