Italian Forces

Gruppo “Terracciano”

Savoia-Marchetti S.81 of Gruppo “Terracciano”, one of two transport units of Repubblica Sociale Italiana’s Air Force (Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, or ANR) which the Germans employed on Eastern Front to bring new life into her transport units severely distressed by years of war. Like all the multi engine aircrafts of ANR, also this plane has German markings, for avoid mistakes, with a little Italian flag behind the lateral glass of the cockpit (note in the photo). The origin of Gruppo “Terracciano” date back to end of 1943 when the unit, under the command of Maggiore Egidio Pellizzari, former pilot of Regia Aeronautica’s Servizi Aerei Speciali (Special Air Services), was formed in Northern Italy, at Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport. At second half of 1944 the “Terracciano” moved in Central Germany, at Goslar where the Luftwaffe had parked about 60 former bombers S.81 converted in transport aircrafts seized in Italy and in Balkans after the Armistice of the Kingdom of Italy. The planes really accepted were thirty-six and the Gruppo “Terracciano”, embedded in Luftwaffe like 10 TransportGruppe, moved in Lithuania, at Siauliai. The Gruppo, with three Squadriglie, was employed in very large areas of Eastern Front from Lithuania to Finland, Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, in transport missions for German forces. At September 1944 the “Terracciano” moved back in Germany, at Bautzen, near Dresden. But the conditions of flight material were very poor and the surviving S.81s were phased out, while the personnel returned in Italy. Victor Sierra