#dewoitined520

Roughly 60 Dewoitine D.520 fighters entered service with the Regia Aeronautica (RA). Italian pilots generally respected the type for its handling qualities and its Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20 mm cannon, which was competitive by 1940–41 standards. The first three airframes were allocated to 2° Stormo at Turin-Caselle for point-defence of the industrial zone. Additional examples were captured at various airfields in southern France, including Montélimar, Orange, Istres, and Aix-en-Provence.

By early 1943, Italian personnel ferried Dewoitines taken as war prizes to Italy. Italian pilots praised its armament, cockpit ergonomics, effective radio set, and benign spin behaviour, yet criticised its fragile landing gear and limited cannon ammunition capacity. Ammunition supply also proved a constraint, since HS.404 ammunition was incompatible with Italian Breda and Scotti 20 mm systems and had to be drawn from French stocks.

In April 1941, the German Armistice Commission allowed Vichy authorities to resume domestic aircraft production, provided that France later manufactured 2,000 German-designed aircraft for delivery to Germany. Under this arrangement, 550 Dewoitine D.520 fighters were ordered to replace all other single-seat types, though they were prohibited from basing such aircraft in metropolitan France. Planned allocations included 442 machines for 17 Groupes, three naval escadrilles with 37 aircraft each, and three training units. While these aircraft were to match earlier production standards, examples from serial 543 onward employed the improved 12Y-49 engine; however, more powerful 12Y51 and 12Z units were barred.

D.520s saw extensive action under Vichy control during the Syria–Lebanon campaign. Units such as GC III/6, II/3, and naval escadrille 1AC deployed after long ferry flights from France via Italy to Rhodes and finally Syria—an arduous journey for a 1940-era interceptor. Of 168 French aircraft dispatched, 155 arrived, though limited logistics and spares constrained sortie rates. First combat occurred on 8 June 1941 when D.520s downed three British Fulmars for the loss of one Dewoitine. Over subsequent days the type flew escort missions and achieved further kills against Hurricanes.

Vichy forces flew 266 missions during the campaign, 99 by D.520s. On 10 July, five Dewoitines engaged RAF Blenheims and their Australian Tomahawk escorts, claiming three bombers but losing at least four fighters. The following day a D.520 downed a Tomahawk before itself being destroyed. Initial Vichy advantages eroded as Allied air attacks destroyed aircraft on the ground due to poor infrastructure and limited air defence. By campaign’s end, Vichy lost 179 of roughly 289 aircraft committed; French fighter losses totalled 26 in air combat and 45 to strafing and bombing, while the Allies lost 41 aircraft, 27 to French fighters.