Anyone have ITALIAN P.108, Z.1018 Losses in Africa?

[harrison987]

Hey guys...

Both are fairly rare planes (50 of the P.108 made...15 of the Z.1018)...

Curious if there are any RAF report on any crashed, wrecks, etc.

TIA,

Mike

[focusfocus]

My sources give only 36 P-108 builts.
P-108B=24
P-108C and T=11
P-108A=1

21/10/42
"22602" emergency landing in Algeria
28/10/42
"22007" damaged in a night landing at Algiers
13/01/43
"22004" and "24317" shot down over Algiers (153°Sd)

So also report of the French (if they exist?) I think that yes.
Michel

[Stig Jarlevik]

With regard to the number built of the P.108 sources differ, hence a listing of the known MM numbers helps. It has been corrected many times by Italian authors and might still not be 100% correct, but it is the latest info as far as I know.

MM 22001-22008 P.108B (8) All delivered
MM 22601-22604 P.108B (4) All delivered
MM 24315-24326 P.108B (12) All delivered Note: MM 24318 was the P.108A
MM 24667-24675 P.108T (9) All delivered
MM 24676-24681 P.108C (6) All delivered
MM 24682-24687 P.108B (6) Unknown number delivered (if any at all)
MM 26248-26271 P.108bis (24) Construction begun but none finished. Type also known as the P.133

This makes 1 P.108A, 23 P.108B, 6 P.108C and 9 P.108T known as delivered.
We then have six further P.108B with a big question mark behind them.

I have very little details about the Z.1018 but it was in my mind a complete failure (for various reasons) and I doubt the initial 10 production Z.1018A (aka L) ever reached any service unit and I don't think neither ever visited Africa. The Z.1018M was a quite different design, large number were ordered but very few built (eight is a figure I have) and transfer to 47 Stormo had begun during the summer of 1943.
I have no knowledge of any missions flown but if they did I again doubt any went to Africa at that point in time.
It should be mentioned that two prototypes were built as well, so total production was 20.

But we have far better knowledge from Italian friends on Toch so you will probably get both chapter and verse from them Just thought it was fun to check my figures.

Cheers
Stig

PS: I can confirm the P.108 losses given by Michel. Same in my sources.

[focusfocus]

About the P-108C and T,here is what I found following a more in-depth search.

Tr.Fl.St.5:13 P-108 in charge
8 P-108T(Trasporto)
4 P-108C(Civile)
1 P-108A (Artigliere) MM.24318

P-108T (J4+AH) MM.24673
P-108T (J4+EH) MM.24670
P-108? (J4+BH)
P-108? (J4+FH)
P-108? (J4+HH)
P-108? (J4+QH)
P-108T (J4+JH)
P-108C (J4+PH)

Michel

[harrison987]

Ah!!!

Interesting stuff!!!


Thanks for all the info...


Mike

[Brian Bines]

There is a brief ADIK report in respect of a Serg. La Lunia (Lukia) an air gunner from MM 24315 who baled out and taken pow on 5-12-42, no other crew named. The report says aircraft took off from Oristano Sardinia at 0500 hrs to attack Bone harbour. It was attacked by a Beaufighter and went down in flames at 0615 hrs. near Bugeaud in the mountains
Another site states that P.108B MM 24315 disappeared on the 5th with pilot Cap. Ernest Sassi , copilot Ten. Arzani and four flight specialists . The same site also shows the loss of MM22602 which crashlanded/ditched near Bone on 21-10-42 with crew of Ten Giano Rossi returning to Italy.

[James A Pratt III]

This is from theAli D'Italia 15 Piaggio P.108 the operational record:
9 June 1942 2 martime recce 3 more in the following days

28 june Gibraltar op 5 aircraft 3 land Spain of which 22001 severely damged putting down on a beach at Valencia, one at Los Alcazares and the third lands at Palma de Mallorca where it refueled and returned to Italy. In 4 other Gibraltar ops 22601 lost with crew and 22602 destroyed in a emergency landing in Algeria.
28 Oct 22007 badly damaged in night landing in Algeria on a recce op. 11 nov42-20 Jan 43 13 Bombing ops flown against North African targets. 5 Dec 42 24315? shot down by a 255 Sqn Beaufighter the sole survivor being gunner Sgt M. La Lumia. 13 jan 43 2 shot down over Algers by 153 sqn Beaufighters. Unit withdrawn from operations.
The invasion of Sicily saw the P.108 fly operations on the nights of 11, 12, 13, and 14 July 43. First op 4 aircraft the one of Lt D'Alo FTR. Three days later Cpt Corti's bomber FTR from its solitary raid. 12 july three aircraft suffered prolonged fighter attacks from night fighters. 13 July Cpt Albertini's aircraft was written off following a night landing at Guidonia. 22 july 2 P108 departed to attack enemy shipping at Augusta both were intercepted and only one bombed the target. 25 July one severely damaged in a heavy landing. 7 Sept 2 P.108 took off to attack Calabria both failed to do so and one was damaged on return.

[James A Pratt III]

On 8 Sep 43 at the time of the Italian Armistance 274 Sqn had 3 P.108s two 22603 and 24325 were operational they were ordered to fly south of which 24325 did so where it was wrecked by a USAAF pilot.
The Lufwaffe managed to get hold of 11 of them. They were mostly used by TS 5 and took part in the evacuation of the Crmea. Four were set ablaze on a airfield near Munich in the last days of the war.

[James A Pratt III]

Correction the Luftwaffe it appears recieved 11 P.108Ts and Cs from the 3rd and 4th series.
It also got the P.108A and at least two bombers

Also in the TS 5 aircraft was a J4+GH

the TG4 aircraft was coded G6+FY