In September 1941, the Italian Air Force ordered 200 aircraft, delivery of which began in March 1942. The aircraft equipped the 5° Stormo and 50° Stormo, although the engine problems hadn't been fully solved. The first batch of 100 aircraft were delivered by July 1943, but only part of the second batch was delivered before the armistice with the Allies.
The squadrons equipped with Re.2002s saw a great deal of action with the Allied landings in Sicily although they also suffered many losses. During the first four days, when the Italian Air Force tried to attack allied ships, 14 aircraft were destroyed by British Spitfire Mk Vs. Allied bombing raids and strafing of airfields destroyed many aircraft on the ground. Due to the lack of fuel, the Re.2002s were only used sporadically, often equipped with three 250 kg or 100 kg bombs.
Some of the last skirmishes took place on September 3, 1943, when the British 8th Army landed at Calabria. Fifteen Re.2002s from 5° Stormo attacked the landing force. Three pilots were killed; among them was Giuseppe Cenni, the commander of the unit.
The Germans had shown interest in buying 300 Re.2002s before the Armistice. They planned to use the German produced BMW 801 radial engine in order to eliminate the deficiencies with the Piaggio engine. However, Reggiane could not satisfy the demand, and none were delivered. However, some 40 "factory-fresh" Re.2002s along with 20 aircraft requisitioned from operational stocks were taken over by the Germans after the Italian armistice, and used against the French resistance
.
Zes uitvoeringen mogelijk;
- Regia Aeronautica 5th Stormo, Wing commander plane (Major Giuseppe Cenni) Manduria, Foggia, Italy, August 1943.
- Regia Aeronautica, 239Ma. Squadriglia, 102nd Gruppo Reggio Emilia. Italy, Fevbruary 1943.
- Regia Aeronautica 5th Stormo, 208Ma. Squadriglia, 101st Gruppo Isola capo Rizzuto, Crotone, Italy, 1944.
- Aeronautica Cobelligerante Italiana 5th Stormo, 239 Ma. Squadriglia, 102nd Gruppo Palata, Campobasso, Italy, 1944.
- Luftwaffe Geschwader Bongart Bourges, France, 1944.
- Luftwaffe Unknow Unit Pavullo nel Frignano, Bologna, Italy 1944.
Lang; 170 mm.
