Italy’s First Modern Bomber (That Aged Like Milk) | Fiat BR.20

Today we're looking at the history of the Fiat BR.20, one of the lessor-known Italian bombers from WW2.
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Recommended Reading:
Thompson.J.W (1963), Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945.
Apostolo.G (1966), Fiat BR.20: Aircraft Profile No. 110.
Babinski.P (1999), Fiat Br 20 Aircraft in Focus.
Sgarlato.N (1979), Italian Aircraft of World War II.

[@RexsHangar]

Q&A / Request Section - Ask your questions, or post suggestions, here :)

[@gazpacho-lh5om]

Caproni Campini N.1

[@kjolskistudios]

Will you ever make a video on the Fokker F27 or 50 and the subsequent downfall of Fokker?

[@JustoEroles-ts1yk]

When are you uploading jets videos?

[@higamerXD]

What is your all time favourite unique experimental or specific purpose plane? Planes Like the br20H or the aefer ariete.

[@andrealenzi454]

Henkel he 177 if you haven't already done a video plz

[@landiahillfarm6590]

You've really stepped up your production values, the animations and 3D modelling is quite impressive. Very nice!

[@alanmar5511]

As a child growing up in Canada in the 70s. I was not too interested in building model aircraft’s of USA or Britain. But rather odd ball aircraft. The early Br20 caught my attention. Specially its camouflage scheme. I’m now Over 60. But still have that Br20. It turned out. My first car before I even got my drivers licence was a used Fiat 1970 124 sports coupe. My daughter now. Somehow has a Fiat 500 e as her first car. And the irony of all. I married an Italian. Who knew.

[@wa1ufo]

Italian girls can be super as I married one myself!

[@scottuehlinger7887]

I also lust after Italian sports cars (Fiat 850, 124, etc) AND I have a BR.20 model you have inspired me to complete!

[@legoeasycompany]

I love how this is a video about the BR.20 but like a bad Penny the SM 79 keeps popping up. I do look forward to my favorite tri-motor bomber in the future

[@tomlindsay4629]

I tried mowing a lawn with a vibratey lawn mower once, my hands were numb afterwards. I can only imagine what those pilots dealt with. Thanks for posting!

[@wbertie2604]

Long term, it can cause permanent damage :(

[@davefellhoelter1343]

Rode a cruiser. Took off a handlebar grip, filled bars with #9 bird shot! Nick Named the the Dead Blow(as in hammers), or Shooter? (as in bird shot) almost? No More vibrations, HARLEY's SUCK! no need on any of my jap bikes. should have filed a patton? stipid easy, and cheap. O wait? I was "cheap" Now I am "Green!" GOD Bless!

[@johncaldwell-wq1hp]

Mine caught fire !!-I pushed it away,-but it ran down hill,-under my Mums washing line & set fire to the washing !!--(I never lived that down !!)

[@tomlindsay4629]

@johncaldwell-wq1hp 😂

[@davefellhoelter1343]

@ Had a similar! I discovered halon fire extinguishers work REALLY really WELL! but moms BBQ under Dad's beautiful wooden tung and grove patio

[@drstevenrey]

FIAT, my very favorite manufacturer ever. I drive one daily, 30 years old and working perfectly and very happy. Several others are in my garage ranging from the 50s to the 80s. I also fly one, just post war and stupidly rare, even here in Switzerland.

[@jstefa2]

You have the only faultless fiat in the world.

[@uniwasamistake6334]

I believe vintage Fiats are respectable pieces of design and engineering despite their notoriety, but a flying fiat? I don't know much but they scare me.

[@sailordude2094]

In America, Fiats have a pretty bad reputation but I drive a Dodge which Fiat now owns, lol. I guess I'm conflicted about Fiat.

[@uurkisme]

Fix It Again Tony!

[@matteomaffeis1992]

What do you fly? A G-59 maybe?

[@am3lia420]

The onscreen animations and graphics are stunning, superbly well put together as always!!!!

[@BluePieM99]

Really liking these new showings with 3D models, keep up the great work.

[@DNorthWest]

The famous November 11th attack, called Operation Cinzano, apparently has you explained didn’t go well. Winston Churchill reportedly commented on this raid, which occurred on the same day as the Fleet Air Arm's attack on Taranto: "They might have found better employment defending their Fleet at Taranto." This is covered by Peter Haining’s book, The Chianti Raiders. Regarding possible future questions. The Regia Aeronautica war wasn’t going well, particularly in East Africa. Exceptionally covered in Dust Clouds of the Middle East, Christopher Shores’s book covers these air wars covering East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Madagascar, which were strategically essential for Duke (Dominion,United Kingdom, and Empire)forces to secure the Red Sea and access to Iranian oil. The fascinating aspect was that they were using many prewar aircraft, some of which you have covered. Possibly worth an in-depth view, by Syria, you had RAAF Tomahawks, RAF SAAF Hurricanes and SAAF Mohawks fighting Italian CR 42 French Morane MS406 and D520.

[@mikehimes7944]

That sounds fascinating, thanks for the recommendations.

[@user-gj9cn7tn5r]

Best quote ever regarding defensive armament was in the development of the B-58. “If you put a tail gun in it, it’s going to need it”.

[@randalc6118]

Greetings from Drayton Valley Alberta Canada 🍁. It is a lovely warm day with a temp of -35c. love the work Rex, Please keep up the great work, Use your shows for keep the boredom down when stuck in traffic on the Cowboy Trail in Edmonton.

[@draganjagodic4056]

Always pleasure to listen to Your expertise and descriptions of all these interesting old-timers. And Your sense of humor is gold. Thank You.

[@carlosgallego553]

Do one about the Henschel 123, so good they had to buy back from Spain to deploy in Russia

[@wlewisiii]

That the replacement was so crappy they were so desperate they bought them back... Let's be real. The 123 was obsolete when built even if it could manage to have a certain level of success. That's the truth of ALL biplanes in WWII. I love biplanes aesthetically but reality remains reality.

[@fate3071]

Biplanes as CAS actually makes sense, as they are able to get closer to their target before pulling up due to increased maneuverability ​@@wlewisiii

[@obamatraore2339]

​@@fate3071They also spend way more time in full view of any machine guns pointed their way because they are so slow

[@tedarcher9120]

​@@obamatraore2339hs-123 is about the same speed as il-2

[@obamatraore2339]

@tedarcher9120 il2 isn't going to fall apart against rifle calibre weapons though

[@RonJohn63]

Those rear reinforcing wires and struts had to add a brutal amount of drag.

[@kevindolin4315]

This was an excellent video on an aircraft that was OK (said in a wry voice) in its beginnings, moved to so-so and finally to a death trap, due in no small part to crew training or lack thereof. I've long been interested in the BR.20, especially in its Japanese service. I really enjoyed that part. Incidentally, the Type 97 bomber that Rex mentioned earlier and the Ki-21 are the same thing. Type numbers for IJA planes simply referred to the year of manufacture, so any plane made in any one year would have the same Type number with its intended role put after that. The Ki, short for 'kitai' or airframe, numbers were simply handed out sequentially regardless of the planes mission. That said, this was a remarkably detailed history of this bomber. Well done, that Rex.

[@elennapointer701]

Thank-you for this video. I've been looking for videos about the BR-20 every since I learned the story of the "Chianti Raiders".

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting.

[@timyo6288]

gay

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

@@timyo6288 Are you? Well that's nice for you dear, the rest of us don't care. Toodle pip.

[@KastaRules]

Back in the late '80s early '90s I had the 1:72 scale Italeri model proudly displayed next to a B-25 and a HE 111. I always thought it was really ugly looking but in a pleasant way.

[@normfinn8422]

Rex: I very much appreciate your ability to pronounce Italian names and Japanese type designations properly. Rare qualities in this game. :)

[@richardlehoux]

Nice upgrade on the quality of the production with nice 3D graphics. Love it!

[@tlock4616]

Excellent video as always! Glad I tripped across this channel.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Just the right length for me Rex, I can synchronise watching with the wife watching 30 minutes of shoite on the TV

[@TFBITRCY]

Still looks more modern than many French produced bombers during the same time period.

[@poil8351]

then again the french had some very bizarre looking bombers that looked like somebody had been reading a few too many scifi novels while designing them.

[@andygass9096]

I think we all had our fair share of "uglies" during the inter war period though i agree the French took it to extremes.

[@poil8351]

@andygass9096 um the soviets sure had some intresting aircraft. especially those giant bombers of the 30s. and the usa had some intresting fighters right before the war the f2f and f3f comes to mind

[@nicowals2036]

Good video about this bomber. One point of criticism. The animated model has the fasces wrong on the starboard side. Axes always pointing outwards on the wings. (Sometimes mistakes were made). And the fasces on the fuselage has the axe always pointing forward. The idea is an axe with its blade inwards can’t strike. Thanks for this video!

[@exocet1]

I have mentioned this before, but the Brits called these planes the Chianti bombers as they carried wine, fresh bread and cheese. The were picked over every time one went down. There is a book called "The Chianti Bombers: that came out a few years ago, which is pretty good.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

How many got shot down in a way that left the fuselage mostly intact for this to become a meme??

[@wolfsoldner9029]

@@RoamingAdhocrat The british post a lot of bs about WW2.

[@aquilamario8300]

The quality of the videos is excellent. No need to rush!

[@colindunnigan8621]

Really like the new imagery.

[@bhumiriady]

It's been a while since I've seen a new Rex's Hangar video... As always I really love the video so much. Keep up the awesome work, mate!

[@alansmith8837]

Another good vid rex, no razzamataz no music no lightening cuts, a bit more video would be nice but i get it if it doesnt exist you cant show it.

[@classicalextremism]

1,000 versus 2,500 km range, I assume, is combat radius versus maximum range. The difference probably comes down to translation or comprehension issues in the sources.

[@basilreid257]

More info than I ever seen before on this obscure bomber.

[@DGHodgson-o8z]

The Italians built some of the most beautiful and fascinating aircraft before and during the war in my opinion.

[@Unfassbarer]

Danke!

[@jameshain1248]

Hmmm we have two 100 year old FIATs and yes they are going concerns.........after a few hundred hours of restoration. I am sure these would need a larger effort if any were even still out there. Loved the look at something a little less known thanks Rex.

[@alexandergross7132]

just one question: when will we get a sm.79 video? i always loved that aircraft, especially when playing italy in hoi4 black ice

[@Dank_Lulu]

They wanted a medium bomber, but because of budget-cuts all they got was a mid bomber.

[@SeansGarageCars]

I kept expecting you to say something along the lines of "And this finally convinced the Italians that the BR.20 was no longer fit for service, and it was replaced by the (insert successor aircraft here)". But instead you just kept introducing the next improved variant!

[@agolftwittler1223]

Great. A fresh upload from Rex 👍

[@stanash479]

As usual your stuff is just too great for words.

[@hunterjones7036]

Excellent program.

[@TheWeaponChroniclesX]

An excellent video as always! But to be honest, the BR.20 is truly a perfect example that simply following the American way doesn’t always lead to success. The Italians saw the American B-10 as outstanding and wanted to replicate it, but they forgot that their technology at the time wasn’t advanced enough for a complete copy. The result? A plane that was neither as fast nor as durable!

[@patjohnson3100]

Very interesting and well researched as usual.

[@JohnRay-h8g]

Thank you, I always enjoy your video presentations. I've been a subscriber for a few years but only recently created a KZbin account to upload comments.

[@majorbloodnok6659]

A great return, thank you.

[@TheArchaos]

With all the vibration this aircraft could be nicknamed the 'butterchurner'!

[@francescol4728]

A wrecked BR20 may be seen in the sea near Santo Stefano al Mare, in the western Ligurian sea near the French border. The aircraft lays at a depth between 40 and 50 meters. You find some footage here on KZbin

[@DoubleMac_gaming]

HAIL REX AND HIS HISTORICAL CONTENT!

[@JustoEroles-ts1yk]

Hello everyoune It is good to be back

[@aldman]

Mark did an excellent job with the rendering, except....Is it me or when doing the 360 of the plane on the ground(examples at 00:42, 21:32 amd 29:33) landing gear is deployed, obviously, but there seems to be another set tucked in the wing. Mark probably knew that these planes needed all the help they could get so gave them an extra set. Joking aside, he has incredible talent.

[@RexsHangar]

That was a mistake on my part - the model comes in two modes, a 'flying' and 'landed' mode, and I accidentally imported both sets of wheels without realising it 😅

[@jimsvideos7201]

It’s like they hung up a print of the 247D with “Like this, but worse” written underneath.

[@baguette2117]

Wow very nice 3d overview

[@jameslawrie3807]

People might wonder why the Italians just never seemed to learn from their experiences. They did but they had a problem with both Mussolini's view of himself as the flag-bearer of fascism and a bunch of allies that was once described by one of my lecturers as 'a pack of predators hunting in the same area rather than real allies committed to the same war aims'. Mussolini committed everything to Spain in an effort to swing the war and had a huge effect on that conflict and his various African adventures. After the Wehrmacht's tank force was battered taking Poland, not the walkover most people think it was, he and Hitler came to an agreement to put off further hostilities until 1945. This would allow Germany to rebuild its tank arm and Italy to rebuild its forces utilising the lessons learned in the various prior conflicts. Hitler was never one to honour agreements and disregarding the parlous state of the Italian of the armed forces he attacked France when he realised Britain was sending over only a token force and no one had supported France in the Saar Offensive. Always a keen eye for weakness, he attacked France and came to a surprising win although once again his panzers were roughly handled (the Germans were always very careful to remove their damaged or destroyed vehicles before photographing enemy wrecks. This would play against the USSR because when Hitler attacked them he had mostly new vehicles and fewer legacy units). Mussolini should have stayed out of it but he needed to help the Germans who at that time he saw as fascism's junior partner and threw his tired and outdated units into the fight. After that Italy never really had breathing space to get its comparatively small industrial base to rearm. He even threw some divisions into the Eastern Front for no real good reason where they were mauled, the tiny Italian tanks facing up against T-34s and KV-1s accompanied by a hellstorm of artillery.

[@uingaeoc3905]

You ought to remember that Mussolini had imperialist ambitions against minor nations, the acquisition of Libya, invasion of Ethiopia and also Albania. The first defeats were in Greece when their invasion was pushed back.

[@ranulf8477]

It was Mussolini who attacked North Africa and Greece and was nearly defeated. So he begged Hitler for help. It was never the plan of the Wehrmacht to be in greece or even to fight in the desert. These divisions had also been missing at the eastern front. And Italy turned around to the allies the second time in nearly half a century. The italian troops and the navy had been very brave and well equipped and even honored by Rommel but the italian Generals, Admirals and of course Mussolini himself had no idea what they are doing there.

[@wbertie2604]

Britain wasn't in any position to assist in the Saar in September 1939. France was still mobilizing and the UK was in no position to get troops anywhere that quickly, just like 1914. Even in May 1940 it was still bulking out its AT units with French guns.

[@jameslawrie3807]

@@wbertie2604 That's not the point, the point is what the Germans saw. They saw far less commitment than what had happened in The Great War and took the opportunity.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

@@jameslawrie3807 His point was that in both wars the British Expeditionary force was initially tiny - compared to what it would later become. The British - had wisely - like the United States - put more money into their Navy as both had Water Obstacles protecting them but that meant - that it took damn long time to gear up their Armies. .

[@johncaldwell-wq1hp]

I really like that ''Capproni"-CA-133--looks nice-!!-I love Spats & radial Engines--& that in Italian="Cool ''--!!-(I think there is a Kit of this aircraft ?)-''Arivaderchi !!"--

[@henningniehues8023]

Would you ever consider doing a video on the ME 262? It's an amazing story and it's so beautiful 😍

[@jamesengland7461]

Welcome back!

[@a.gravemistake3061]

Aaaaaay, I'm watchin' here

[@szymonstamonsta]

Very nice work. Would love to see something in the same theme (interwar-developed bombers): the Polish PZL37 Łoś

[@Jade_Df]

Love the new 3D models

[@mammaliturchi54]

very good video

[@shanemossmoss]

Great video thanks

[@killer.crayon]

Always wondered whether passenger aeroplanes are any good bombers... Let's start watching!

[@20chocsaday]

Boeing Stratocruiser was a convert from a bomber.

[@andrewcoley6029]

Really interesting. Thanks

[@lukespread]

Seriously looking forward to the Italian theme.

[@jasonz7788]

Thanks Rex

[@ChudActual]

One of my work horses for low tier Italy on WT lol

[@Deviation4360]

The Ca. 133 would have to be the prettiest tri-motor ever built. Couldn't help but think now there's an equivalent to the US P&W R-2800 engine in the BR.20 that was pretty guttless but also (checked Wiki sources) very much lighter. Just shows how much the US engine was 'Hotroded' from its earliest incarnations. Japan should have put their own Homare 18 cylinder radial in their BR.20's

[@sailordude2094]

I think this bomber is in the PS1 game Panzer General, it's terrible, lol. Thanks for the video!

[@sim.frischh9781]

Italy had some... INTERESTING planes developed during that phase.

[@Luxnutz1]

Will there be a show about the Caproni CA, 204? The Italian B-17

[@poil8351]

funny thing is the germans were deploying the ju 52 well into 1944 even a few were still flying in 1945. and the spanish had them in service well into the 1950s.

[@CrusaderSports250]

If the Italians had used it as a purely transport aircraft they may well have used it for much longer, but it's primary reason for existence was as a bomber, which despite a promising start was soon outclassed as development rapidly over took it, with irs speed it could have made a good transport, and some were converted for this, but too few unfortunately.

[@Tom-eq5bz]

Top Noten content

[@hypehyd2096]

Balloon series of Zepplins and Deridgables etc. 2nd part video

[@MisterOcclusion]

Parallels the Blenheim, really. I don't know why airforces got excited over next years bomber being faster than last years fighter and then got stuck in that mindset, when at best they had a year or two advantage before someone else inevitability puts a bigger engine in a smaller machine using those same modern design philosophies leaving your high speed bomber weak and vulnerable. It's right up there with the fundamentally flawed destroyer (heavy fighter) concept

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

And yet: De Havilland Mosquito. Maybe ditching defensive armament entirely is the missing feature? And/or having the wherewithal to continually upgrade the design with the latest engines, literally keeping pace with the fighters

[@billwebb5256]

Rex! You need to step up production! I miss seeing your aviation videos!

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Italy and Japan were both just behind the curve led by the US, UK & Germany. For the Japanese going against the Chinese - this wasn't so bad but once they went to war with the Americans - they began taking unsustainable losses. Of course - if you look at France - they were just a rolling disaster. It wasn't that France didn't have the potential - it's just that they didn't start trying to really field it until way to late - and were thus buying a lot of foreign aircraft - many of which - end up either being captured by the Germans or sent to Britain. So - if you compare Italy to the other 2nd Tier Nations - it wasn't that bad off. Their problem - was that hey weren't just fighting other 2nd Tier Nations. .

[@neutronalchemist3241]

France had a good fighter, the D.520, easily on par with contemporaty Bf.109 and Spitfires, and an outstanding medium bomber, the LeO-45, although a little lacking in defensive armament. Both were "too little, too late". The rest, that was the majority of their air fleet at the start of the war, was pretty much obsolete.

[@joet.s.6283]

3d modeling is very cool. Getting C&Rsenal vibes. But for Planes!

[@tz8785]

3:38 - Could this be a mix-up between flight range and maximum target distance in the sources? With a target distance of 1000 km plus a reserve, a required flight range of 2500 km sounds plausible.

[@Foxttellio]

Golly the side profile of that looks like a B25

[@RichardKroboth]

First time I ever heard of the Italians flying missions in the Battle of Britain and the Russian Eastern Front.

[@davidjones332]

Mainly because Mussolini wanted to be in at the expected kill. The Germans didn't want them and were exasperated at their incompetence, even having to provide them with decent lifejackets for cross-Channel operation. They only made one inland raid on Britain (only as far as Canterbury), and on several occasions their escort of biplane fighters was massacred by the RAF, who suffered only slight damage to two Hurricanes and a Spitfire. There were numerous crashes due to inexperience and navigators just getting lost in the weather.

[@mirthenary]

Please, please, please, _please,_ can you do a video on the Piaggio P108? As far as I know, no one's ever done it. Please? I'll make it my birthday _and_ Christmas present! Little known fact, Mussolini's son died in a crash while testing one, or something like that.

[@mikewindsor5759]

I have seen a video on it, and my aircraft YT channels are limited (by quality), so my guess is that Gregs Airplains and Automobiles may have done one - pop it into YT search and I'm sure it will come up!

[@kenon6968]

Say what you well about the Regia Aeronautica, they had some elegant designs

[@worrierqueen5695]

No, don't tell me that Rex, we rate the B.R. 20 over the S.M. 79 Mark I in our latest game (better engines, better speed, better bomb load, longer range and slightly higher ceiling altho admittedly slightly worse armament, slower climb and un-armoured cockpit). Both of these aircraft were far better than anything Caproni came up with irrespective of whatever love affair Miyazaki has for him.

[@1207rorupar]

I would love a comparison video sometime in the future, regarding how well planes from other nations would have worked in different theaters... would've the Japanese Betty bombers been better for the Mediterranean than what the Italians and Germans had? Would the Italians fighters fared better against the IJN and IJA enemies in southeast Asia?

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Considered the Betty had been introduced only in 1941, it seems subpar compared to medium bombers of the late '30s. Its only advantage over Italian and German models was range.

[@lucasboaventura100]

Make a video about the Ambrosini sai 207

[@Eurodance_Groove]

Minute 1:57... A british telling italians' planes had the aesthetic of a cave troll... BETTER IF I KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT UP!!! A British wants to teach to italians the aesthetics!!!

[@sergeipohkerova7211]

Wirh the 3D model diagrams I think it would be awesome if human figures were included inside along with bombs, and the humans looked like Mario and Luigi 😊

[@giantfrigginnerd]

Am I tripping or are the wireframe 3D models new? They look great

[@johnwalker9320]

Fiat Cicogonia is at BR 20 and the Eurofighter and the Rafale are BR 14 really shows how bad Gaijin balancing and compression is

[@BrotherAlpha]

So they made a plane whose main defence was speed. ... Did they not think fighters would get faster? This seems like a very short-sighted approach.

[@uingaeoc3905]

Erm .... the Mosquito ?

[@neutronalchemist3241]

B29 was designed with the same idea.

[@mudcrab3420]

Liking the 3D

[@tedarcher9120]

I don't think it was obsolete at all. It had about the same stats as an early b-25 or ju-88

[@oxcart4172]

Weird. Italian aircraft usually have the initials of the chief designer in their names

[@scottgiles7546]

2:02, You take that back about Cave Trolls!!! To translate from American to British, Please apologize to all Cave Trolls for that statement..

[@RemusKingOfRome]

... and .. and you can actually fly the BR.20 in the IL2 Sturmovik - Cliffs of Dover, PC game. I highly recommend you get this old, cheap game just to fly this. X

[@confuseatronica]

all those 20s twin light/medium bombers look so fast and some of them ... just arent oh well

[@dflatt1783]

What's a killometer?

[@matthewlok3020]

Italian aircraft… CR42 and SM79 comes to mind

[@XXfea]

Damn you! What took you so long?

[@greenseaships]

*pulls up a chair to enjoy another rare Italian trimotor design* WAT

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Other than the SM.79, that was a good torpedo bomber, but not that great bomber, the main rival in bombing role had been the Cant Z.1007.