Musée de la Résistance de Limoges (Limoges Resistance Museum) Limoges, France August, 2025

The Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete is an Italian fighter-bomber developed during World War Two.

The Reggiane 2002 Ariete (Ram) (Werk No.1506, marked 'DV+BI' and 'Red 5' c/n 15). The Re.2002 was a further development of the Reggiane 2000 Falco. The Re.2002 prototype first flew in October 1940. An initial production order for 100 aircraft, placed in September 1941, were delivered to the Regia Aeronautica from July 1943. After the Italian Armistice on September 3, 1943, 40 new plus another 20 Re.2002 were secured by the Luftwaffe to utilise in France. This fighter-bomber was based partly in Clermont-Ferrand and used to support missions against the French maquis or Resistance fighters. The aircraft suffered a mis synchronization of the cowling machine gun a bullet shattering a propeller blade, making it impossible to fly the aircraft, it crashed at Jumeau-le-Grand on June 16, 1944. The pilot, however, managed to land it without too much damage. The wreckage was riddled with bullet holes ‘proving’ as the legend goes, that he was shot down by the resistance fighters. The aircraft was almost intact, only the wings and parts of the tail were missing. However, souvenir hunters removed many parts before what was left was finally removed in 1946. It was exhibited in the Bishopric garden in Limoges from 1947 to 1976. It was eventually restored by the 274 Limoges-Romanet air base after 4,000 hours of work. Each duralumin sheet was dismantled and remade identically or reconstructed according to plans. The Re.2002 at Vigna di Valle is the only other complete Re.2002. It is to be found at the Italian Air Force Museum just outside Rome.