A fate of a SM 79 Sparviero of Gruppo 44° BT

[Many Souffan]

Bonjour à tous.

I would like to know where I can find in internet a list of losses of Regia Aéronautica or a forum dedicated about Regia Aéronautica.

I am looking for info about an italian Pilot sottotenente Luigi Conti who lost his life 16th august 1940 in Ethiopia with the members of his Sparviero of Gruppo 44° BT. I don't Know if he belonged to the 6° Sq or 7° Sq...

Thank you.

Many Souffan.

[Gianandrea Bussi]

According to "Il Savoia Marchetti S.M.79 nel secondo conflitto mondiale", by the late Cesare Gori, pag. 443, the pilot belonged to 7a Sq.
He lost his life together with the other crewmembers when the bomber exploded in the air after having been hit, falling in pieces near Sheick pass:
Serg. Magg. pil. Leonardo Scannavini,

Av. Sc. mot. Maurizio Tesolin
1° Av. rt Mario Cappuccio
1° Av. arm. Elia Iovane


The loss was also mentioned in the italian war bulletin of the 18 august.
The two other bombers taking part to the same action over the Berbera harbour were damaged.


Gianandrea

[Many Souffan]

Hello Gianandrea

Grazie mille For your answer which modifies my knowledge of this event.

25 years ago I have met Robert Cunibil the only survivor of the Free French crew of the Glenn Martin 167 incorporated to 8 Squadron.

He remembered very well the event of 16th august, the mission was to protect the british troops in the port of Berbera, the attack by his Pilot (Yves Trécan) what he thought to be a Caproni Trimotor, the little black smoke which grew up rapidly and the explosion near the Scheik Pass.

After the war Robert Cunibil made research and he thought it was a certain sottotenente Luigi Conti the pilot of the Sparviero and maybe but he was not sure, which belonged of 6° Sq...

I would like to know if we know the serial and the code of this SM 79 of 7° Sq ?

It seems there are no photos of SM 79 of 7° Sq during this period but 2 or 3 of SM 79 of ° Sq.

Thank you again for the new infos.

Many.

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Hello Many,

I confirm you that Luigi Conti is listed in service with 7a Squadriglia.

The MM of his S.79 is not known, perhaps it could surface making some researches in the documents held by the It. AF Historical Office in Rome.

ciao

Gianandrea

[Gianandrea Bussi]

Correction: Testolin (not Tesolin). All the crewmembers are listed as in service with 7a Sq.

[Many Souffan]

Bonsoir Gianandrea.

Thank you for adding infos.

My last question is to know if it exist photos of Sparviero belonging 7a Squadriglia ? I found for the 6a Sq only.

In a book (Ali italiane in Africa orientale 1935-1940) of late Carlo Lucchini I found photos of 6a and 7a Sq in East Africa but it was Caproni Ca 133 at Addis Abeba.

Thank you again for your answers, they are already very useful.

Many Souffan.