Piaggio P.108 Bombardiere

The Piaggio P.108 Bombardiere was Italy’s only four‑engine heavy bomber to enter operational service during World II. Designed by Giovanni Casiraghi and first flown on 7 May 1939, the aircraft emerged from Piaggio’s experience with twin‑engine bombers such as the P.50 and the need for a long‑range strategic platform capable of striking Mediterranean and British targets. Powered by four Alfa Romeo 128 RC 41 radials delivering 1,250 hp each, the P.108 could reach 460 km/h and a ceiling of 9,500 m while carrying up to 2,000 kg of bombs internally or on external racks. Its defensive armament comprised a dorsal turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun, ventral and lateral positions, and a glazed nose that housed a bombardier’s station. Although only 143 units were produced, the type saw action in North Africa, the Balkans and over the Italian mainland, notably during the 1943 Allied bombing campaign. The P.108 demonstrated the feasibility of Italian heavy‑payload, long‑range aircraft and influenced post‑war designs, marking a rare example of a four‑engine bomber from a nation otherwise dominated by twin‑engine combat planes. The crew – pilot, co‑pilot, navigator, radio operator and gunner – operated in cramped conditions. Limited production and scrapping left few survivors, yet the P.108 remains a notable example of Italy’s heavy‑bomber ambition.

Piaggio

Piaggio P.108 Bombardiere

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification