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Crash of a Piaggio P.108B in Valencia

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM22001
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Decimomannu - Decimomannu
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Decimomannu AFB on an operation to Gibraltar. While returning to base, the airplane ran out of fuel. The crew elected to divert to Valencia Airport but on approach, the airplane crashed on a beach and was damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion caused by an excessive fuel consumption.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75RT at Guidonia AFB

Date & Time: May 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM60537
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rome - Guidonia
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a positioning flight from Rome-Ciampino to the Guidonia Airbase. On final approach, all three engines failed simultaneously. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. All four crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
Lt Col Amadeo Paradisi, pilot.
Cpt Publio Magini,
S/Lt Ezio Vaschetto,
Lt Vittorio Trovi.
Probable cause:
Failure of all three engine on approach due to fouled plugs.

Crash of a Piaggio P.108B in Pisa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM22003
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pisa - Pisa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training exercise at Pisa-San Giusto Airport. On approach, two engines lost power simultaneously, causing the airplane to stall and to crashfew hundred metres short of runway. Five crew members were injured and three others were killed, among them Bruno Mussolini.
Crew (274th Squadron):
Lt Francesco Sacconi, pilot,
Off Angelo Trezzini, flight engineer,
Cpt Bruno Mussolini, pilot. (Aged 23, he was the second son of Benito Mussolini).
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Libya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1941 at 2300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
MM23881
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Berka - Berka
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Berka AFB near Benghazi to attack ships in the area of Crete. While returning to base in the evening, the pilot got lost and the airplane continued to the south before it crashed in a desert area, some 500 km southeast of Berka. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in the Mediterranean Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1941
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a patrol mission with a second similar machine. As weather conditions deteriorated, the wingman returned to base about an hour into the flight. But the leader continued and probably crashed somewhere into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Domenico Valsania, pilot,
Sgt Antonio Sirignano, pilot,
Maj Luigi Barbesino, pilot,
Cpl Ezio Mita, engineer,
Cpl Aldo Balducci, mechanic,
Cpl Attilio Calvari, air gunner.

Crash of a Breda Ba.44 near Tirana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1941 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM60426
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4303
YOM:
1934
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances some 15 minutes after takeoff from Tirana Airport. All three crew members were killed. First registered I-ORSA by Ala Littoria then MM60426 by Regia Aeronautica.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 off Kastellorizo Island

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM20452
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kattavia - Kattavia
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was on a reconnaissance mission when it was shot down by enemy fire. The pilot attempted to ditch the airplane that crashed into the sea one mile west of Kastellorizo Island. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Lt Oscar Pegna +4.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Benghazi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1941
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Benghazi - Al Marj
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane crashed while taking off from Benina Airport in Benghazi. It was en route to Barce (Al Marj). All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Giuseppe Anelli, pilot,
S/Maj Gino Recagno, pilot,
Cpt Felice Giaccio, observer,
Pvt Italo Pecamicio, fitter,
Pvt Adriano Novelli, engineer,
Pvt Gaspare Cudia, photographer,
Pvt Antonio Barolini,
Pvt Belgio Bellanti, air gunner.

Crash of a CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone off Preveza: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by the pilot of a British fighter and crashed into the sea off Preveza. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Domenico Bazzi, pilot,
Sgt Elisio Acuti, pilot,
Av Libero Mera, flight engineer,
Av Cosimo Buongiorno, radio operator,
Av Salvatore Di Salvo, air gunner.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Cartosio: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1940 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rome - Torino
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rome to reach the CIAF headquarters (Italian Armistice Commission with France) in Torino with seven people on board. Weather conditions deteriorated when the airplane crashed in Cartosio, about 10 km southwest of Acqui Terme. All seven occupants were killed, among them General Pietro Pintor and General Aldo Pellegrini.
Crew:
Maj Cesare Quinto,
Col Attilio Corti, pilot,
Cpt Giuseppe Cadel, pilot,
Mar Ettore Alberi, engineer.
Sgt/M Paolo Cinti, mechanic.
Passengers:
Gen Pietro Pintor,
Gen Aldo Pellegrini.