User blog comment:Tybaltcapulet/Italo Balbo vs Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen/@comment-27043000-20190201080800

Pygmy Hippo's "There’s a third Richtofen?!" Edges

Fighters:The Fiat CR.42s have more guns on some of them and more ammo if that's what rpg means but the Messerschmitt Bf 109s have a superior top speed, have the bigger guns, better engines, and a farther range. In addition, the Fiat's own bio describes why it will fail against the Messerschmitt as monoplanes are superior to it. Edge:Richthofen

Bombers:The Junkers Ju 87s have guns protecting both of their sides, more bombs, and a better engine but the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparvieros have a faster top speed, more guns with superior calibers and more variety, a greater explosive charge, more crew members, and a farther range. Another disadvantage for the Junkers is that they have to dive to attack which is far more detrimental to the pilots than the Savoia-Marchetti's traditional bombing method. Edge:Balbo

Groups:The Luftwaffe or 8th Air Corps seem like the more competent force in my opinion as they only started taking heavy due to a equally powerful aircraft fleet and dwindling supplies. The Regia Aeronautica managed to lose several planes to an enemy that didn't even have combat aircraft. Edge:Richthofen

X-Factors:In Experience, Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen takes the edge as despite both not being aircraft pilots until close to WW2, Richthofen didn't die in the second year of it like Balbo and fought on various fronts instead of just Africa. In Training, I give a slight edge to Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen as he trained for years but that was just engineering and I suppose Luftwaffe training is superior to a Regia crash course. In Tactics, Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen takes the edge once more as his tactics have actually been defined, are focused on avoiding casualties and superior accuracy as opposed to training, and Balbo's Regia relied on Richthofen's Luftwaffe heavily. In Logistics, Italo Balbo finally takes an edge as despite his technology being outdated, it's less of a disadvantage than not having enough fuel to even use your planes in battle. Edge:Richthofen

Final Verdict:Italy is once again one of WW2's big losers as it's blatantly obvious that Italo Balbo's out of his league in this fight with his only advantages being an admittedly nice bomber and having fuel for his planes. Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen has the superior fighter, far more competent force, the excellent combo of great experience and training, and brilliant tactics. While it is true that Richthofen's planes are in danger of not even being able to be used, Balbo's inexperienced and incompetent Regia Aeronautica can't hope to protect their land against the Luftwaffe.

Winner:Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen