Regia Aeronautica | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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

Crash of a Caproni Ca.133 in Garissa

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Caproni Ca.133

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While on a combat mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all crew members became PoW, among them Sgt Mah Miniati.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero off Aden: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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While on a combat mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Aden. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ennio Grandi, poilot,
Gastone Ceciliot, pilot,
2nd Lt Italo Gherardini,
Sgt/M Romolo Petrucci,
Ottavio Coronati.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fiat BR.20 Cigogna in Cella: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Fiat BR.20 Cigogna

Operator:

Registration:

MM21408

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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Crashed in unknown circumstances near Cella, about 19 km southwest of Parma. All four crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Registration:

MM60399

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Benghazi - Gondar

MSN:

19052

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At Benghazi Airport, the pilot aborted the takeoff procedure for unknown reasons. The airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Torri ta' Triq il-Wiesgħa

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1940 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Location:

Torri ta' Triq il-Wiesgħa

Malta

Country:

Malta

Region:

Europe

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Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero near Tobruk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1940 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Registration:

I-MANU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

El Feteyat - Tobruk

MSN:

32040

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed 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 ground fire, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in some 60 km west of Tobruk, bursting into flames. All nine occupants were killed, among them the Italian Minister of Aviation Italo Balbo.
Crew:
Marechal Italo Balbo, Pilot,
Maj Ottavio Frailich, copilot,
Cpt Gino Cappannini, flight engineer,
Sgt-Major Giuseppe Berti, radio navigator,
Enrico Caretti,
Lino Balbo,
Claudio Brunelli,
Nello Quilici,
Cino Florio.

Probable cause:

One day after the crash, the Italian Government announced officially that the airplane had been accidentally shot down by the Italian navy ship named 'San Giorgio' mooring off the Libyan coast. The airplane was obviously misidentified.