Piaggio P.108

P.108
Piaggio P.108
General information
Type	Heavy bomber or Attack Aircraft
Manufacturer	Piaggio
Primary users	Regia Aeronautica Luftwaffe
Number built	36 + 1 prototype (P.108B bombers)[1] 12 + 1 prototype (P.108T transport)[2]
History
Introduction date	1942
First flight	24 November 1939
Retired	1945

The Piaggio P.108 Bombardiere was an Italian four-engine heavy bomber that saw service with the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.^[3] The prototype first flew on 24 November 1939 and it entered service in 1941.^[3] It was one of a handful of Italian combat aircraft that could match the best manufactured by the Allies.^[4] Four versions of the P.108 were designed, but only one, the P.108B bomber, was produced in any quantity before the armistice. The other variants included the P.108A anti-ship aircraft with a 102 mm (4 in) gun, the P.108C, an airliner with an extended wingspan and re-modelled fuselage capable of carrying 32 passengers, and the P.108T transport version designed specifically for military use. Only one P.108A and 24 P.108Bs were built. The combined total number of all versions (and prototypes) was at least 39, almost certainly more than 44.^[3] Most of the P.108Cs were subsequently modified for use as military transport aircraft and could accommodate up to sixty passengers.^[5] Nine P.108 Ts were used by Luftwaffe transport units until the end of the war.^[3]