The Fiat G.55 Centauro is a monoplane fighter aircraft featuring a single engine and a single seat, designed and manufactured by the Italian company Fiat Aviazione.
It was utilized by both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana in the latter part of the Second World War.
The G.55 was designed and manufactured at Fiat’s facility in Turin.
A significant characteristic was its incorporation of an inline engine, which was a licensed replica of the German Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine, as opposed to the commonly preferred radial engine.
It was equipped with various combinations of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons and 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns.
Consequently, the fighter was relatively powerful, fast, and durable.
The prototype G.55 conducted its first flight on 30 April 1942; after demonstrating its capabilities during competitive evaluations, the fighter commenced mass production and entered squadron service in the subsequent year.
Active primarily in the latter stages of the conflict, most of its operational service occurred after the Armistice of 8 September 1943, and it was mainly operated by the Repubblica Sociale Italiana.
Efforts during the war to enhance the G.55 led to the development of the G.56, which utilised the larger and more powerful German Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine; however, it is believed that the G.56 variant was never produced in significant numbers.
After the conflict concluded, Fiat decided to resume production of the G.55; in addition to its use within Italy, postwar exports were made to the Argentine Air Force and the Royal Egyptian Air Force.
Consequently, some examples continued to be in operation into the 1950s.
Furthermore, a specialised trainer variant, the G.59, was created, which was powered by imported Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.
Although Italian fighter pilots generally held the Centauro in high regard, by the conclusion of the conflict, fewer than 300 units had been manufactured.
In contrast, the Germans produced 35,000 Bf 109s.
Even though it was available in limited quantities, the G.55 established itself as an outstanding high-altitude interceptor over Northern Italy; throughout 1944, the Centauro frequently engaged with British Supermarine Spitfires, P-51 Mustangs, P-47 Thunderbolts, and P-38 Lightnings, demonstrating its capability as a formidable opponent.
The G.55 is often regarded as the finest aircraft produced in Italy during World War II.
In 1943, following comparative evaluations against the Messerschmitt Bf 109G and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Luftwaffe officials proclaimed that the Fiat G.55 was “The best Axis fighter” available at that moment.
