Il Piaggio P.108 was a heavy bomber used by the Regia Aeronautica during the Second World War. The main users of the aircraft were – in addition to the Regia Aeronautica – the Luftwaffe.
In total, about forty units were built (by the Piaggio company), including all versions and prototypes.
It is worth noting that the version produced in greatest quantity was the bomber P.108B. The version P.108C, instead, was transformed for use as a military transport aircraft.
The first prototype of Piaggio P.108 It took flight for the first time on 24 November 1939, and the aircraft entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in 1942.
The aircraft was a unicum in the history of the Italian Air Force. In fact, it was the only four-engine strategic bomber used by the Regia Aeronautica during the Second World War.
During the war, the bombers P.108B, were used in the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Furthermore, the aircraft was employed as a heavy bomber or attack bomber.
It is worth remembering that the aircraft was one of the few Italian combat aircraft to equal (except for the maximum altitude, ed.) its Allied counterparts. It can therefore be said that the aircraft was an excellence of the Italian aeronautical industry of the period.
Il Piaggio P.108B it had a wingspan of 32 m, height 6 m and length 22,3 m.
The empty weight was 17325 kg, while fully loaded it was 29885 kg. The maximum speed was 475 km/h and the service ceiling was 6.000 m.
Engine: 4 Piaggio P.XII, power 1500 HP.
The armament consisted of 6 12,7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and 2 7,7 mm ones.
The vehicle could carry up to 3500 kg of bombs and could count on a crew of 6/7 men.
Photo: web
