German Air Force

Luftwaffe’s SM.95

IMC Archives

One of the two Savoia-Marchetti SM.95s transport aircraft commandeered by the German at Guidonia’s Flying Test Center after the Italy’s Armistice, September 1943, and transferred in Germany. Many Italian planes captured by the German was tested both in Italy and in Germany, at Rechlin’s Luftwaffe test center. The test pilot Hans-Werner Lerche which evaluated most of Italian planes, tested also the SM.95. The Lerche’s judgment was good and the two four engines was assigned to Trasportfliegerstaffel 5 (Tr.St.5) at Muhldorf. One SM.95 was destroyed at Muhldorf on 4 September 1944 by an Allied air raid, the other disappeared during the Germany’s fall. Note in this photo, likely taken at Muhldorf during the winter, one of Savoia-Marchetti S.82 seized and employed by Luftwaffe. Victor Sierra