Originally posted by Ball
And the second most important fighter of the entire war was the CR.42. Used for longer and in greater numbers than any other Italian fighter.
The CR42 was produced in numbers slightly higher than the C202, but most of these were pre-war, and they were far far obsolete before the war started. Italy's Air Force knew this at the time. It was built in higher numbers than any other IT plane, but did not see use more than the C.200, the G.50, the C.202, or the c.205/g.55.
It was confined to training, light attack, and even some night fighting, but it was just too poor an aircraft to keep up with anything else it would meet in the air.
Now, as for an ealier fighter, you come down to the G.50 or the C.200....
The C.200 was basically the dominant one, with Macchi being able to deliver them in larger numbers and faster. However, they had the same engine and the same armament, so I'd guess there was little to choose between the two.
Seeing that we already have a C.202, and a C.205, we don't want a monopoly of Macchis (say THAT fast three times!)
I'd say the G.50 would be a great candidate.