1/48 Hasegawa Bf-109G-10

2a Squadrilgia ANR

by Leonardo

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Italy was the largest user of the Bf-109 outside of Germany during WW II.  Starting in 1943, the Germans provided overhauled fighters to the Regia Aeronautica to replenish the Italians' fighter force after it had been decimated during months of ferocious combat with the Allies.  In 1944, Bf-109s were supplied to the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) to continue the fight against allied bombers in Northern Italy.  In the last nine months of the war, ANR units provided the only air opposition over Northern Italy after Luftwaffe units were withdrawn to the defence of the Reich.  Most Bf-109s operated by the ANR were recently overhauled airframes that came in German markings.  The Italians hastily painted out the German markings and applied their own markings.  Eventually, most ANR aircraft carried two sets of markings- German crosses and Italian tricolore on the fuselage and tail.  The swastika was always painted out.  

This aircraft is from the ANRs 2a Squadriglia 'Asso di Bastoni' (Ace of Clubs), based at Malpensa, which today is Milan International Airport.  The camoflauge is RLM 75/76/82 with the rudder in RLM 83, because it was added on during the aircraft's overhaul.  The kit is the well-known Hasegawa Bf-109G-10 with Sky Models decals and Eduard color photo-etch seatbelts.  No drop tank was used because most ANR missions were short-range defensive sorties.  Weathering was minimized because this aircraft had just come from an overhaul facility and the ANR was unable to maintain a very high ops tempo.

Leonardo

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Photos and text © by Leonardo