Editing Macchi C.202 Folgore (section)

===Sicilian and Italian campaigns===
[[File:Macchi C.202 at Dayton.jpg|thumb|A Macchi C.202 captured during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] of [[World War II]] being evaluated at [[Wright-Patterson Field]] outside [[Dayton, Ohio]], for the [[United States Army Air Forces]]]]

The C.202s played a significant role in the defense of Sicily and Southern Italy against bombing attacks launched by the USAAF, however, by the time of Allied invasion of Sicily during July 1943, their effectiveness had been diminished considerably as a result of attrition, which had reduced the number available.<ref name="Mondey p. 155">Mondey 2006, p. 155.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 89.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 8-9.</ref> Furthermore, it was increasingly recognised that 20&nbsp;mm cannons were required in order to cause enough damage, thus a mixture of Bf 109F/Gs, [[Macchi MC.205]]s and [[Fiat G.55]]s were deployed to replace the remaining C.202s as soon as possible. Mixed units (such as the 51° ''Stormo'', [[Sardinia]]) were formed with C.202s, yet were often serving with C.205s as well.<ref name="Cattaneo p. 8." />

By the signing of the 1943 [[Armistice with Italy]], there were only 186 ''Folgores'' remaining, of which roughly 100 aircraft were still considered to be in a serviceable condition.<ref>Sgarlato, ''Macchi 202'', p. 38.</ref><ref name="Cattaneo p. 9.">Cattaneo 1966, p. 9.</ref> Several C.202s served with the Allied-aligned [[Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force]], and some of these were subsequently reconstructed into C.205s or C.202/205 with the Veltro's engine. Others served as trainers in the Axis-aligned ''[[Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana]]'' (National Republican Air Force) of the [[Italian Social Republic]] (RSI) and the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' (German Air Force).<ref name="Sgarlato p. 40" /><ref name="Cattaneo p. 910.">Cattaneo 1966, pp. 9-10.</ref>