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Additional Information from Internet Encyclopedia
The Breda Ba.65
was an all-metal single-engine, low-wing monoplane used by Aviazione Legionaria during the
Spanish Civil War and Regia
Aeronautica in the first part of World War II. It was the only Italian
ground-attack aircraft that saw active service in this role. It saw service
almost exclusively on the North African front. In addition to more than 150
aircraft operated by the Italian forces, a total of 55 were exported and used
by the air forces of Iraq, Chile and Portugal.
An evolution of Ba.64, the Ba.65 was designed by Antonio
Parano and Giuseppe Panzeri. It was a single-seat, all-metal, low-wing
cantilever monoplane with aft-retracting main undercarriage. Like its
predecessor, it was intended to undertake aeroplano di combattimento multiple roles as a fighter, attack
and reconnaissance aircraft. The Ba.65 carried wing-mounted armament of two
12.7 mm (0.5 in) and two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda-SAFAT
machine guns, with internal stowage for a 200 kg (440 lb) bombload in
addition to external ordnance that could total 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).
The prototype, which was first flown in September 1935, like the initial
production aircraft, used the 522 kW (700 hp) Gnôme-Rhône K-14 radial
engine produced under license by Isotta-Fraschini. Starting from the 82nd
aircraft, the more powerful Fiat A.80 RC.41 18-cylinder, twin-row radial engine
with a takeoff rating of 746 kW (1,000 hp) was adopted. Production
ceased in July 1939 after 218 aircraft were built by Breda and Caproni.
The Ba.65 debuted
during the Spanish Civil War. Thirteen Series I aircraft, powered by the
Gnôme-Rhône engine, equipped the 65a Squadriglia
of the Aviazione Legionaria
(Legionary Air Force). The unit took part in operations at Santander in August
1937, then at the battles of Teruel and the Ebro. The aircraft proved effective
and was compared positively with the German Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. In a unique engagement, one of
the Legionary Air Force pilots scored an air-to-air victory when he encountered
a lone twin-engine Tupolev SB-2 bomber over Soria and shot it down. Of the 23
Ba.65s sent to Spain, 12 were lost in the course of the civil war. They flew
1,921 sorties, including 368 ground-strafing and 59 dive bombing attacks. When
the Aviazione Legionaria
returned to Italy in May 1939, they bequeathed their 11 surviving Ba.65s to the
Spanish Air Force.
A total of 25
Fiat-powered Ba.65s two-seaters were sold to the Kingdom of Iraq in 1938. These
consisted of 22 equipped with Breda L turrets and two dual control trainers.
From 2–31 May 1941, the Royal Iraqi Air Force flew the Ba.65 during the
Anglo-Iraqi War. War broke out after an Iraqi coup d'état installed a new government while maintaining the
existing monarchy. The Ba.65 was used against armed forces of the United
Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations which the coup leaders were trying to
expel from bases established after Iraq's independence under the Anglo-Iraqi
Treaty of 1930.
During World War
II, the Ba.65 was employed against the British in North Africa. When Italy
entered the war in June 1940 about 150 aircraft were reported to be still in
service, but suffered heavy losses facing the British fighters. Most were
either out of service or shot down by February 1941. The aircraft, which had
been forcibly kept in service after the failure of the Ba.88 and the poor
performance of the Caproni Ca.310, was replaced in the dive bomber role by
modified Savoia-Marchetti S.79s or fighters.
Chile bought 20
Ba.65 (17 single-seaters and three dual control trainers) powered by the
Piaggio P.XI C.40 (also a 14K derivative) late in 1938. Portugal purchased 10
Breda equipped with Fiat engines and Breda L Turrets in November 1939.
