History[]
A-421 was an Italian Fiat Cr.42 “Falco” (Hawk) fighter that was captured in January 1941 by No. 3 squadron RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) at Martuba. It had been the intention to preserve this trophy of war and later have it taken back to Australia for presentation to the War Museum in Canberra, but it was destroyed when the Germans took the offensive again. From 3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force History, "3 Squadron at War", a note written early April, 1941 (during the Squadron's first retreat in front of Rommel): "To the great regret of the Squadron, an Italian CR42 captured in January 1941 at Martuba, which had been flown by several pilots in the intervening months, had to be destroyed".[1][2]
Obviously the CR.42 quoted in the note above is the plane of this photograph. Note the Savoia’s emblem in the white cross on the rudder removed by a souvenir’s hunter.
