Savoia - Marchetti SM . 79 The Savoia - Marchetti SM . 79 " Sparviero " ( Italian for " " Sparrowhawk " " ) was a three - engined Italian medium bomber with a wood - and - metal structure . Originally designed as a fast passenger aircraft , this low - wing monoplane , in the years 1937 – 39 , set 26 world records that qualified it for some time as the fastest medium bomber in the world . It first saw action during the Spanish Civil War and flew on all fronts in which Italy was involved during World War II . It became famous and achieved many successes as a torpedo bomber in the Mediterranean theater . The SM . 79 was an outstanding aircraft and was certainly the best - known Italian aeroplane of World War II . It was easily recognizable due to its distinctive fuselage dorsal " hump " , and was well liked by its crews who nicknamed it " Gobbo Maledetto " ( " damned hunchback " ) . It was the most widely produced Italian bomber of World War II , with some 1 , 300 built , remaining in Italian service until 1952 . Development . The SM . 79 project began in 1934 and was conceived as a fast , eight - passenger transport capable of being used in air - racing ( the London - Melbourne race ) . Piloted by Adriano Bacula , the prototype flew for the first time on 28 September 1934 . Originally planned to use the 597 kW ( 800 hp ) Isotta - Fraschini Asso XI Ri as powerplant , the aircraft reverted to the less powerful 440 kW ( 590 hp ) Piaggio P . IX RC . 40 Stella , a license - produced Bristol Jupiter on which many Piaggio engines were based . The engines were subsequently replaced by Alfa Romeo 125 RC . 35 s ( license - produced Bristol Pegasus ) . The prototype ( registration " I - MAGO " ) was completed too late to enter the London - Melbourne race , but flew from Milan to Rome in just one hour and 10 minutes , at an average speed of 410 km / h ( 260 mph ) . Soon after , on 2 August 1935 , the prototype set a record by flying from Rome to Massaua , in Italian Eritrea , in 12 flying hours ( with a refuelling stop at Cairo ) . The SM . 79 was by far the most important Italian offensive warplane of World War II , and one of the very few Italian aircraft to be produced in substantial quantities . Production started in October 1936 and continued until June 1943 , totalling 1 , 217 machines . Some were constructed by Aeronautica Umbra of Foligno , makers of the AUT . 18 . Design and performance . The SM . 79 was a cantilever low - wing monoplane trimotor , with a retractable taildragger undercarriage . The fuselage was made of a welded tubular steel frame and covered with duralumin in the forward section , duralumin and plywood on the upper fuselage surface , and fabric on all other surfaces The wings were of all - wood construction , with trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats ( Handley - Page type ) to offset its relatively small size . The internal structure was made of three spruce and plywood spars , linked with plywood ribs with a skin of plywood . The wing had a dihedral of 2° 15 ' . Ailerons were capable of rotating through + 13 / - 26° , and were used together with the flaps in low - speed flight and in takeoff . Its capabilities were significantly greater than its predecessor , the SM . 75 , with over 1 , 715 kW ( 2 , 300 hp ) available and a high wing loading that gave it characteristics not dissimilar to a large fighter . The engines fitted to the main bomber version were three 582 kW ( 780 hp ) Alfa Romeo 126 RC . 34 radials , equipped with variable - pitch , all - metal three - bladed propellers . Speeds attained were around 430 km / h ( 270 mph ) at 4 , 250 m ( 13 , 940 ft ) , with a relatively low practical ceiling of 6 , 500 m ( 21 , 330 ft ) . Cruise speed was 373 km / h ( 232 mph ) at 5 , 000 m ( 16 , 400 ft ) , but the best cruise speed was 259 km / h / 161 mph ( 60 % power ) . The landing was characterized by a 200 km / h ( 120 mph ) final approach with the slats extended , slowing to 145 km / h ( 90 mph ) with extension of flaps , and finally the run over the field with only 200 m ( 656 ft ) needed to land ( 2 , 050 rpm , 644 Hg pressure ) . With full power available and flaps set for takeoff , the SM . 79 could be airborne within 300 m ( 980 ft ) then climb to : The bomber version had 10 fuel tanks ( 3 , 460 L / 910 US gal ) . Endurance at full load averaging 360 km / h ( 220 mph ) was 4 hours 30 minutes . The maximum ferry range , at best cruise speed , was unconfirmed ; in order to reach Addis Ababa with non - stop flights from Libya , aircraft specially modified to carry more fuel were able to fly over 2 , 000 km ( 1 , 243 mi ) . The range ( not endurance ) with 1 , 000 kg ( 2 , 200 lb ) payload was around 800 – 900 km ( 500 – 560 mi ) . It had a crew of five , or six in the bomber version , with cockpit accommodation for two pilots , sitting side - by - side . Instrumentation in the central panel included oil and fuel gauges , altimeter s for low and high altitude ( 1 , 000 m / 3 , 280 ft and 8 , 000 m / 26 , 250 ft ) , clock , airspeed and vertical speed indicator , gyroscope , compass , artificial horizon , turn and bank indicator , rev counter s and throttles . The SM . 79 was a good performer , its wooden structure being light enough to allow it to stay afloat for up to half an hour in case of water landing , giving the crew ample time to escape , and the front engine giving some protection against anti aircraft fire . It was also capable of a relatively quick climb , had a good turn - of - speed for its time , and its rugged structure and responsiveness allowed the aircraft be to looped ( with care ) . Effective torpedo bombing range was between 500 and 1 , 000 m ( 1 , 640 and 3 , 280 ft ) from the target . SM . 79s often flew at low level above the ships before the aerial torpedo was launched , and so were targeted by every weapon available , from infantry small arms to heavy artillery . The " Sparviero " had several advantages compared to British torpedo bombers , including a higher top speed and greater range . Neither the Blackburn Skua nor Gloster Gladiator presented a real threat to the " Sparviero " , being 90 and 10 km / h ( 60 and 6 mph ) slower respectively . Soon however , the " Sparviero " faced the Hawker Hurricane and the Fairey Fulmar , which was faster but still quite slow in relation to other escort fighters . Beaufighters were fast and well - armed , and as well as being effective long - range day fighters , were successful night interceptors and late in the war often chased " Sparvieros " in night missions . Eventually , P - 40 s , P - 38 s , Martlets and Spitfire s made their début in the Mediterranean , preventing " Sparviero " operations during the day . Armament . The SM . 79 ' s defensive armament consisted of four and later five Breda - SAFAT machine gun s . Three were 12 . 7 mm ( 0 . 5 in ) guns , two of which were in the dorsal " hump " , with the forward one ( with 300 rounds ) fixed at an elevation of 15° , and the other manoeuvrable with 60° pivotal movement in the horizontal , and 0 – 70° in the vertical plane with the third 12 . 7 mm ( 0 . 5 in ) machine gun located ventrally . Each gun except for the forward one was equipped with 500 rounds . There was also a 7 . 7 mm ( 0 . 303 in ) Lewis Gun in one of a pair of " waist " mounts , not unlike what the B - 17 Flying Fortress possessed , on a mount that allowed rapid change of side of the weapon . This Lewis gun was later replaced by two 7 . 7 mm ( 0 . 303 in ) Bredas in the waist mounts , which were more reliable and faster firing ( 900 rounds / min instead of 500 ) , even though there was only sufficient room in the fuselage for one man to operate them . Despite the low overall " hitting power " , it was heavily armed by 1930s standards , the armament being more than a match for the fighter aircraft of the time , not usually fitted with any armour . By World War II , however , the " Sparviero " s vulnerability to newer fighters was significant , and it lost its reputation of " invulnerability " gained over Spain . No turrets were ever fitted to SM . 79s , giving its guns a limited range of fire . Of all its weapons , the dorsal one was the most important : with the shift to low - level attacks , the " Sparviero " was attacked almost exclusively from the rear and above . The cramped layout of the ventral gondola , with the bomb - aiming instruments located in front and the rearwards - aimed ventral defensive machine gun in the rear , made it impossible to perform both bomb - aiming and rear defence simultaneously , so its usefulness was compromised . Because of this , in the later versions which were used exclusively for torpedo - bombing tasks , the ventral weapon and nacelle were removed . The fixed forward Breda , more suited to offensive tasks and aimed by the first pilot , was seldom used defensively , and was often removed or replaced with a smaller calibre gun or mock - up , with an associated gain in speed and range due to the reduction in weight . The rear ventral gondola on the " Sparviero " was somewhat similar to the almost identically located " Bola " emplacement on the Heinkel He 111 German medium bomber , which was only used as a ventral defensive armament mount on the German aircraft . Defensive weapons in the rear gondola and the rear hump were protected by aerodynamic shields and only opened in case of attack , however , an enemy aircraft could attack the " Sparviero " unseen , so the defensive positions were usually left open even though this reduced maximum effective speed . The bomb bay was configured to carry bombs vertically , preventing large bombs from being accommodated internally . The aircraft could hold two 500 kg ( 1 , 100 lb ) , five 250 kg ( 550 lb ) , 12 100 kg ( 220 lb ) or 50 kg ( 110 lb ) bombs , or hundreds of bomblets . The bombardier , with an 85° forward field of view , had a " Jozza - 2 " aiming system and a series of bomb - release mechanisms . The machine gun to the rear of the gondola prevented the bombardier from lying in a prone position , and as a result , the bombardier was provided with retractable structures to support his legs while being seated . From 1939 onwards , torpedoes were carried externally , as were larger bombs , when two hardpoints were fitted under the inner wing . Theoretically , two torpedoes could be carried , but the performance and the manoeuvrability of the aircraft were so reduced that usually only one was carried . The SM . 79 ' s overall payload of 3 , 800 kg ( 8 , 380 lb ) precluded carrying 1 , 600 – 1 , 860 kg ( 3 , 530 – 4 , 100 lb ) of bombs without a noticeable reduction of the fuel load ( approximately 2 , 400 kg / 5 , 290 lb , when full ) . The standard torpedo , a 1938 Whitehead design , had a weight of 876 kg ( 1 , 931 lb ) , length of 5 . 46 m ( 17 . 9 ft ) and a 170 kg ( 380 lb ) HE warhead . It had a 3 km ( 1 . 86 mi ) range at 74 km / h ( 40 kn ) , and could be launched from a wide range of speeds and altitudes : 40 – 120 m ( 130 – 390 ft ) and up to 300 km / h ( 186 mph ) maximum . It took over ten years to develop effective torpedo - bombing techniques ; consequently , with the failure of the SM . 84 ( its intended successor ) and the lack of power of the Ca . 314 , only the SM . 79 continued to serve as a torpedo bomber until 1944 , despite trials with many types of aircraft , including the Fiat G . 55 S . Operational history . Record - setting aircraft . Despite Italy ' s failure to win the Schneider Trophy , support for aeronautical feats continued as part of Benito Mussolini ' s propaganda campaign to promote fascist Italy , and following two initial successes , further " Sparvieros " were modified to set speed records . The SM . 79 prototype " I - MAGO " was modified to carry 6 , 100 kg ( 13 , 448 lb ) bombs internally , enabling it to attempt records while carrying a payload , and on 23 September 1935 flew for 2 , 000 km ( 1 , 240 mi ) with a 2 , 000 kg ( 4 , 410 lb ) load at an average speed of 389 . 61 km / h ( 242 . 09 mph ) , breaking six world records . Like on the prototype , the " hump " was not fitted to some of the first production aircraft , being transformed into performance aircraft known as the SM . 79CS . One of them set further records in 1937 : with three Piaggio P . XI RC . 40 engines ( for a total of 2 , 237 kW / 3 , 000 hp ) it averaged 423 . 618 km / h ( 263 . 224 mph ) over 1 , 000 km ( 620 mi ) with a 2 , 000 kg ( 4 , 410 lb ) payload . The record then improved to 444 . 115 km / h ( 275 . 960 mph ) , while another SM . 79 achieved 428 . 296 km / h ( 266 . 130 mph ) in the 2 , 000 km ( 1 , 240 mi ) / 2 , 000 kg ( 4 , 410 lb ) category . Unofficially , a speed of 472 km / h ( 293 mph ) was later achieved in the same category . Five SM . 79CSs went on to enter the Paris - Damascus – Istres race , where " I - CUPA " , " I - FILU " and " I - BIMU " took the first three positions , while the other two were placed sixth and seventh . The latter was heavily damaged in Damascus . Two Fiat BR . 20 s also competed , but achieved only a joint sixth ( with a SM . 79 ) and an eighth place . Three of the SM . 79CSs were modified to cross the Atlantic Ocean and reach Brazil . They took off on 24 January 1938 and landed in Dakar 11 hours later , then headed for Rio de Janeiro arriving at 22 : 45 local time on 25 January . One faulty aircraft , however , landed at Natal , where it remained and was later donated to the Brazilian Air Force . Spanish Civil War . The SM . 79 saw action for the first time when serving with the " Aviazione Legionaria " , an Italian unit sent to assist Franco ' s Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War . The " Sparviero " started its operational service at the end of 1936 when 8° " Stormo B . T . " ( Bombardamento Tattico ) , with " Gruppi " XXVII° and XXVIII° , under the command of " Tenente Colonnello " Riccardo Seidl , was sent to Spain . Deployed to the Balearic Islands , the unit named " Falchi delle Baleari " ( Balearic Falcons ) and operated over Catalonia and the main cities of western Spain , attacking the Second Spanish Republic killing 2 . 700 civilians and injuring more than 7 . 000 . During the three years of the civil conflict , over 100 SM . 79s served as bombers and only four were lost . Due to the experience gained in Spain the SM . 79 - II , introduced in October 1939 , went on to form the backbone of the Italian bomber corps during World War II . Yugoslavia . Favourable reports of reliability and performance during the Spanish Civil War led to the 1938 Kingdom of Yugoslavia ' s order of 45 aircraft generally similar to the SM . 79 - I variant , designated the SM . 79K . They were delivered to Yugoslavia in 1939 , but most were destroyed during the 1941 Axis invasion by their crews or by advancing Axis forces . During several sorties against German and Italian forces they managed some success in Kačanik Gorge . Some of these aircraft escaped to Greece , carrying King Peter Karadjordjevic and his entourage . A few survived , one to be pressed into service with the pro - Axis forces of the NDH , and four which became AX702 - AX705 in the RAF . Romania . In 1937 , the Bucharest government ordered 24 twin - engined SM . 79B bombers fitted with 746 kW / 1 , 000 hp Gnome - Rhône Mistral Major 14K radial engines . These aircraft , however , proved to be underpowered . Consequently , in February 1940 Romania ordered from Italy eight machines equipped with two Junkers Jumo 211 inline engines of each . These aircraft were designated JIS 79 ( J for Jumo , I for Italy and S for Savoia ) and were delivered in 1941 - 2 . A further 72 SM . 79s were built under licence by the Industria Aeronautică Română ( IAR ) and designated JRS 79B ( J for Jumo , R for Romania , S for Savoia ) . Another version was the JRS 79B1 , armed with a 20 mm Ikaria cannon and with an enlarged cockpit for a fifth crew member . Due to its role in low - level attacks , it suffered heavy losses . Brazil and Iraq . Twin - engined versions were sold to Brazil ( three with 694 kW / 930 hp Alfa Romeo 128 RC . 18 engines ) and Iraq ( four with 768 kW / 1 , 030 hp Fiat A . 80 RC . 14 engines ) . Regia Aeronautica . Almost 600 SM . 79 - I and – II aircraft were in service when Italy entered World War II , and these aircraft were deployed in every theatre of war in which the Italians fought . The 12° " Stormo " ( Wing ) was the first to be equipped with the SM . 79 , starting in early 1936 . 12 Wing was involved in the initial evaluation of the bomber , which continued throughout 1936 . The Wing went operational on 1 May 1936 with the SM . 79 successfully completing torpedo launches from a target distance of 5 km ( 3 . 1 mi ) in August 1936 . The torpedo bomber variant was much more unstable and harder to control than the civilian version ( and much less precise than its successor , the SM . 81 ) . Its capabilities were still being explored when the Spanish Civil War broke out , and a number of SM . 79s were dispatched to support the Nationalists . By 4 November 1936 , there were only six SM . 79s with enough crew to fly them operating in Spain . At the beginning of 1937 , there were 15 SM . 79s in total , and they went on to be used in Spain throughout the conflict , with very few losses . Around 19 of the total sent there were lost . Deliveries to 12 Wing and other units involved numbered at least 99 aircraft . The first recorded interception of an SM . 79 formation took place on 11 October 1937 when three aircraft were attacked by 12 Polikarpov I - 16 s . One of the SM . 79s was damaged but its defensive armament prevented close - up attacks . All bombers returned to base , although one had been hit by 27 bullets , many hitting the fuel tanks . Other interceptions occurred in the conflict without any SM . 79s being lost . Combat experience revealed some deficiencies in the SM . 79 : the lack of oxygen mask s for high altitude operation , instability , vibrations experienced at speeds over 400 km / h ( 250 mph ) and other problems were encountered and sometimes solved . General Valle , in an attempt to answer some of the criticisms about the ability of the aircraft to operate at night , took off from Guidonia and bombed Barcelona , a journey of six hours and 15 minutes . On this occasion the aircraft proved it had a useful range ( around 1 , 000 km / 620 mi with eight 100 kg ( 220 lb ) bombs , for a total gross weight of around 1 , 000 kg / 2 , 200 lb ) . SM . 79s operated from the Balearic Islands and later from mainland Spain . Hundreds of missions were performed in a wide range of roles against Republican targets . No Fiat CR . 32 s were needed to escort the SM . 79s , partly because the biplane fighters were too slow . After serving in the Spanish Civil War , the " Sparviero " came into use with 111° and 8° Wing . By the end of 1939 , there were 388 " Sparvieros " in service , with 11 wings partially or totally made up of this aircraft . They also participated in the occupation of Albania in autumn 1939 . By the beginning of World War II 612 aircraft had been delivered , making the " Sparviero " the most numerous bomber in the whole of the " Regia Aereonautica " , assigned to a total of 14 wings ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 30 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 36 , 41 and 46 ) . Not all of these wings had " Gruppi " ( groups ) entirely equipped with the SM . 79 . Every squadron had around nine to 10 aircraft , but this included second line aircraft , so the force of each squadron consisted on average of around seven to eight bombers , and every wing had around 30 bombers . Among these units ; 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 30 , 32 , 36 , 41 and 46 " Stormi " ( Wings ) were based in Italy , and participated in the Battle of France . They were equipped with a total of around 350 SM . 79s , including those used in training squadrons . Malta . It was on the fortress - island at the centre of the Mediterranean in June 1940 that the SM . 79s started to lose their reputation of invulnerability , when Gloster Gladiator s and Hawker Hurricane s were encountered . The first of many " Sparvieros " shot down over Malta fell on 22 June . That day a reconnaissance mission " Sparviero " M . M . 22068 of " 216a Squadriglia " piloted by " Tenente " Francesco Solimene took off at 18 . 15 to check the eventual targets on the island . Two Gladiators were scrambled , one piloted by Flt Lt George Burges . Over Sliema and Valletta Burges attacked the " Sparviero " from superior height , shooting off the port engine . The SM . 79 caught fire and crashed in the sea off Kalafrana . The pilot , Solimene , and " 1° Aviere Armiere " Torrisi , were rescued from the sea , but the other four crew members were lost . A " Sparviero " was the first plane to fall on Maltese soil in World War II : on 10 July 1940 , an estimated twenty SM . 79s without escort arrived to bomb the dockyard , Manoel Island , Tarxien and Żabbar . But they were attacked by Gloster Gladiators and the bomber piloted by " Sottotenente " Felice Filippi from 195a " Squadriglia " , 90° " Gruppo " , 30° " Stormo Bombardamento Terrestre " , came down in flames just behind the Knight ' s watchtower east of Fort San Leonardo . The air victory was credited to Flying Officer Frederick Taylor . At least one Italian bailed out with his parachute on fire but did not survive . Other war theaters . A small number operated in Ethiopia . On the western side of Italian East Africa was 44° " Gruppo " , based at Diredawa , consisting of the 6a and 7a " Squadriglie " , with 12 Savoia SM . 79s each . Italy also had six SM . 79s as part of the reserve forces but two of them were under repair . These few aircraft were later reinforced by others which were modified to fly at an economical speed over Sudan for the hazardous ferry flight of over 2 , 000 km ( 1 , 240 mi ) . They could not , however , do much to help Italian forces in Ethiopia , which were forced to surrender in spring 1941 . The same period saw the five Iraqi SM . 79Bs and the 45 SM . 79Ks in Yugoslavian service unable to mount a successful defence in both Iraq and Yugoslavia . During the North African campaign , around 100 SM . 79s served in 10 , 14 , 15 and 30 Wings , bombing mainly non - strategic targets in the desert . The British offensive in December hit the " Regia Aeronautica " hard and many wings ( a total of nine until May 1941 ) were phased out because of losses . The losses caused by Hurricanes and ground fire increased , so at the beginning of 1941 only around 40 SM . 79s were still present in Libya and by the end of 1941 only one operational squadron remained . In the Second Battle of El Alamein many " Sparvieros " were used for defensive tasks , such as countering SAS teams in the desert , and in anti - ship role . From autumn 1940 , SM . 79s were used against the Kingdom of Greece , then Yugoslavia . They continued to be hampered in their operations by the Royal Air Force , but also by poor weather conditions . Over the Mediterranean , the " Sparvieros " were used in reconnaissance missions and anti - ship attacks . Operational history as torpedo bomber . 1940 . The " Sparviero " began its torpedo bomber ( " Aerosilurante " in Italian ) career on 25 July 1940 when a new unit was established after several years of experiments . The " Special Aerotorpedoes Unit " was led by Colonel Moioli . After having ordered the first 50 torpedoes from Whitehead Torpedo Works , on 10 August 1940 the first aircraft landed at T5 airfield , near Tobruk . Despite the lack of an aiming system and a specific doctrine for tactics , an attack on shipping in Alexandria was quickly organized . There had been experiments for many years but still , no service , no gear ( except hardpoints ) and no tactics were developed for the new speciality . This was despite previous Italian experiments into the practice of aerial torpedo ing in 1914 , 26 years earlier . The first sortie under way on 15 August 1940 saw five SM . 79s that had been modified and prepared for the task sent to El Adem airfield . Among their pilots were Buscaglia , Dequal and other pilots destined to become " aces . " The journey was made at an altitude of 1 , 500 m ( 4 , 920 ft ) and after two hours , at 21 : 30 , they arrived over Alexandria and began attacking ships , but unsuccessfully . The departure airport had only 1 , 000 m ( 3 , 280 ft ) of runway for takeoff , so two of the fuel tanks were left empty to reduce weight , giving an endurance of five hours for a 4 . 33 hour journey . Only Buscaglia and Dequal returned , both aircraft damaged by anti - aircraft fire . Buscaglia landed on only one wheel , with some other damage . The other three SM . 79s , attacking after the first two , were hindered by a fierce anti - aircraft defence and low clouds and returned to their base without releasing their torpedoes . However , all three ran out of fuel and were forced to jettison the torpedoes which exploded in the desert , and then force - landed three hours after the attack . Two crews were rescued later , but the third ( Fusco ' s ) was still in Egypt when they force - landed . The crew set light to their aircraft the next morning , which alerted the British who then captured them . These failures were experienced within a combat radius of only about 650 km ( 400 mi ) , in clear contrast with the glamorous performances of the racer Sparvieros just a few years before . Many missions followed , on 22 – 23 August ( Alexandria ) , 26 August ( against ships never found ) , and 27 August ( Buscaglia against a cruiser ) . The special unit became known as the 278th " Squadriglia " , and from September 1940 carried out many shipping attacks , including on 4 September ( when Buscaglia had his aircraft damaged by fighters ) and 10 September , when Robone claimed a merchant ship sunk . On 17 September , after an unsuccessful day attack , Buscaglia and Robone returned at night , attacking the British ships that shelled Bardia . One torpedo hit , damaging the heavy cruiser to the extent that the ship remained under repair until September 1941 . After almost a month of attacks , this was the first success officially acknowledged and proven . After almost a month of further attacks , a newcomer , Erasi , flew with Robone on 14 October 1940 against a British formation and hit , a modern cruiser that lost her bow and needed 13 months of repair . After several months , and despite the losses and the first unfortunate mission , the core of the 278th was still operating the same four aircraft . The last success of this squadron was at Souda Bay , Crete , when Buscaglia damaged another cruiser , , despite the anti - torpedo netting surrounding the ship , sending it out of commission for nine months while repairs were made . The aircraft continued in service until a British bomb struck them , setting off a torpedo and a " chain reaction " which destroyed them all . 1941 . The year started out badly , but improved in April when many successes were recorded by SM . 79s of the 281st and 280th . They sank two merchant ships , heavily damaged the British cruiser ( sending it out of service for nine months ) and later also sank the F class destroyer . However , one SM . 79 was shot down north west of Gozo on 3 June , landing in the sea and staying afloat for some time . Further Italian successes came in August , when the light cruiser was damaged . The large merchant ship SS " Imperial Star " ( 10 , 886 tonnes / 12 , 000 tons ) was sunk by an SM . 79 in September . The 130th and 132nd " Gruppi " were also active during the autumn . On 24 October , they sank the and , on 23 November they sank the " Glenearn " and " Xhakdina " , and on 11 December they heavily damaged the " Jackal " . The year ended with a total of nine Allied ships sunk and several damaged . The Italians had lost fourteen torpedo bombers and sustained several damaged in action . This was the best year for the Italian torpedo bombers and also the year when the SM . 84 , the SM . 79 ' s successor was introduced . Overall , these numbers meant little in the war , and almost no other results were recorded by Italian bombers . Horizontal bombing proved to be a failure and only dive bombers and torpedo - bombers achieved some results . The damaging of the British cruisers was the most important result , but without German help , the Italians would have been unable to maintain a presence in the Mediterranean theatre . The 25 Italian bomber wings were unable to trouble the British forces , as the Battle of Calabria demonstrated . Almost all of the major British ships lost were due to U - Boat attacks , with the damaging of , and the sinking of and " Ark Royal " . The British fleet was left without major ships in their Mediterranean fleet leaving the Axis better situated to control the sea . 1942 . The Axis ' fortunes started to decline steadily during 1942 . Over 100 SM . 79s were in service in different Italian torpedo squadrons . In addition to its wide - scale deployment in its intended bomber - torpedo bomber role , the " Sparviero " was also used for close support , reconnaissance and transport missions . In the first six months of 1942 , all the Italo - German efforts to hit Allied ships had only resulted in the sinking of the merchant ship " Thermopilae " by an aircraft flown by Carlo Faggioni . The Allies aimed to provide Malta with vital supplies and fuel through major convoy operations at all costs . Almost all Axis air potential was used against the first Allied convoy , Harpoon . 14 June saw the second torpedoing of " Liverpool " , by a 132nd " Gruppo " SM . 79 , putting it out of action for another 13 months . Regardless of where the torpedo struck , ( amidships in the case of " Liverpool " , aft as for " Kent " , or forward as happened to " Glasgow " ) the cruisers remained highly vulnerable to torpedoes , but no Italian air attack managed to hit them with more than one torpedo at once . On the same day the merchant ship " Tanimbar " was sunk by SM . 79s of the 132nd , and finally the day after , a Tribal - class destroyer , already damaged by two Italian cruisers , was sunk by pilot M . Aichner , also of 132nd " Gruppo " . For years this victory was contested by the Italian Navy , who claimed to have sunk " Bedouin " with gunfire . August saw heavy attacks on the 14 merchant ships and 44 major warships of the Operation Pedestal convoy , the second Allied attempt to resupply Malta past Axis bombers , minefield s and U - boats . Nine of the merchant ships and four of the warships were sunk , and others were damaged , but only the destroyer and the merchant ship MV " Deucalion " were sunk by Italian torpedo bombers . Although damaged , the tanker , a key part of the convoy , was towed into Grand Harbour to deliver the vital fuel on 15 August 1942 to enable Malta to continue functioning as an important Allied base , a major Allied strategic success . By winter 1942 , in contrast to Operation Torch , 9 December was a successful day when four SM . 79s sank a Flower class corvette and a merchant ship , with the loss of one aircraft . Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia , another prominent member of the Italian torpedo - airforce who was credited with over 90 , 718 tonnes ( 100 , 000 tons ) of enemy shipping sunk , was shot down the day after saying " We will probably all be dead before Christmas " . The risks of attempting to overcome the effective defences of allied ships were too great to expect much chance of long - term survival , but he was later rescued from the water , badly wounded . Despite the increased activity in 1942 , the results were considerably poorer than those of the previous year . The efforts made by the bombers were heavily criticized as being insufficient . Many debated the possibilities of torpedo manufacturing defects or even sabotage : the first 30 used in 1940 had excellent reliability , but a number of later torpedoes were found to be defective , especially those made at the Naples factory . During Operation Harpoon , over 100 torpedoes were launched with only three hitting their targets . 1943 . The year opened with attacks against Allied shipping off North Africa , but still without much success . In July , the Allies invaded Sicily with an immense fleet . The " Sparvieri " were already obsolete and phased out of service in bomber Wings and its intended successors , the SM . 84 and Z . 1007 , were a failure , while the latter were not produced in enough numbers . As a consequence , the latest version of the " Sparviero " was retained for torpedo attacks , being considerably faster than its predecessors . Before the invasion , there was a large force of torpedo aircraft : 7 " Gruppi " ( groups ) , 41 , 89 , 104 , 108 , 130 , 131 and 132nd equipped with dozens of aircraft , but this was nevertheless an underpowered force . Except 104th , based around the Aegean Sea , the other six " Gruppi " comprised just 61 aircraft , with only 22 serviceable . Almost all the available machines were sent to the " Raggruppamento Aerosiluranti " . But , of the 44 aircraft , only a third were considered flight - worthy by 9 July 1943 . Production of new SM . 79s continued to fall behind and up to the end of July only 37 SM . 79s and 39 SM . 84s were delivered . Despite the use of an improved engine , capable of a maximum speed of 475 km / h ( 295 mph ) , these machines were unable to cope with the difficult task of resisting the invasion . The size of these aircraft was too large to allow them to evade detection by enemy defences , and the need for large crews resulted in heavy human losses . In the first five days , SM . 79s performed 57 missions at night time only and failed to achieve any results , with the loss of seven aircraft . Another three aircraft were lost on 16 July 1943 in a co - ordinated attack with German forces on . that was eventually hit and put out of combat for many months . SM . 79s were not equipped with radar , so the attacks had to be performed visually , hopefully aided by moonlight , while the Allies had ship - borne radar and interceptor aircraft . Despite their depleted state , the " Regia Aeronautica " attempted a strategic attack on Gibraltar on 19 July with 10 SM . 79GAs , but only two managed to reach their target , again without achieving any result . The last operation was in September 1943 , and resulted in the damaging of the LST 417 , on 7 September 1943 . On 8 September , when the Armistice with Italy was announced , the " Regia Aeronautica " had no fewer than 61 SM . 79s , of which 36 were operational . Following the Armistice , the SM . 79s based in southern Italy ( 34 altogether ) were used by the Italian Co - Belligerent Air Force as transports in support of the Allies ; those that remained in the North ( 36 ) continued to fight along German forces as part of the " Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana " or were incorporated into the " Luftwaffe " . A small number of SM . 79s remained in service in the post - war " Aeronautica Militare " , where they served as passenger transports into the early 1950s . RSI service , 1943 – 45 . After the Armistice , the " Repubblica Sociale Italiana " ( RSI ) decided to continue using the SM . 79s as torpedo - bombers . But only 15 more " Sparvieri " were built after the armistice , while five were overhauled by the Reggiane factories . Counting the aircraft taken over from the " Regia Aeronautica " , new deliveries and aircraft in workshops and depots , the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana ( ANR ) had 73 SM . 79 at its disposal . They were mostly SM . 79 - III type . This version featured strengthened armament and had no ventral " bathtub " turret . They were based mostly in Venegono . Two secondary bases were Merna di Gorizia and Perugia , in Umbria . The first missions attempted to oppose the Anzio landings , where the US VI Corps had landed on 22 January 1944 . On the evening of 10 March six ANR SM . 79s attacked Allied merchant ships near the Anzio - Nettuno beachhead . One " Sparviero " was lost . On the night of 13 – 14 March five SM . 79s repeated the attack . The " Gruppo Buscaglia " suffered heavy losses on 4 April , when 13 unescorted SM . 79s , during a ferry flight from Lonate Pozzolo to Perugia , were bounced by P - 47 s : five " Sparvieri " were shot down and 27 crew members were killed . According to other sources , this encounter occurred on 6 April and four out of seven SM . 79s were shot down , while the other three crash - landed . During one of the missions on Anzio , " Comandante " Carlo Faggioni was killed . On 10 April 1944 four SM . 79s took off to attack the Anzio bridgehead . " Capitano " Faggioni ' s aircraft was hit by AA fire and crashed into the sea . Only one " Sparviero " returned to base . " Capitano " Marino Marini took command of the torpedo - bomber group and in a short time he planned a mission over Gibraltar . For this mission , 12 SM . 79 bis models were used . They had enhanced engines , armoured shields for the lateral machine guns , an additional 1 , 000 L ( 264 US gal ) fuel tank in the bomb bay , and had the bombardier ' s nacelle removed . Even these modifications could not provide sufficient range to achieve the necessary distance that the mission required , and so all weapons except one were removed , one member of crew was left behind , and the fuel load was increased to 5 , 000 L ( 1 , 320 US gal ) . To reach Gibraltar , it was necessary to take off from Istres , in Southern France , and then fly for a total of 2 , 700 km ( 1 , 680 mi ) . Of the 12 aircraft that departed from Istres on 5 June 1944 , 10 reached their target ( according to other sources , ten SM . 79s took off on 4 June and nine reached the target ) . The defenders were taken by surprise , and all the aircraft successfully launched their torpedoes , but three SM . 79s ran out of fuel and were forced to land in Spain . Initial claims by the Italians were four ships sunk , totalling 27 , 216 tonnes ( 30 , 000 tons ) . German observers in Algeciras , in Spain , reported that four ships , totalling 30 , 000 tons were badly damaged and that two others had been hit . British sources however stated that no ships were lost , due to an effective system of defence . Regardless , this was the largest enemy incursion over Gibraltar in four years of war and this operation demonstrated the flying skill of the Republican torpedo airmen . The following data shows the decline in effectiveness of the SM . 79 as a torpedo bomber : In July 1944 , several SM . 79s were transferred to Eleusis / Athens base to carry out sorties in the Eastern Mediterranean . Their crews achieved some successes then and came back to Lonate Pozzolo on 12 August . In October , this formation was renamed " Gruppo O . M . Carlo Faggioni " . After a time , the RSI torpedo - bombers based in Ghedi in October 1944 became operative again , with 10 aircraft . On 25 December 1944 they attacked a convoy in Adriatic sea off Ancona , and " Capitano " Bertuzzi hit a 7 , 000 - ton freighter with a torpedo . The following day , a formation of Republic P - 47 Thunderbolt destroyed 14 " Sparvieri " on Lonate Pozzolo airfield . The only two serviceable SM . 79s left flew the last operational mission of the group and sank a 5 , 000 - ton ship in the Adriatic off the Dalmatian coast . Radio controlled flying bomb . In 1942 General Ferdinando Raffaelli came up with the idea of packing an SM . 79 with explosives and a radio control device . On 12 August 1942 , as the Operation Pedestal convoy was steaming off the Algerian coast , a SM . 79 drone , a Z . 1007bis guide plane and an escort of five FIAT G . 50 fighters flew out to intercept it . Once the pilot of the SM . 79 had set his aircraft on a course toward the Allied ships he bailed out , leaving the Z . 1007bis crew to guide the flying bomb the rest of the way by radio . The radio controls malfunctioned and with nothing to guide it the SM . 79 drone cruised along until it ran out of fuel and crashed into Mount Khenchela on the Algerian mainland . Raffaelli later developed a simpler single - engined guided bomb , the Ambrosini A . R . 4 , which was tested in June 1943 , but the armistice intervened before it could go into production . Another proposal suggested using a parasite Macchi C . 202 coupled with a SM . 79 or A . R . 4 in an arrangement similar to the German Mistel , but with the fighter remotely guiding the bomber to its target . Notable crewmembers . Among the men who became famous through serving in the " Regia Aeronautica " , the " Sparviero " crews became even more renowned than fighter aces because of the initial records set , the successful raids in Spain , especially those made by the " Green Mice " ( " I sorci verdi " ) , and the torpedo missions carried out during the war which became the subject of fascist propaganda . Among the men famous for serving in " Sparvieri " were : Mishaps and combat losses . Even if SM . 79s were considered overall to be quite sturdy and well - developed aircraft , they had their share of misfortune . In Spain , SM . 79 " MM . 28 - 16 " ( with a total crew of 17 ) was destroyed in the air on 12 April 1938 , when one of its bombs detonated in the bomb bay . " MM . 28 - 25 " ( again with a crew of 17 ) was lost when another SM . 79 damaged by anti - aircraft guns collided with it on 23 March . A further SM . 79 , " MM . 28 - 16 " was damaged by an anti - aircraft shell , and landed with dead and wounded on - board ( 4 January 1939 ) . On 30 June 1939 two of the aircraft , " 13 - 6 " and " 13 - 7 " , both carrying a full fuel load , collided and crashed , with the entire crew of nine killed on impact . At the beginning of World war II , on 13 June 1940 , six " Sparvieri " of 9th Wing bombed Ghisonaccia airfield , but one was shot down by anti - aircraft guns and became the first " Sparviero " downed in World War II . The 9th " Stormo " continued to suffer heavy losses in Africa . Initially used to harass light forces operating in the desert , the " Sparvieros " were subsequently sent against the British advanced columns in Operation Compass . On 16 December 1940 , six " Sparvieros " were sent over As Sallum to counter enemy armoured units , but before they could reach their target , three of the lead section were shot down with the loss of 16 men , including Commander Mario Aramu . The wing was put out of action and the personnel were sent back to Italy aboard the RM " Città di Messina " , but on 14 January 1941 the ship was sunk by submarine , with the loss of 432 men , including 53 members of the 9th . The wing was later re - formed with Z . 1007s . A major safety issue in the operation of the SM . 79 was the difference between the calculated and effective range figures , which led to several mishaps . Two accidents highlight the deficiencies in range of the Sparvieros . One such incident befell " MM . 23881 " of the 278th , which took off at 1725 hours on 21 April 1941 , captained by Oscar Cimolini , with the intention of searching for enemy shipping near Crete . The SM . 79 carried out an attack at around 20 : 00 hours , and then began the trip back to its base near Benghazi . The crew became disoriented and unable to locate their exact position , missing their airfield in bad weather conditions . Their radio was broken and they were unable to communicate . They were also unaware that they had reached the African coast . The fuel supply was exhausted at around 23 : 00 , and the aircraft made a forced landing some 500 km ( 310 mi ) away from its base . Most of the crew of six had suffered some injuries , but one crew member , Romanini , was able to leave to search for help . He walked for over 90 km ( 60 mi ) in the desert , and finally was overcome and died only a few kilometres from a road , where his remains were found in 1960 . Subsequent searches led to the discovery of the SM . 79 and the remains of the rest of the crew . Another example was the ferry flight of 27th Gruppo . This unit was transferred from Alghero to North Africa . The 16 Sparvieros took off at 11 : 50 of 4 April 1941 , but one of the eight aircraft of the 18th Squadriglia in the first wave had an accident and crashed on the airport strip . The other eight from 52nd Squadriglia could only take off 40 minutes later , while the first seven circled over the airfield . The 15 Sparvieros flew together until reaching Misurata , but the 18th squadriglia had flown for much longer and was short of fuel . Subsequently , its SM . 79s crashed one after the other with only two landing safely . At least two were completely destroyed , and three damaged . On that day , on a simple ferry flight of 1 , 100 km , the 18th lost five Sparvieros and at least one crew , with many wounded . The flight of 52nd Sq lasted for 4 hours and 45 mins but 18th Sq flew for 5h and 15 mins , without any payload , at an average speed of only 210 km / h . The total number of reconnaissance , bomber and torpedo bombers downed in these two years by naval fighters was , not counting aircraft heavily damaged and eventually lost , 24 aircraft , 2 % of total production . Survivors . One of the ex - Lebanese aircraft is now on display at the " Museo Storico dell ' Aeronautica Militare Italiana " at Vigna di Valle , north of Rome . A second one is on display at the " " Museo dell ' Aeronautica Gianni Caproni " " at Trento .