User blog comment:Tybaltcapulet/Italo Balbo vs Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen/@comment-3189283-20190206092623

Let’s see shall we

Fighters

The Fiat is coming in with twice the number of guns which you think would be a pretty big advantage in an aerial dogfight but it is outclassed in every other area. The Messerschmitt has a much faster speed owing to it’s more powerful engine and can spend much longer in the air without having to refuel.

Edge: Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen

Bombers

If the Fiat was outclassed by the Messerschmitt then the Junker is even more outclassed by the Savoia-Marchetti. The Savoia has a higher top speed, more armaments, a vastly further range and is carrying the larger payload. Edge: Italo Balbo

Groups

The Luftwaffe appear to be the more effective force here with greater success than the Regia Aeronautica, who failed against the Ethiopian army despite them having virtually no air force of their own. The Luftwaffe meanwhile had great success in the early parts of the war and only began to suffer once supplies started dwindling. They are also bringing the technologically superior planes and better trained and experienced pilots.

Edge: Wolfram Freiherr von Richtofen

Final Verdict

Despite having the vastly inferior bomber I have to give this battle to Richthofen. The fighter planes he is bringing are much better than the Italian equivalent and they will dominate the initial stages of the battle while intel is being gathered. Once the bombers start their runs he will already have aerial dominance which makes up for the fact that his own bombers are vastly inferior. More importantly than aircraft though, Richtofen is by far the more experienced leader here with much more aerial combat experience than Balbo who was killed during the early stages of the war. Furthermore the Luftwaffe itself is just the better fighting force so on top of his own personal experience and successes he’s also got the more experienced and successful pilots to boot. The poor funding of the Italian airforce really comes back to bite them in the ass here and they relied on the Luftwaffe for most of their successes, which doesn’t bode well for them now they have to face their former ally. Wolfram Freiherr von Richtofen: 4,000

Italo Balbo: 1,000