Knights of the White Cross A.R.102

[comrade harps]

Alfa Romeo A.R.102 Series III
White 2, personal mount of Major Nikita Chernov
Knights of the White Cross Squadriglia, 21º Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre, Regia Aeronautica
Makeyevka airfield, Ukraine
Summer 1942



By 1939, the military arm of the White Russian anti-Bolsheviks was confined to border areas of Finland and Poland. When German invaded the latter in September, the Red Army also crossed into Poland, seizing a broad strip of land "infested with counter-revolutionaries". Later, the Winter War of 1940-41 between the Socialist Union and Finland was waged when the Red Army crossed into Finnish territory to destroy the White Russian's last active military sanctuaries. Not trusted by Hitler, the White Russians fled to Italy, where they were the honored guests of Mussolini. 



Absorbed into the Italian military, the White Russians formed the White Cross Legion with the Regio Esercito and the Knights of the White Cross Squadriglia with the Regia Aeronautica. Both White Russian units joined the Italian expeditionary force sent to combat the Socialist Union in August 1941, their fighter squadron being equipped with the Macchi C.200.



In February 1942, the Knights of the White Cross Squadriglia withdrew to regroup and equip with the Alfa Romeo A.R.102, flying a mix of Series II (armed with 4 x .50 cal Breda machine guns) and Series III aircraft (with 2 x .50 cal Bredas and 2 x MG151/20 20mm cannon). These aircraft were purchased through donations raised by a network of Catholic anti-Communists, including (controversially) American donors. Significantly, the unit now also included non-ethic Russians, with several French and Danish pilots and maintenance personnel joining before their return to the Eastern Front in May, 1942. 



The A.R.102 was Alfa Romeo's first indigenous fighter, following a lack-lustre response from the Regia Aeronautica to their earlier efforts, which were both Heinkel designs. The A.R.100 was proposed as a locally-built He 100D but failed to gain Italian orders. Only 80 were purchased of the A.R.101, which was a locally made version of the He 112B. The A.R.102, though, was local design to meet Regia Aeronautica specifications for a fighter powered by the Alfa Romeo RA 1000 RC 41 (a licensed-built DB 601 powerplant), 1,026 of which were delivered in three Series between late 1940 and early 1943. The basic A.R.102 went on to be adapted for the Fiat RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone (a licensed built DB 605A powerplant) as the A.R.105, of which 341 were made. When Tifone supplies ran out, the A.R.103 was further adapted to accept the Piaggio P.112 radial engine, resulting in the A.R.106, 87 of which were produced.



The White Cross Squadriglia was in constant action, flying escort and fighter sweeps, air defence, armed reconnaissance and close air support missions during the Axis advanced to the Volga River. Although their planes were built as fighter-bombers, neither the Italian-manned nor the White Cross-manned Alfa Romeo A.R.102s in the East ever flew with underwing stores, meaning that their missions were restricted to tactical ranges and ground attack sorties limited to strafing. Although their aerial success rate has been confirmed at 29 victories to 7 losses during this, their second campaign on the Eastern Front, there were no attrition replacements sent and by mid-January 1943, on the defensive and retreating, the White Cross Squadriglia was down to just 5 airworthy planes. Their last mission came on 17 January, when 5 White Cross aircraft joined 20 Regia Aeronautic planes strafing enemy troops in the Millerovo area. The next day, with the Italian and White Cross Legion ground troops routed and suffering horrendous losses, the Italian expeditionary force withdrew from the battlefield.



White 2 was the personal mount of Major Nikita Chernov. Chernov's family had fled Russian during the 2nd Russian Civil War/The War Against Stalinism during the 1920s, his parents being involved with the counter-revolutionary White Russian Army. He joined the White Russian Army in Finland during the 1930s and learnt to fly. He flew as a transport pilot during the 1940-41 Winter War before fleeing to Italy and joining the Knights of the White Cross Squadriglia. He scored 1 aerial victory flying a Macchi C.200 during the 1941-42 deployment to the Eastern Front and another 4 whilst flying the this aircraft during the 1942-43 campaign.



The Knights of the White Cross Squadriglia returned to Italy with just 3 aircraft (including White 2) and went into a period of rest and recruiting before being disbanded by the Regia Aeronautica in May, 1943. By then, the Russian Liberation Army was forming with German backing and Himmler had persuaded Hitler and Goering to establish a Russian-manned fighter unit in the Luftwaffe, largely as a propaganda ploy. This saw former members of the Knights of the White Cross Squadriglia transferred to the Luftwaffe, where they flew Bf 109Gs adorned with Russian markings. They continued in action until Germany's final collapse in May, 1946.



Major Chernov was killed in action on 14 November, 1943 when his Bf 109G-6 was struck by flak and crashed. By then his victory tally was 9.

[zenrat]

Gorgeous camo.

[NARSES2]

Gorgeous camo.

Absolutely, some of the Italian ones are just pure class 

Great idea and build.

[Dizzyfugu]

Very cool - never expected that simple cosmetics can change the look of a Ki-61 THAT much. Great idea and execution. 

[DogfighterZen]

Very good, that camo looks sweet! 

[Tophe]

Nice!

[TomZ]

Very nice

TomZ

[Captain Canada]

Very nice. Love the camo and the way the colours all go together.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Interesting, unusual and good-looking!

[Weaver]

That's an inspired choice: the Ki-61 fits in with both the Italian and Heinkel looks remarkably well.

[KiwiZac]

I love it! Top job!

[TheChronicOne]

Man, that's nice!! Masterful camo there!! Brilliant work, bud!  I'm very impressed.

[su27rules]

 

[dumaniac]

nice camo scheme