The J11 version of the Fiat CR-42 biplane fighter served the Swedish Air Force from 1940 until 1945. This example is preserved in the Flygvapen Museum at Malmen.

To the RAF Museum Hendon in 1978.

A long term stunning restoration.

CR-42Bis Falco of the Swedish AF. This one served from May 1941 to March 1945 with F9. Now preserved in the Malmen museum.

The Falco was quite possibly the most capable biplane fighter ever produced: the problem was that it was up against Spitfires and Hurricanes, rather than other biplane types. National pride and Mussolini's bluster led a force being sent to take part in the Battle of Britain. On 11th Nov. 1940 this Falco suffered a broken oil pipe and was forced to land on a beach in Suffolk. She was repaired, evaluated by the RAF as BT474, then allocated RAF maintenance serial 8468M and placed into storage before ending up on display at the RAF Museum during 1978.

Compare this with MM5701, preserved in the RAF Museum. This was one of 72 aircraft supplied to the Swedish Airforce. It crashed in Northern Sweden killing the pilot. The wreckage was recovered in 1983 and acquired by the Fighter Collection in 1995. A painstaking restoration is taking place to return it to the air when it will surely be an incredible sight.

One of the last biplane fighters. What a stunner.

About 1800 of these aircraft were built, the last of the biplane fighters. They were very strong and manouverable. Ex RAF BT474 and also allocated RAF maintenance serial 8468M (which many mistakenly think to be its cn).

Part of the Corpo Aereo Italiano that Mussolini sent to Belgium to assist the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, this Falco force landed on the beach at Orford Ness, Suffolk, on 11 November 1940.