STORMO! Walkaround - Museo Caproni di Trento, Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero by Bruno Perfetto

Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero
Museo Caproni di Trento
by Bruno Perfetto

S.79 MM.24499 donated to the AMI by Lebanon in 1993 and as a sign of gratitude, it still bears the livery and national insignia of its former owner.

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I would like to share with the STORMO! community this photo collection. I apologize in advance for the quality of the images, some photos are overexposed and neither I nor the photographic equipment were professional stuff. Nevertheless (but not because I took them, of course) I think this collection of photographs, taken in the mid-90s, is interesting because I don't remember ever having seen such an extensive one, especially for interiors; obviously I could be wrong. A historical note. The aircraft preserved at the Caproni Museum in Trento was built in 1942 by the Officine Reggiane of the Caproni group and was registered with the serial number MM.24499. This and the one preserved at the Vigna di Valle Museum are the only surviving examples. The Trento example was assigned to the 280th Torpedo Bomber Squadron and was piloted mostly by Lieutenant Alessandro Setti, at the helm of which he carried out numerous war actions. After the armistice, it was taken south by Capt. Enrico Marescalchi and, with the insignia of the Co-Belligerent Air Force, served in the transport role until 1948. In November 1949, together with three other examples, it was sold to Lebanon, where it remained in service until 27 January 1959. In 1993, Lebanon donated it to the Italian Air Force. As a sign of gratitude, it still bears the livery and national insignia.

I believe that the most interesting part of this photographic collection is the one concerning the internal parts. In fact, they are completely original. Of course, many parts are missing but those that still equip the aircraft today have never been subject to modifications.

Bomb bay release mechanism sometimes referred to as the "typewriter" used to release bombs individually or all at once. The bomb bay was also furnished with rudimentary controls to direct the plane onto target.

The ventral gondola peculiar to this aircraft and three engine bombers where the bomb-aimer station was situated.

A fine portrait of Bruno at the bomb-aimer's station in his younger days. Note the side door locking handle with red rubber knob and interior surfaces in gray.

Walkaround Photos

Here are all the photos taken of the S.79 during my visit to Museo Caproni di Trento:

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