Regia Aeronautica

CRDA CANT Z.506

Shot down by Allied fire and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. All 20 occupants were killed.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.75

The aircraft left Tunis Airport in the early evening bound for Castelvetrano with wounded soldiers on board. At that time, the aircraft was heavily loaded. On a night approach to Castelvetrano, weather conditions were poor with low clouds and rain falls. The first approach was abandoned by the captain because he was unable to locate the runway due to poor visibility. The approach lights of the aircraft were out of order at that time. During the second approach, the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway but the speed was too high (160 km/h). During the last segment, the captain reduced the engine power to idle when the aircraft plunged and hit the runway surface. The right wing caught fire and the aircraft went out of control and crashed. Four soldiers (three Germans and one French) were killed while all 33 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. Crew: Ten Alfredo Bonsignore, pilot, Sgt Ugo Antonellini, pilot, Sgt Armando Marchetti, flight engineer, Sgt Beniamino Valobra, radio navigator, Sgt Pietro Punzi, air gunner.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

The crew was performing a training sortie from Pisa Airport. While cruising off Viareggio, the three-engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by the crew of the German cargo ship christened 'Nicoline Maersk'. The aircraft crashed into the sea and was lost, killing all five crew members. Some debris of the wreckage were found in 1984. Crew: Ten Cipriani, S/Ten Fasciani, A/S Bufali, A/S Cosana, A/A Domanetti.

CRDA CANT Z.506

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Italy. All three crew members were killed.

Piaggio P.108

Following an uneventful bombing mission over Gibraltar, the crew was returning to his base when he was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to a fuel exhaustion. The aircraft crash landed on a beach located in Valencia. While all seven crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.75

The crew was performing a positioning flight from Rome-Ciampino to the Guidonia Airbase. The aircraft crashed on landing for unknown reason. The aircraft was wrecked and all four crew members were injured, among them Lt Col Amadeo Paradisi, pilot.

Piaggio P.108

The crew was engaged in a circle training flight around the airport of Pisa-San Giusto. On approach, two engines lost power simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed few yards short of runway. Five crew members were injured while three others were killed, among them the captain Mussolini. Crew (274th Squadron): Lt Francesco Sacconi, pilot, Off Angelo Trezzini, engineer, Cpt Bruno Mussolini, pilot. (Aged 23, he was the second son of Benito Mussolini).

Fiat BR.20 Cigogna

Back to Belgium following a bombing mission over England, the aircraft crashed on landing at Brussels Airport for unknown reason. It was confirmed the aircraft was hit by the British Flak and was damaged while returning to its base. All six crew members were killed. Crew (13th Squadron): Talete Rebuscini, pilot, S/T Luigi Dal Forno, Elvio Romito Maresciallo, Giuseppe Maruelli, Mario Cini, Giacomo Columbano.

Fiat BR.20 Cigogna

The twin engine aircraft was involved in a bombing mission over England and left Chièvres AFB in the day. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and crashed some 400 meters from the Florenville station. All six crew members were killed. Crew (13th Squadron): Cpt Carlo Pagani, pilot, Arrigo Tenente Vardabasso, pilot Giovanni Maresciallo Favia, copilot, Sgt Aldo Maggiori Del Monte, flight engineer, Sgt-Mag Paride Astesati, air gunner, Sgt Paolo Biziocchi, radio navigator.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

The three engine aircraft left El Feteyat Airfield at 1700LT bound for Tobruk. Half way down, the crew informed ground he was about 160 km east of his departure point. While approaching Tobruk, the aircraft was hit by flak, went out of control and crashed in flames in the desert, some 60 km west of Tobruk. All nine occupants were killed, among them the Italian Minister of Aviation Italo Balbo. Crew: Marechal Italo Balbo, Pilot, Major Ottavio Frailich, copilot, Captain Gino Cappannini, flight engineer, Sergeant-Major Giuseppe Berti, radio navigator, Enrico Caretti, Lino Balbo, Claudio Brunelli, Nello Quilici, Cino Florio.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

The three engine aircraft, owned by the Aviazione Legionaria, was performing a bombing mission on behalf of the Spanish Nationalists Forces in Catalonia. En route, a bomb detonated in the bomb bay and the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion, killing all 17 occupants.

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

The three engine aircraft, owned by the Aviazione Legionaria, was performing a bombing mission on behalf of the Spanish Nationalists Forces in Catalonia. En route, the aircraft collided with another SM.79 that was hit by Flak, went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all 17 occupants.

Savoia-Marchetti S.55

The crew was taking part to a world tour under the command of General Italo Balbo. After takeoff from Ponta Delgada, the seaplane crashed into the sea and came to rest upside down. One crew member was killed.

Savoia-Marchetti S.55

The seaplane departed Orbetello on a flight to the US, taking part to a world tour with 25 other similar airplane under the command of General Italo Balbo. While attempting to land in the harbor of Amsterdam (Schellingwoude), the airplane impacted a dam and crashed. Four crew members were injured and the Sgt Quintavalle was killed.

Savoia-Marchetti S.55

Registered I-BOER, the Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA was taking part to a huge international rally organized by the Italian General Italo Balbo on a trip from Italy (Orbetello) to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 14 Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA were involved in this rally. The group departed Orbetello on 17DEC1930, arrived in Kenitra on 21DEC1930, Villa Cisneros on 23DEC1930 and finally Bolama (Guinea Bissau, ex Portuguese Guinea) on Christmas Day. Due to poor weather conditions, it was not possible to continue so all crews observed a rest time on Bolama Island till 06JAN1931. After takeoff from the harbor of Bolama, while climbing, the float plane lost height and crashed into the sea, killing all four crew members. Their bodies were never recovered. It was registered I-BOER, referring to the name of its captain Luigi Boer.

Savoia-Marchetti S.55

Registered I-RECA, the Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA was taking part to a huge international rally organized by the Italian General Italo Balbo on a trip from Italy (Orbetello) to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 14 Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA were involved in this rally. The group departed Orbetello on 17DEC1930, arrived in Kenitra on 21DEC1930, Villa Cisneros on 23DEC1930 and finally Bolama (Guinea Bissau, ex Portuguese Guinea) on Christmas Day. Due to poor weather conditions, it was not possible to continue so all crews observed a rest time on Bolama Island till 06JAN1931. After takeoff from the harbor of Bolama, during initial climb, the float plane encountered problems, stalled and hit the water surface before coming to rest. Three crew members were injured while the fourth was killed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was registered I-RECA, referring to the name of its captain Silvio Recagno. Sergeant-Major Luigi Fois was killed.

Savoia-Marchetti S.55

Registered I-DONA, the Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA was taking part to a huge international rally organized by the Italian General Italo Balbo on a trip from Italy (Orbetello) to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 14 Savoia-Marchetti S.55TA were involved in this rally. The group departed Orbetello on 17DEC1930, arrived in Kenitra on 21DEC1930, Villa Cisneros on 23DEC1930 and finally Bolama (Guinea Bissau, ex Portuguese Guinea) on Christmas Day. Due to poor weather conditions, it was not possible to continue so all crews observed a rest time on Bolama Island till 06JAN1931. This day, crew left Bolama without problems and continued along the route to Natal, some 3,000 km in total. At a distance of approximately 1,000 km off the Brazilian coast, crew encountered technical problems and attempted to make an emergency landing into the ocean. Several ships of the Italian Navy were cruising along the route, so all four crew were quickly rescued while the aircraft sunk and was lost. It was registered I-DONA, referring to the name of its captain Renato Donadelli.

Dornier Do J Wal

The crew was returning to Italy from the Svalbard (Spitzberg) archipelago after taking part to a SAR mission for the Italian Dirigible named 'Italia' that crashed during the summer time. En route, while cruising along the Rhône River, some 2 km south of Valence, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy rain falls. The captain decided to return and made a sharp turn to the right at low altitude. The seaplane hit the power cables of the electricity company of Vercors, stalled and crashed in the Rhône River. Three crew members, among them both pilots, were killed. Two mechanics were slightly injured. The aircraft named 'Marina II' was destroyed. Crew: Cpt Gian Luigi Pinzo, pilot, † Lt Tulio Crosio, copilot, † Off Giuseppe Della Gatta, engineer, † Mr. Codoniosto, mechanic, Mr. Barrachini, mechanic.

Dornier Do J Wal

The crew departed Pisa, Italy, last 25 July to perform a transatlantic flight to Canada on behalf of the 'Commissariato Aeronautica', the ancient name of the Italian Air Force. The seaplane made stops in Saint-Raphaël, south of France, Lausanne (quai of Ouchy on Lake of Geneva), Strasbourg, Rotterdam, Hull, Stromness (Orkneys Islands), Feroe Islands and Reykjavik. While flying over the Sea of Labrador, some 180 km south of Cape Farewell, Greenland, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The twin engine seaplane landed safely and the crew sent several mayday message. All five occupants were later rescued and evacuated by the crew of 'USS Richmond' which deviated from his route to the accident site. In a rough sea, the seaplane sank later and was lost and not recovered. Crew: Lt Antonio Locatelli, pilot, Lt Crosio, Lt Marescalchi, Mr. Braccini, flight engineer, Mr. Falcinelli, flight engineer.

Caproni Ca.33

The aircraft departed Campoformido Airport, Udine, for an official but secret flight to Bratislava, Slovakia. On approach to Ivanka Airport, while flying at an altitude between 50 and 80 metres, the aircraft banked left, nosed down and crashed in an open field located in Vajnory, some 4 km north of the airfield, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Giotto Mancinelli-Scotti, pilot, Sgt Umberto Merlini, pilot, Gabriele Aggiusti, radionavigator. Passenger: General Milan Rastislav Štefánik. The international airport of Bratislava will be later renamed Bratislava-Ivanka-Milan Rastislav Štefánik.