It was principally operated by the Regia Aeronautica during the later years of the Second World War, being the last of the Reggiane aircraft line to enter service during the conflict.

Entering squadron service in April 1943, the Re.2005 participated in the defense of the Italian homeland, including of Naples, Rome and Sicily.

However, the Re.2005 was never produced in large numbers, only 48 aircraft having been delivered before the Armistice of Cassibile was enacted in September 1943; production of the type came to an end during the following year.

[4] British ace and military observer, Group Captain Duncan Smith, DSO DFC, stated that "The Re.2005 was altogether a superb, potent aeroplane".

[5] Throughout the 1930s, the Italian military authorities chose to adopt only radial engines to power their aircraft; consequently, during the second half of the 1930s, the Italian aeronautical industry had been sufficiently de-incentivised to the point of completely avoiding the development of more powerful engines based on streamlined liquid-cooled designs, which would become popular abroad.

[6][7] By 1941, Italy, having become an active participant in the Second World War during the previous year, recognised the need to improve its military capabilities, particularly in terms of its combat aircraft.

During February 1942, the airframe of the prototype was completed, by which point the German-sourced Daimler-Benz DB 605 inline engine was ready to be delivered.

This prototype was armed with four Breda 12.7 mm machine guns along with a single Mauser cannon; it was primarily used for testing, but later saw active use during the aerial defense of Naples.

Propulsion was by a 1,475 hp (1,100 kW) Daimler Benz DB.605A-1 engine, either of original German production or built by Fiat as the RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone (Typhoon).

The aircraft was equipped with a right-handed, three-bladed Piaggio P.2001 constant speed, mechanically controlled, variable-pitch metal propeller.

The streamlined and compact fuselage was almost totally dominated by the DB 605 engine and left relatively little space to accommodate fuel.

[citation needed] The aft fuselage was unusually compact, even by Italian standards, accommodating both the radio apparatus and oxygen bottles while also supporting the aircraft's relatively large fin.

The triangular-shaped wing and tail control surfaces were mostly fabric-covered, included all-metal two-part split flaps and statically balanced ailerons.

Minguzzi subsiquently flew the prototype to Napoli-Capodichino, where it was incorporated into 362a Squadriglia; this unit, commanded by Capitano Germano La Ferla, was the first to be equipped with the Re.2005.

[8] Minguzzi scrambled for the first time in the Sagittario on 24 March, when Naples was attacked and on 2 April he claimed a four-engined B-24 Liberator bomber over the Isle of Ischia.

He wrote: The aircraft is in ideal flying conditions at an altitude of 7,000–7,500 m (23,000–24,600 ft) and can make repeated attacks on American heavy bombers in all positions and from all directions...

[citation needed] The first confirmed air victories came on 28 April, when four Re.2005s from 22° Gruppo scrambled (with C.202s and one Dewoitine D.520) from Capodichino to intercept a formation of 30 B-24s Liberators, escorted by 30 fighters heading for Naples.

The Re.2005s were flown by Maggiore Minguzzi, Capitano La Ferla, Tenente Giulio Torresi and Sergente Donati.

It was discovered that at speeds over 660 km/h (410 mph) TAS, every manoeuvre could adversely affect the flight control in the tail and then cause damage to the fuselage from flutter.

Re.2005 pilots were forbidden from attaining very high speeds (VNE 800 km/h (500 mph)) but by then, operations were winding down as the Armistice of Cassibile was taking effect.

Salvi tried all the tricks he knew: dives, tight turns climbs and tonneaus, but the Spitfire remained steadily attached to his tail, following every move.

He managed to tighten the turn radius again, moving away from the bullets' trajectory, and the Spitfire was still chasing him, then it suddenly vanished, possibly out of ammunition.

After correcting the balancing, de Prato dived the aircraft to 980 km/h (610 mph) TAS[citation needed] convincing himself that the structure of the Re.2005 was fully capable of high g maneuvers.

Six aircraft were used as trainers by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) (the air force of the German allied Italian Social Republic).

About thirteen Re.2005s were seized by Germany and some sources have these aircraft in use during late 1943 by the Luftwaffe for air defense against Allied bombing raids over Berlin; others believe that the Re.2005s were used by the Germans in Romania as interceptors over the Ploiești oil fields.