"Capronis" near Leningrad? What plane is Kaberov talking about?

[Charon]

I'm reading Igor Kaberov's memoir, "Swastika in the Gunsight". He mentions fighting "Capronis", but I have no idea what plane he's talking about. All of this is taking place near Leningrad, in August 1942, and it's not clear if these planes are Finnish or German.

 

Quote

Our group of aircraft were approaching the island of Seyskari when, from the left, eight Capronis and two Me 109s appeared. We were put on our guard but they passed by on a course for the sunken ships.

 

Quote

Hardly had we caught up with them than six Capronis dived on us from above. The enemy fighters confidently engaged in battle, but in only five minutes three enemy machines were enveloped in flames and crashed to the ground. In the confusion of battle, one Caproni broke through to our attack aircraft. However, Khanyafi Khamyetov, who was in the group of escorts, rushed to intercept but himself came under enemy fire. We didn't know what had taken place but heard Khamyetov's voice:

"Lads, help! I'm caught in an attack."

"Kaberov!"

It was Yegor ordering me to support Khanyafi. I dropped like a stone to give help. I saw how the Hurricane was circling just above the water. The enemy fighter on his tail, not noticing me, was banging away at him. I caught up with the Caproni and found him in my sights. Fire!  The enemy machine heeled over sharply, described a circle and, striking its port wing on the water, broke into pieces.

 

Quote

I sat and thought: can a Hurricane stand up to a fight against an Me 109? The Hurricane is not an LaGG 3 and of course not a Yak 1 as Kokkinaki said. With Fiats, Fokkers, and Capronis it was easy. But the Messerschmitt...

 

The translator seems to think Kaberov means the Ca. 310, and lists it under bombers as "Caproni: 2x Piaggio V11C16". But I don't think I believe that, both because it's inconsistent with Kaberov's description of them as fighters, and because I don't know what Ca. 310s would have been doing in the Baltic.

 

I assume it's like how many other Soviet pilots called Fw 190s "Fokkers" (although Kaberov does not), but in this case I have no clue what plane is meant.

Edited October 11, 2020 by Charon

[Heliopause]

Perhaps it was Brewster Buffalo's or Curtiss fighters

[Chief_Mouser]

If not the Caproni 310 then perhaps they were Blenheims? Vaguely similar and used by the Finns.

[Monostripezebra]

Maybe MC200s from the Italian Expeditionary Corps?

[twilson37]

I could be G50s from Finland but he mentions them in the article. I think the Fokker refers to the Fokker DXX1 in Finnish service, other than the Curtiss and Buffalo mention it could also be the MS406.

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by twilson37