ITALIAN AIR FORCE (WW2) . REGIA AERONAUTICA

MACCHI C.202

Ten. Giulio Reiner - 73a Squadriglia, 9° Gruppo C.T., 4° Stormo

Giulio Reiner was born in Como on 12 April 1915. In 1939 he was assigned, with the rank of Sottotenente, to the 73a Squadriglia, IX Gruppo, 4o Stormo flying Fiat CR.32. In February 1941 the unit was re-equipped with the Macchi C.200. The Gruppo then took part in the attacks on Yugoslavia in April 1941. In July 1941 the IX Gruppo re-equipped with C.202s. After a request of the Stato Maggiore dell'Aeronautica, on 3 June, Reiner was selected and sent to Centro Sperimentale at Guidonia charged with the development and test of a Reggiane Re.2000, modified to be launched by a ship catapult from the Italian battleships of the Vittorio Veneto class. On 16 July Reiner was back with the 4°Stormo at Fuka. The 4o Stormo had been in North Africa (at Martuba 4) since 25 May and was at this time equipped with Macchi C.202s. During the course of his second tour he shot down seven aircraft (four Spitfires, a P-40, a Boston and a Wellington) in the space of six months. On 12 January 1943, Reiner was promoted to Capitano. From 28 June, the 9°Gruppo was based in Sicily, equipped with C.202 and C.205. On 13 July Reiner led four MC.202s and four MC.205s on a scramble from Finocchiara.They intercepted six P-38s that were going to bomb the road north of Gela, escorted by twelve other P-38s flying higher. Reiner claimed a P-38. After the Armistice of 8 September Reiner joined the Allied Forces with his Macchi C.205 reaching Galatina on 12 September. He ended the war with a score of 10. Other sources credits him with 10 destroyed, 8 probables and 3 destroyed on the ground. Reiner passed away on 6 September 2002.

Artwork by Ugo Crisponi
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