How Italian Fighters Fought Against Israel (Part 1) - Macchi C.205V in Egypt

Hello everyone, this is Showtime112. Macchi C.205 was the ultimate   achievement in Italian World War II fighter  design. Early Italian fighters suffered from   lack of power and the solution was found in a  license-built German Daimler-Benz DB-601 engine. Macchi modified their earlier C.200 for the  new engine and the result was C.202 Folgore. The airplane had a greatly improved  performance although it still lacked firepower. As the Allied air power grew, Regia  Aeronautica required another improvement and the solution was found in an even  more powerful Daimler-Benz DB-605 engine. This powerplant with the output of 1475 HP was installed in an airframe   based very closely on the previous model and  the result was Macchi C.205V Veltro or Greyhound. The initial series one still lacked  firepower with only four machine guns, while the later series had two Mauser  20 millimeter cannons in the wings. The first deliveries began in October  1942 but due to various difficulties   only 177 of these fighters were produced  before the Armistice of September 1943.   Despite its qualities, the Veltro couldn't make any  significant impact in the fight against the Allies.   But World War II was not the final  engagement for this Italian fighter. In 1947 Macchi relaunched the production of the C.205   using the surviving components but also  converting some existing C.202s into C.205s. When an Egyptian delegation inquired about a  possible fighter purchase, the Italians were   able to offer the Macchi fighter along  with another similar design, Fiat G.55. The Egyptians ordered both models. The total order for the C.205 was 80 examples. Most  of them reconditioned C.202s. Only 15 of those were   delivered before the end of the first Arab-Israeli  War but they were heavily involved in the fighting. Five of them were newly built  models and 10 were converted C.202s. The airplanes arrived to Egypt in crates, they  were then assembled and given a camouflage   paint very similar to RAF's Desert Air  Force. They were delivered to the number   2 Squadron based at al-Arish air base in  the Sinai Peninsula. This unit also operated   Spitfires while another squadron in the same  base was receiving Fiat G.55s at the time. There are indications that the Macchis  first encountered Israeli Air Force   as early as 21 October 1948, but the first  official combat took place on 22nd of December. Israelis launched a major offensive and they  were trying to put pressure on Egyptian air   bases in Sinai. Two Israeli pilots, Rudy Augarten  and Jack Doyle were on an armed recon mission   over al-Arish in their Spitfires. Both were  World War II veterans. Augarten flew P-47   Thunderbolts and was credited with shooting down  two German aircraft. Doyle flew Spitfires for the   Royal Canadian Air Force and was credited  with victories against four Axis aircraft. Augarten spotted a dark shape through the noonday  haze flying near the Egyptian airbase. This wasn't a Spitfire and Israeli pilots knew  that Egypt had introduced new Italian fighters. One of them was in the traffic  pattern at al-Aarish, about to land. Augarten placed himself behind the  Egyptian fighter and opened fire. The engagement was over quickly. Flt Lt Shalabi al-Hinnawi was  seriously wounded in his head and legs   but still managed to crash land  his Macchi fighter near the runway. Unlike the Egyptian pilot, the anti-aircraft  gunners were not caught by surprise and   they opened fire at Augarten's spitfire which  stayed fast and low until well clear of the base. Augerten was credited with  a kill of a 'Fiat' fighter. Israeli pilots would often confuse the two  Italian types and in most cases they referred   to them as 'Fiats' even though Egyptians  used the Macchi fighter much more frequently. The next day, 23rd of December saw an  Egyptian attack on Israeli Tel Nof Airfield. Several C.205s participated  along with some Spitfires. The attack was unopposed by Israeli fighters  but other than that, no other details are known. 28 December 1948 saw the next clash between  Egyptian Macchis and Israeli fighters. Two Israeli Spitfires flown  by Jack Doyle and Gordon Levett   encountered a number of Egyptian C.205s  and a single Spitfire over Gaza Strip. Levett was the only English non-Jew who joined  the Israeli Air Force in the Independence War. Both sides apparently overclaimed in the  dogfight which developed. Israeli side was   credited with three kills, Jack Doyle with a Macchi  and Gordon Levett with a Macchi and a Spitfire. Egyptian side claimed downing of two  Israeli aircraft with two others damaged. One of the damaged aircraft  was supposedly an Avia S-199. Egypt admitted the loss of one Macchi flown by Pilot Officer Abed Fatah Said whose  aircraft crashed into the sea. It seems like there was only one certain kill in   this battle, the Macchi flown by Pilot  Officer Said who was shot down by Doyle. Israeli records don't indicate that any of the Spitfires   were damaged and no sortie by  S-199s was taken on that day. On 30 December two Macchis flown  by Egyptian number 5 squadron   commander Sqdn Ldr Kamal Abd al-Wahab and Flt Lt Khalif al-Arusi attacked the Israeli ground  positions at Abu Ageila in the Sinai. But as they were circling low over  the encampment, they were bounced   by two Israeli Spitfires flown  by Jack Doyle and John McElroy. Just like Doyle, McElroy was a WWII veteran  who had flown for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was credited with 11  victories against the Luftwaffe. Jack Doyle approached one of the Macchis  and opened fire from about 200 yards. The Egyptian Macchi started trailing smoke  and soon dropped off towards the desert. John McElroy attacked the second Macchi  as it was pulling away from a strafing run, But this Egyptian pilot demonstrated  serious skill and aggression. He managed to evade McElroy's fire and after some   maneuvering placed himself  on the tail of Jack Doyle. McElroy fired a long burst at the Macchi  which then turned back into his Spitfire. The pair initiated a high-g dogfight. Despite the obvious skill of the Egyptian  pilot, McIEroy was able to work  his way behind the Macchi's tail. He opened fire and his hits  sent the Egyptian fighter   into an uncontrolled dive towards the desert. Neither of the two Egyptian  pilots survived the encounter. Again, Israeli pilots reported  fighting Fiats instead of Macchis. Doyle and McElroy were surprised by  the skills and aggressive attitude   of the second Egyptian pilot, something  which they generally didn't demonstrate. This led to speculation of Egypt hiring ex  Luftwaffe or even American Pilots to fly for them . But these speculations were never confirmed and it  is now believed that all of the Egyptian airplanes   were flown by Egyptian pilots. This was part one  of our video about Macchi C.205V in Egyptian service. Be sure to press the like button if you enjoyed  the video as it's a huge help to the channel. You can help even more by joining our  Patreon supporters or by donating on PayPal. Don't miss part two when it comes out. Thank you and keep watching Showtime112!