Reggiane Re.2000 in Swedish Service

With the start of World War Two, Sweden required modern fighter aircraft to patrol its borders and maintain its neutrality. Unable to obtain aircraft from Britain, the US or Germany, it purchased 60 Reggiane Re.2000 Series I fighters from Italy. Instead of cash, Sweden paid in a shipment of nickel-chrome to the value of 18.7 million Swedish Krona.

The completed aircraft were disassembled, trained through Germany and reassembled in Malmen. During the war, all were stationed in the south of the country with the F10 wing at Bulltofta airbase, Malmö. In Swedish service the Re.2000 was called the J.20.

Tasked with defending Swedish territory from occasional German and Allied aircraft they served until 1946 when a lack of spare parts caused their retirement. During World War Two one was lost while intercepting a German Dornier Do 24 flying boat on 3 April 1945.