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Osprey Duel #60
Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore: Malta 1942
The inability of the Italians and Germans to invade Malta proved decisive for Allied victory in the Mediterranean during World War II, as the islands provided the Allies with a base from which to project air power.
Early Italian efforts to pound the island into submission were supplemented by major German forces from January 1942 and in a few weeks the situation for the defenders reached a critical stage; in response, in March 1942 the first Spitfires were delivered to Malta. That April the Macchi C.202 was introduced to combat over Malta, the fighter downing its first Spitfire on 2 June.
Throughout the summer of 1942, C.202s fought over Malta escorting tiny formations of Cant Z.1007s, SM.79s and Ju 88s. The fighting subsided in August and September, but grew in strength with the arrival of more C.202s. In October the Regia Aeronautica could muster three Gruppi with a total of 74 C.202s. For ten days the Italians pressed a relentless attack before attrition brought the offensive to a halt.
Throughout the bombing campaign the British were able to supply Malta with ever increasing numbers of Spitfires. By the end of June air commanders felt secure enough to pass one of the Spitfire squadrons to Egypt. Here, the Spitfire V would again encounter the C.202 in the long drive to expel the Germans and Italians from North Africa, then Sicily and Italy in 1943.
Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this is the engaging story of the clash between two of World War II's finest piston-engine fighters in the skies over the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Early Italian efforts to pound the island into submission were supplemented by major German forces from January 1942 and in a few weeks the situation for the defenders reached a critical stage; in response, in March 1942 the first Spitfires were delivered to Malta. That April the Macchi C.202 was introduced to combat over Malta, the fighter downing its first Spitfire on 2 June.
Throughout the summer of 1942, C.202s fought over Malta escorting tiny formations of Cant Z.1007s, SM.79s and Ju 88s. The fighting subsided in August and September, but grew in strength with the arrival of more C.202s. In October the Regia Aeronautica could muster three Gruppi with a total of 74 C.202s. For ten days the Italians pressed a relentless attack before attrition brought the offensive to a halt.
Throughout the bombing campaign the British were able to supply Malta with ever increasing numbers of Spitfires. By the end of June air commanders felt secure enough to pass one of the Spitfire squadrons to Egypt. Here, the Spitfire V would again encounter the C.202 in the long drive to expel the Germans and Italians from North Africa, then Sicily and Italy in 1943.
Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this is the engaging story of the clash between two of World War II's finest piston-engine fighters in the skies over the Mediterranean and North Africa.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Donald Nijboer
39 books4 followersDonald Nijboer is a freelance writer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He teaches courses in radio and broadcasting at Humber College of Technology and Advanced Learning.
His books have been published by the Boston Mills Press and Osprey Publishing.
He has also written articles for Flight Journal, Aviation History and Aeroplane Monthly.
His books have been published by the Boston Mills Press and Osprey Publishing.
He has also written articles for Flight Journal, Aviation History and Aeroplane Monthly.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 15, 2026
In January 1942, the air war over the Mediterranean island of Malta entered a new phase. Until that point, the Royal Air Force (RAF) had been able to hold their own in the defense of the island against the ill-equipped squadrons of the Regia Aeronautica. The losses inflicted by Malta-based forces on Axis ships supplying the Africa Korps in Libya, however, led the Germans to refocus their efforts on neutralizing the island. Luftwaffe units idled on the Eastern Front by the weather were transferred to Sicily to launch a new attack on the island’s defenses. And Italian pilots began flying a new plane, the Macchi C.202 Folgore (Lightning), which outclassed completely the Hurricanes, Fulmars, and Gladiators defending Malta.
Within weeks, it was clear to British commanders on Malta that unless better fighters were brought in the island risked falling to the enemy. This meant Supermarine Spitfires, dozens of squadrons of which were available in Britain. Starting in March, these planes appeared in the theater for the first time, where they faced the onslaught of German and Italian planes unleashed upon the beleaguered island. As Donald Nijboer notes, the Spitfire V models that were sent to Malta proved an even match for the new Italian fighters, with factors beyond those of the performance capabilities of the two planes ultimately determining which one of them proved the victor in their struggle.
The similarities between the two were based on more than their performance. Nijboer traces the origins of both planes to the famous Schnider Cup races of the early 1930s, when precursors to both the Spitfire and the Folgore were designed for the competition. Though the Macchi M.C. 72 subsequently set the speed record, Nijboer notes that its failure to be ready in time for the competition exposed the weakness of the Italian aircraft industry, which was engine design. It was only by coupling two engines that the Italian designer Dr. Mario Castoldi was able to obtain such speeds, as no single Italian engine was able to match the predecessor of the famous Merlin.
Nor was this the only problem hampering the Italians in fighter combat. Their prewar success both in setting records and in combat in the Spanish Civil War gave them a false sense of confidence. The latter convinced senior officers in the Regia Aeronautica that maneuverability rather than speed was the decisive factor in air combat. This led to a preference for designs that proved poorly suited for vertical dive-and-zoom and cut-and-run tactics that determined victory in aerial combat. Belatedly recognizing this, the Italians sought to develop a fighter better suited for combat against Hurricanes and Spitfires, only the lack of an effective engine inhibited their ability to do so. It was only by employing German-designed engines that Castoldi was able to produce a plane capable of matching the best fighters then available. The result was the C.202, which could only be produced in small numbers due to the limitations of Italian manufacturing.
Nevertheless, the performance of the Folgores over Malta was effective enough to prompt the British to redeploy Spitfires to the island. Though the initial deployments were soon worn down through attrition, over the course of 1942 other factors swung the balance in favor of the Spitfires. Serviceability was a key factor, as the slow pace of production made it impossible to provide replacements, much less full adoption. This made it impossible to keep up the pressure necessary to maintain air superiority, especially once most German units were transferred back to the Eastern Front. Without it, the British were able to build up the number of Spitfires stationed in Malta. By November, any hope of reducing Malta was lost, as Operation Torch shifted Axis priorities elsewhere.
Though Folgores continued to fight in the skies until the end of the war, their heyday was over, with the Spitfires getting the better of their duel. Nijboer’s book makes a strong case that the reasons for this lay outside the aircraft’s capabilities, as its performance proved equal to that of its best competition. Its failures proved emblematic of the broader problems Italy faced in the war: outdated assumptions, inadequate industrial capacity, and a dependence on an ally that could not compensate fully for these problems. In this respect the author does a good job both of pushing back against false assumptions while laying bare the limitations of the Italian war effort.
Within weeks, it was clear to British commanders on Malta that unless better fighters were brought in the island risked falling to the enemy. This meant Supermarine Spitfires, dozens of squadrons of which were available in Britain. Starting in March, these planes appeared in the theater for the first time, where they faced the onslaught of German and Italian planes unleashed upon the beleaguered island. As Donald Nijboer notes, the Spitfire V models that were sent to Malta proved an even match for the new Italian fighters, with factors beyond those of the performance capabilities of the two planes ultimately determining which one of them proved the victor in their struggle.
The similarities between the two were based on more than their performance. Nijboer traces the origins of both planes to the famous Schnider Cup races of the early 1930s, when precursors to both the Spitfire and the Folgore were designed for the competition. Though the Macchi M.C. 72 subsequently set the speed record, Nijboer notes that its failure to be ready in time for the competition exposed the weakness of the Italian aircraft industry, which was engine design. It was only by coupling two engines that the Italian designer Dr. Mario Castoldi was able to obtain such speeds, as no single Italian engine was able to match the predecessor of the famous Merlin.
Nor was this the only problem hampering the Italians in fighter combat. Their prewar success both in setting records and in combat in the Spanish Civil War gave them a false sense of confidence. The latter convinced senior officers in the Regia Aeronautica that maneuverability rather than speed was the decisive factor in air combat. This led to a preference for designs that proved poorly suited for vertical dive-and-zoom and cut-and-run tactics that determined victory in aerial combat. Belatedly recognizing this, the Italians sought to develop a fighter better suited for combat against Hurricanes and Spitfires, only the lack of an effective engine inhibited their ability to do so. It was only by employing German-designed engines that Castoldi was able to produce a plane capable of matching the best fighters then available. The result was the C.202, which could only be produced in small numbers due to the limitations of Italian manufacturing.
Nevertheless, the performance of the Folgores over Malta was effective enough to prompt the British to redeploy Spitfires to the island. Though the initial deployments were soon worn down through attrition, over the course of 1942 other factors swung the balance in favor of the Spitfires. Serviceability was a key factor, as the slow pace of production made it impossible to provide replacements, much less full adoption. This made it impossible to keep up the pressure necessary to maintain air superiority, especially once most German units were transferred back to the Eastern Front. Without it, the British were able to build up the number of Spitfires stationed in Malta. By November, any hope of reducing Malta was lost, as Operation Torch shifted Axis priorities elsewhere.
Though Folgores continued to fight in the skies until the end of the war, their heyday was over, with the Spitfires getting the better of their duel. Nijboer’s book makes a strong case that the reasons for this lay outside the aircraft’s capabilities, as its performance proved equal to that of its best competition. Its failures proved emblematic of the broader problems Italy faced in the war: outdated assumptions, inadequate industrial capacity, and a dependence on an ally that could not compensate fully for these problems. In this respect the author does a good job both of pushing back against false assumptions while laying bare the limitations of the Italian war effort.
April 26, 2014
This book offers a coherent and concise comparison of the relative merits and deficiencies of 2 of the finest fighter planes to see combat during the Second World War. The Spitfire V (the most widely produced progeny of the family of Spitfires whose outstanding combat performance against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain during the summer and autumn of 1940 ensured its legendary status) arrived in Malta at a very crucial time in the war when a British defeat in the North African/Mediterranean Region seemed all but certain. Malta was the lynch pin that helped to keep Britain in the war.
On the Axis side, there was the Macchi C202 Folgore, the creation of the great Italian aeronautical engineer Dr. Mario Castoldi. From the time of its initial combat deployment with the Regia Aeronautica in the Spring of 1941 to its commitment (in larger numbers) in the Siege of Malta the following year, the C202 went head-to-head against the Spitfire V in some of the deadliest aerial combat clashes of the war above the Mediterranean.
Like the other books of the Osprey Duel Series, this one is rich in photographs and illustrative diagrams of both aircraft. The aviation enthusiast who delights in tales of derring-do will love this book. And even if the reader has only a general interest in the Second World War, "Spitfire V vs C202 Folgore: Malta 1942" can be easily read in the course of a few hours.
On the Axis side, there was the Macchi C202 Folgore, the creation of the great Italian aeronautical engineer Dr. Mario Castoldi. From the time of its initial combat deployment with the Regia Aeronautica in the Spring of 1941 to its commitment (in larger numbers) in the Siege of Malta the following year, the C202 went head-to-head against the Spitfire V in some of the deadliest aerial combat clashes of the war above the Mediterranean.
Like the other books of the Osprey Duel Series, this one is rich in photographs and illustrative diagrams of both aircraft. The aviation enthusiast who delights in tales of derring-do will love this book. And even if the reader has only a general interest in the Second World War, "Spitfire V vs C202 Folgore: Malta 1942" can be easily read in the course of a few hours.
June 22, 2025
This text from Osprey Publishing, perhaps the most significant English language publisher of military history monographs, is a worthy addition to its list and a solid effort at exploring one of the key campaigns of World War Two from a somewhat unique perspective. Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore: Malta 1942 is in part an attempt to examine the Italian contribution to Axis aerial efforts during World War II, as well as an argument in favour of the quality of the Macchi C. 202 Folgore. The author, Donald Nijboer, more than adequately achieves both these tasks and in the process makes sure that those readers who are interested in the relevant historical issues he addresses will be satisfied. This is a worthy study of a niche WW2 subject.
The structure of the book is logical, starting with the development history of the two specific fighter aircraft, including pre-war prototypes and other earlier British and Italian fighters, and an analysis of the Royal Air Force and Regia Aeronautica up to the 1942 battles over Malta. Nijboer offers a clear and informative narrative that is very helpful in understanding why the two air forces approached air combat, and how the two fighters became so notable for their qualities. Assisted by copious illustrations Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore: Malta 1942 makes the most of its limited length.
Nijboer goes into suitable detail as to the actual sorties and combats fought by the Spitfires and Folgores, and it must be said that his work on this is probably the most authoritative as one could expect on the subject. As part of his narrative the author includes some important and interesting insights into the experiences of the pilots, with profiles of leading aces such as Canadian George Beurling and Italian Furio Niclot added for more narrow historical focus. This ensures that the reader gets a very detailed view of the book's subject.
The most valuable aspect of Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore: Malta 1942 is that it ensures that the somewhat neglected subject of the Regia Aeronautica's fighter efforts in the specific context of the Malta campaign is given significant attention, and for those readers who are intrigued or perhaps even armchair experts on the subject, Nijboer does a true service. It is not the kind of book that will appeal to many, even for those of us who are addicted to reading about WW2. However, like so many Osprey books, it fills a gap that deserves to be addressed.
The structure of the book is logical, starting with the development history of the two specific fighter aircraft, including pre-war prototypes and other earlier British and Italian fighters, and an analysis of the Royal Air Force and Regia Aeronautica up to the 1942 battles over Malta. Nijboer offers a clear and informative narrative that is very helpful in understanding why the two air forces approached air combat, and how the two fighters became so notable for their qualities. Assisted by copious illustrations Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore: Malta 1942 makes the most of its limited length.
Nijboer goes into suitable detail as to the actual sorties and combats fought by the Spitfires and Folgores, and it must be said that his work on this is probably the most authoritative as one could expect on the subject. As part of his narrative the author includes some important and interesting insights into the experiences of the pilots, with profiles of leading aces such as Canadian George Beurling and Italian Furio Niclot added for more narrow historical focus. This ensures that the reader gets a very detailed view of the book's subject.
The most valuable aspect of Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore: Malta 1942 is that it ensures that the somewhat neglected subject of the Regia Aeronautica's fighter efforts in the specific context of the Malta campaign is given significant attention, and for those readers who are intrigued or perhaps even armchair experts on the subject, Nijboer does a true service. It is not the kind of book that will appeal to many, even for those of us who are addicted to reading about WW2. However, like so many Osprey books, it fills a gap that deserves to be addressed.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews