Thanks JF. Glad to be of service sometimes LOL. Like I said its hard to believe at that late stage that they would be considering it due to the scarcity of resources.

__________________
For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

That's the sad thing about the Italian air force. They had good designers and aviators. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for the Allies, things didn't work out for the Italians.

Yes... Fuel was always a matter for Italy. During 20's and 30's, it was common to say that England "held a knife in Italy's neck", due to her dominance of the two ocean-accesses to Mare Nostrum (the Med). Italy always depended on fuel importation, and Germany was not willing to give more than small quantities to them, since it had it's own fuel problems.

__________________
"The Duce will have Ethiopia. With or without the ethiopians." Rodolfo Graziani

www.saladeguerra.net

The most costly, and difficult to operate of all armed forces is the Airforce...skilled pilots take years to train sufficiently (as Germany and Japans later war years proved) Manufacturer's must constantly be upgrading, and designing aircraft..for what worked in 1940, was outdated and outclassed by 1945. Mechanics, outfitters,airfields must be trained, built, moved, and rebuilt.

Italy designed fantastic planes, and had some very skilled pilots...but the skill, or knowledge on how best to use these is a constant debate...i.e.BoB, Stalingrad re-inforcements, etc, air coverage of fleet movements, Malta

bf109 Emil