Italian Forces

“Pipistrelli” in the East Africa

Savoia-Marchetti S.81 “Pipistrello” (Bat) of 63rd Squadriglia, XXIX Gruppo da Bombardamento (29th Bomber Group) at Assab, Eritrea, on 1939. Before the entry in the war of the Italy 59 S.81, veteran together 167 Caproni Ca.133, of the Abyssinian war, powered by Piaggio P.IX e P.X radial engines, were the backbone of the Italian air force in East Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia) equipping five Bomber Groups all dispatched in Eritrea: 4th (Squadriglie 14th and 15th) at Ghinielè, 27th (118th Squadriglia), 29th (Squadriglie 62nd and 63nd) at Assab, 28th (10th Squadriglia) at Zula and 26th (Squadriglie 11th and 13th) in the Lake Tana sector (Gondar and Bahr Dar airfield). When the Italy declared war, 10 June 1940, the S.81, reinforced from some S.79s, part already on the site, part arrived directly from the Italy, total 43 aircraft full serviceable, were on-third of the Italian bomber force in the East African theatre. At the outbreak of the war the “Pipistrello” were an obsolescent airplane but for the other front, not for the East African front where the most modern bomber aircraft of the British forces were the Bristol Blenheim. During the first two months of war the operational activity was moderate, except the night raids over Aden especially demanding. On 13 June 1940 during a raid against Aden two of four bomber was lost, on 27 June 1940 some S.81 forced three British ships to stop an attack against an Italian submarine. Other night missions was made over Djibouti, Zeila, Berbera, and Port Sudan. 19 S.81 of the 4th and 29th Gruppo took part to conquest of the Somaliland (3-19 August 1940). Two of them was lost. Other missions was made, together the S.79s, during the first week of September against a British convoy arriving from Bombay damaging a steamer and three merchant ship plus a tanker. But already during the first month of the war the attrition of the S.81’s fleet was high: nine aircraft shoot down, ten destroyed on the ground, other 18 out of service in part for accidents. From 11 July to 10 September 1940 other seven S.81 was shoot down, 19 destroyed on the ground by British air raids, 21 phased out for accidents or expiration of operational live. On 10 January 1941 the S.81 still full serviceable were 26. After a month this number was reduced to six aircraft and to three on 10 March. After that was the end. Victor Sierra