ADF-SERIALS
Australian
& New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
RAAF Piaggio P.108B Bombardiere
Captured Piaggio P.108 Image Gallery
| RAAF Serial | Original Serial | c/n | Type | Aircraft History |
| N/A | MM.24325 | ? | P.108B |
3 Sqn, RAAF, At least one example of
the Piaggio P.108 Bombardiere was captured intact at Grottaglie,
Italy in September 1943. Around 24 of the P.108B variant were built, and when the armistice was declared on 8 September 1943, only nine serviceable P.108B aircraft remained in Regia Aeronautica service with 274 Squadriglia. Eight of these were sabotaged so as not to fall into German hands. The last serviceable example (this particular airframe) was flown on the afternoon of 10 September 1943 from Foligno via Apulia to Grottaglie, in southern Italy by Tenente Gmeiner of 274 Squadriglia. A series of images held by the Australian War Memorial show Sqn Ldr Brian Eaton (then CO of 3 Sqn) and other officers conversing at the rear of this aircraft, still in its Regia Aeronautica markings, with (purportedly) the Regia Aeronautica pilot who had recently landed the aircraft and handed it over to Allied forces including 3 Sqn, RAAF. All of the personnel depicted are in RAF/RAAF uniform - so the caption may be a little off the mark! The aircraft was seized by American forces the same day so the association with 3 Sqn was very short lived - in fact - the photos may actually be the only association! As is turned out, the aircraft was suffering from hydraulic issues including a loss of hydraulic fluid and it involved in a landing accident under US control shortly afterwards, and a later photographs show the same aircraft with crude USAAF markings applied. 3 Sqn soon moved on from Grottaglie and there is no record of the unit having any other involvement with this aircraft. |
AWM Caption: Grottaglie, Italy. 1943. On an airfield, pilots, Flight Lieutenant L. Wynne of Yorks, England, Squadron Leader Brian Eaton of Melbourne, Vic, Flight Lieutenant Harris DFC of Adelaide, SA, talk to an Italian pilot who has just brought his four engined Piaggio bomber aircraft from Northern Italy.
The Piaggio P.108B of 274th Squadriglia seized by the USAAF soon after its arrival at Grottaglie from Foligno and Apulia. In the this photo the aircraft has acquired USAAF markings and is not ready for its next (and final) flight because of problems with the hydraulic system.
The same aircraft meets it's fate following a landing accident due to the faulty hydraulic system while being flown by an American pilot.
