The Piaggio P.108 Bombardiere was an Italian four-engine heavy bomber that saw service with the Regia Aeronautica during World War II. The prototype first flew on 24 November 1939 and it entered service in 1941.
It was one of a handful of Italian combat aircraft that could match the best manufactured by the Allies.
Four versions of the P.108 were designed, but only one, the P.108B bomber, was produced in any quantity before the armistice. The other variants included the P.108A anti-ship aircraft with a 102 mm (4 in) gun, the P.108C, an airliner with an extended wingspan and re-modelled fuselage capable of carrying 32 passengers, and the P.108T transport version designed specifically for military use. Only one P.108A and 24 P.108Bs were built. The combined total number of all versions was at least 39, almost certainly more than 44. Most of the P.108Cs were subsequently modified for use as military transport aircraft and could accommodate up to sixty passengers.
Nine P.108 Ts were used by Luftwaffe transport units until the end of the war.
Piaggio P.108
Like the Lancaster, the P.108's nose turret was positioned above the bombardier/bomb-aimer
P108 in flight.
On Grottaglie airfield, Italy, 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 P.108 bomber aircraft from Northern Italy.
The Royal Italian Air Force (RAI) was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic, whereupon the name of the air force changed to Aeronautica Militare.
A Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 during a bombing raid in the Spanish Civil War (1936–39).
Destruction of Muslim graveyard and the Istiklal Mosque by Italian bombers during the bombing of Haifa, September 1940.
An early Macchi C.202 (note lack of radio mast) of 81ª Squadriglia, 6° Gruppo, 1° Stormo CT; this photo appears to have been taken in Libya.
Bombing of Malta.