Development

The 1930's saw many odd aircraft designs. Fortunately most of them ended with a single prototype or a short production run sold off to to a far away nation where air combat would be read about but never practiced! Sadly, Fiat's "Freccia" was not numbered amongst them.

The fighter's design dated back to 1935, even then it was a compromise candidate to fill three roles required by the Regia Aeronautica. The first prototype flew in February of 1937, when the low speed, poor rate of climb, and undercarriage problems suddenly became apparent. The second prototype crashed. Worse still, even by mid-1930's standards the armament of the "Freccia" - two fuselage mounted Breda-Safat 12.7mm MGs -- was too light for effective air to air combat.

The "Freccia" was seriously inferior to the excellent Macchi C200 fighter, which ultimately won the competition for bulk orders. Yet because the latter also experienced 'teething problems', 45 Fiat's were ordered by the Ministero. Supply difficulties slowed production and delayed plans to despatch at least one Squadriglia of "Freccia's" to Spain to evaluate its abilities and formulate air combat tactics under operational conditions. Not until late February 1939 were a dozen complete aircraft available for crating and shipment to Tarragona.

Spain

When the aircraft arrived they were taken to Reus for flight testing by Gruppo Sperimentale do Caccia: commanded by Maggiore Bonzano. The unit was attached to the larger 23rd gruppo do Caccia 'Asso di Bastoni' equipped with the CR 32 biplane. The 23rd Gruppo was assigned to the Madrid Front, and the twelve G.50's were ferried to Escalona to begin their very short war service. Two of the aircraft, flown in loose pairs in Condor Legion manner, were used as high altitude top cover for the CR 32's patrolling the skies over Madrid. With less than two weeks of conflict left to run, the Italian pilots had no opportunity for air to air combat; since Republican air power had been virtually eliminated.

The "Freccia's" brief Spanish service was without firing a gun in anger, but not without operational excitement however. One crash landed on a dry river bed, and was a write off. The pilot of a second was lucky to survive another of the 'arrow's' little quirks; when the plane was flown with the cockpit canopy closed, there was a tendency for exhaust fumes to seep in!

Remarkably, the fighter actually descended and landed safely, and the pilot eventually recovered. Thereafter, Sperimentale's pilots flew with their canopies locked open. Two weeks 'action' over Madrid's skies had highlighted the problems of the machine if nothing else.

As Bonzano's men prepared to return to Italy,the 23rd Gruppo was ordered to hand over its eleven suwiving G.50's to Franco's newly established ejercito del Aire, whence they were Posted to Morocco, assigned to Grupo 27. By 1943, the last of the "Freccia's" was withdrawn from service, when spares and equipment were no longer available.