
Описание
Страна: Италия
Год: 1915
Варианты
- Maurice Farman - MF.11 Hydro - 1913 - Франция
- Maurice Farman - MF.11 Shorthorn - 1913 - Франция
- Savoia - Farman Colombo - 1914 - Италия
- Savoia-Pomilio - SP.2 / SP.3 - 1915 - Италия
- Savoia-Pomilio - SP.4 - 1917 - Италия
- J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 75)
- J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.2 #1810, 31a Squadriglia, Spring 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.2 #1901, 40a Squadriglia, Summer 1918
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.2 #1907, 38a Squadriglia, 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.2, 103a Squadriglia, Brindisi, Summer 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.1 /Aeronaut/ (1)
SP.2 #3512, 21a Squadriglia, Campoformido, 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia Pomilio SP2 #3512, Ten. di Ricaldone / Ten. Villani, 21a Squadriglia, June 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia Pomilio SP2 #3524, 23a Squadriglia, S. Maria la Longa Aerodrome, Spring 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia Pomilio SP3 #4531, 22a Squadriglia, Autumn 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.3 #4537, 36a Squadriglia
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
S.P.3 #4537, 36a Squadriglia
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.3 #4542, 26a Squadriglia
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.3 #4595, 35a Squadriglia, Late 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.3 #44624, 31a Squadriglia
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.3 #4658, 26a Squadriglia, January 1918
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia-Pomilio SP.3 #4659, 33a Squadriglia
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
An SP.2 of the 28a Squadriglia at Villaverla.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 1810 of the 31a Squadriglia. (Archive Caliaro)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
SP.2 1898 of the Sezione Difesa Ancona.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 1901 crashed on 18 July 1917, with the death of soldier Sommariva.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 1901 of the 40a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 1907 of the 38a Squadriglia. The gun mount allows firing backwards.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
An SP.2, 346?, of the 40a Squadriglia after an emergency landing on the bed of the Torre river, with pilot serg. Ruffinengo of the 40a Squadriglia and ten. Tuzi of the 111a Squadriglia, May 1917.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
The SP.2 of serg. Ruffinengo in flight.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
A line-up of the airplanes of the 103a Squadriglia, first an SP.2 armed with no less than ten Le Prieur rockets, then six more Savoia Pomilios and four Nieuports. The importance of the naval base at Brindisi justified these strong defenses. (Archive De Antoni)
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Nieuport Nieuport-11/16 Bebe - Франция - 1915
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.5 /Aeronaut/ (5)
An SP.2 and a Farman MFC of the Sezione Difesa in front of the airship hangar at Jesi.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Savoia Farman Colombo - Италия - 1914
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.5 /Aeronaut/ (5)
SP.2 3476 of the Sezione Difesa of Jesi. Formerly this airplane had served with the 31a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 3512 of the 21a Squadriglia taking off for its final mission, 16 June 1917. (Archive Franz Selinger)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 3524 of the 23a Squadriglia. (Archive De Antoni)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Aviators of the 23a Squadriglia with their SP.2s.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.1 /Aeronaut/ (1)
Nieuport 11s of the 80a Squadriglia and SP.2 of the 23a Squadriglia, I Gruppo. This line-up of aircraft is not for operations, but for some sort of ceremony.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Nieuport Nieuport-11/16 Bebe - Франция - 1915
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.5 /Aeronaut/ (5)
Armed Farman MF 879 and an SP.2 of the Defense Flight in Foggia. Farman 879 then was sent to Libya. (USAF Museum)
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn - Франция - 1913
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.2 aircraft of the 21a Squadriglia in their hangar at Campoformido. (Courtesy Cime e Trincee)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
The arrival by road of an SP.2 to the 103a Squadriglia at Brindisi.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
The rudder and fuselage serial number of SP.2 1907 are preserved in the Museum of Science and technique of Milan. (Courtesy Marco Gueli)
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
SP.3 reconnaissance aircraft rear view showing engine installation details.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
SP.3 4509 of the 110a Squadriglia. Above the searchlight is written "Trasformato", modified, with the logo of the company that did the work. (Archives Caliaro)
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
S.P.3 4512 in Cavazzo Carnico belonged to 24a Squadriglia, whose insignia was an elaborate Savoy coat of arms. This aircraft was lost on 7 November 1917, shot down by German fighters during a reconnaissance mission over Sacile and Pordenone.The crew, pilot Tenente Luigi Vitale and observer Capitano Fabiano Venier, was captured.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4512 showing the insignia of the 24a Squadriglia, an elaborate shield of Savoy, in the rugged terrain of Cavazzo Carnico.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
The personnel of the 24a Squadriglia in front of SP.3 4512.
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
S.P.3 4524 belonged to 24a Squadriglia and is portrayed on Cavazzo Carnico airfield in summer 1917.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4524 of the 24a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Curious Austrian soldiers gather around the captured SP.3 4530. (Archive Frank Solina - Rtvslo.sl)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Captured SP.3 4530 on an Austrian airfield; behind it an Albatros fighter appears.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4531 of the 22a Squadriglia captured at Campoformido. In front of it there is a line of destroyed French Sopwith 1A2 (1 1/2 Strutters) and behind, some Albatros fighters.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Sopwith 1 1/2-Strutter - Великобритания - 1915
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4531 behind a line of destroyed Sopwiths of Escadrille SOP 36.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Sopwith 1 1/2-Strutter - Великобритания - 1915
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia Pomilio SP.3 4536 shot down on 23 August 1917, with its crew, serg. Malaspina and ten. Mazzarino, captured. (Archive Zdenek Skolil)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4537 with the three intersecting rings, insignia of the 36a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
The same insignia, in negative, on SP.3 4542.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
SP.3 4561 of the 110a Squadriglia, armed with a 25-mm cannon and equipped with a searchlight.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4595 of the 35a Squadriglia with full load of arms and bombs. (Archives Gadda - Liberati)
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
S.P.3 4597 has gathered a curious crowd of onlookers.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4599 of the 35a Squadriglia being fueled up. (Archives Gadda - Liberati)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4605, in the front cockpit is ten. oss. Eliso Panizzera. With this disposition, the airplane had no defense against attacks from the rear.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4615 and 4676 of the 33a Squadriglia; behind them a SIA 7B of the 32a Squadriglia can be seen.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: SIA 7B / 7B2 / 8B - Италия - 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP 4624 with a beautiful decoration of stars and the motto "Unguibus et rostris" (with claws and beak). In the front cockpit is col. Gilbert de Winkels, chief of the aviation command of the 1a Armata.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.1 /Aeronaut/ (1)
SP.3 4628 of the 16a Squadriglia at Arqua Petrarca.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia Pomilio SP.3 4632 of the 28a Squadriglia at Santa Maria la Longa in August 1917.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 4658 with the new insignia of the man pointing his finger, taken from a book popular at the time: "Come ti erudisco il pupo" (how to educate your kid).
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.1: Operations /Centennial Perspective/ (73)
S.P.3 #4658 in October 1918.
Deliveries of the 300 Savoia-Pomilio SP 3 two-seat reconnaissance machines might have been more understandable had they been made two or even three years earlier, as it was they started in mid-1917. Clearly, by this time, not even the powerful 300hp Fiat A 12Bis fitted could give this tired old pusher-engined design sufficient impetus to extricate it from hostile fighter attack. The resultant operational loss rate was high and SP 3 crew morale low. -
J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
S.P.3 4658 flew for 26a Squadriglia, whose marking is visible on the nose, in January 1918.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Savoia Pomilio SP.3 4659; this airplane was shot down on 28 January 1918 with the death of its crew. A triangle was the insignia of the 33a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
The aviators of the 26a Squadriglia. This photo was published in a magazine, so all the names are known; from the left: serg. Gaggero, sold. Cappellini, ten. Bonino, ten. De Notti, doctor Denza, s.ten. Aldi, ten. Manzini, s.ten. Cebrelli, cap. Lioce, cap. Bianchi, s.ten. Marangoni, ten. Contini, serg. Graziani, m.llo Radicchi, serg. Pasquali.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
A souvenir photo of all the ground personnel of the 40a Squadriglia at Campoformido, May 1917.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Cap. Jannoni Sebastianini, commander of the 35a Squadriglia, left, with an SP.2.
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Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919 /Jane's/
A Row of Pomilio S.P. (Savoia-Pomilio Biplanes. S.P.s in S.P.2, 3 and 4 version served from 1915 onwards as reconnaissance and artillery observation biplanes. S.P.2 version used one 260 h.p. Fiat A.12 engine to achieve 91 m.p.h. Those illustrated are probably 300 h.p. A 12 bis-powered S.P.3s.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Six SP.3s of the 24a Squadriglia lined up at Cavazzo Carnico.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3s of different production batches at San Pietro in Gu airfield; in the background there are French Sopwith 1 A2s.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Sopwith 1 1/2-Strutter - Великобритания - 1915
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Pomilio SP.3 6670 served first with the 26a Squadriglia and then with the 39a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Tenente Giuseppe Moneta, a pilot of the 37a Squadriglia, in front of SP.3 6682.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 "round fuselage" 6683 flew with both the 35a and 36a Squadriglia.
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J.Davilla - Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W /Centennial Perspective/ (75)
SP.3 6684 of the 26a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 6691 of the 31a Squadriglia. (Collection De Vicari)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 6695 of the 39a Squadriglia. (Collection Carmelo Biz)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 6695 of the 39a Squadriglia. (Collection Carmelo Biz)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 6706 of the 37a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
SP.3 6719, the airplane in which commander Scarioni lost his life. A searchlight is installed in the nose. (Collection De Vicari)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
A line of SP.3 "round fuselage" of the 31a Squadriglia, the first one is 6727.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.4 /Aeronaut/ (4)
The three main Italian two-seaters, an SP.3 at right, a SIA 7B in the center, and, in the left background, a SAML.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: SAML S.1/S.2 - Италия - 1917SIA 7B / 7B2 / 8B - Италия - 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
Above: SP.3s "round fuselage" of the 23a Squadriglia. (SHAA88-729)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
The airfield at Castello di Godego; in the forefront there are French Nieuports, Sopwiths and Dorands, in the top left there is the Italian part of the field, where a Caudron G.4 of the 48a Squadriglia and an SP.3 of the 27a Squadriglia can be seen.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Caudron G.4 - Франция - 1915Dorand AR.1/AR.2 - Франция - 1916
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.1 /Aeronaut/ (1)
The crowded airfield at Casoni in December 1917, the base for Pomilios of the II Gruppo and Hanriots of the VI Gruppo.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Hanriot HD.1 - Франция - 1916
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.4 /Aeronaut/ (4)
A Pomilio PE of the 134a Squadriglia, possibly at Ganfardine. In the background there are SP.3s and a Pomilio PD.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: Pomilio PC / PD / PE - Италия - 1916
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.4 /Aeronaut/ (4)
Airco de Havilland DH.4 of the Royal Air Force, behind them an SP.3 and a Nieuport 11 of the Sezione Difesa Grottaglie appear.
Другие самолёты на фотографии: De Havilland D.H.4 - Великобритания - 1916Nieuport Nieuport-11/16 Bebe - Франция - 1915
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
A minor accident to an SP.2 of the 23a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.5 /Aeronaut/ (5)
An accident to an SP.2 of the Sezione Difesa Bologna on 4 July 1917
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
A minor accident for SP.2 2761 of the 103a Squadriglia. (Archive De Antoni)
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.3 /Aeronaut/ (3)
A minor accident to an SP.3 of the 105a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
A bad landing for SP.3 4337 of the 36a Squadriglia.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
An Austrian soldier inspects the wreck of SP.3 4507, abandoned without engine.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.1 /Aeronaut/ (1)
This SP3, 4648, was shot down on 16 July 1917 by the Austrian pilot Kadetz of Flik 23/D, but research in the Italian archives has failed to find details on this event, proving that confirmation of legitimate claims is not always possible.
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R.Gentilli - Italian Aviation Units in the First World War. Vol.2 /Aeronaut/ (2)
A captain, probably Jannoni Sebastianini, checks an SP written off during the transfer of the squadron from San Pietro al Campo to Santa Giustina on 28 June 1917; the emblem of the SIA factory can be seen.
J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 75)
Savoia-Pomilio S.P.1, S.P.2, & S.P.3
Savoia Pomilio was named after its two founders, ingegnier maggiore Umberto Savoia and tenente Ottorino Pomilio.
There first design was based on the M.F.11s that had been license built in Italy.
The Italian reconnaissance and fighter arms came to depend, at least initially, on French aircraft.The Voisins 3, Caudron G.3, Caudron G.4, and, most importantly, the M.F.11, formed the backbone of the army co-operation units.
By 1916 it was clear that more modern types were needed, preferably types that could be built by the early Italian aircraft industry. M.F.11s were built by Fiat (designated F.5b) with 100-hp Fiat engines, this from Savoy had 110-hp Colombo motors, and Nieuport-Macchi built 50 machines.
S.P.1
It must have appeared that the M.F.11 would be the most ideal machine to copy. It was popular, effective, and easy to mass produce. The Savoia Pomilio chose to offer to the Aviazione Militaire a variant of the M.11 that was essentially a direct copy of the French machine. Designated the S.P.1, the main difference form the French machine was the selection of a 100-hp Fiat A10 in place of the commonly used 70-hp Renault. The S.P.1s were, aside from their engines, direct copies of the so-called Farman 1914 (M.F.11).
S.P.2
The S.P.2 airframe was heavier because its structure had to be reinforced to carry a 260-hp Fiat A.12 motor. This new power plant enabled the S.P.2 to carry both a camera and a nose-mounted machine gun. In fact the S.P.2bis (approximately ten built) could carry 25-mm Fiat cannon. These S.P.2bis were used by the Sezioni Difesa and provided a night fighting capability for the seziones to protect key cities.
Other armament options permitted by the S.P.2’s heavier payload included;
- one Fiat-Revelli 6.6-mm machine gun
- a rear-firing Fiat-Revelli 9-mm double barrel sub-machine gun, fastened to the upper wing to provide for rearward defense
- Villa Perosa sub machine gun; it weighed only 62 kg and fired up to 2,400 rounds per minute
Other equipment that could be carried included a Marconi MNM wireless transmitter, which in 1917 could be driven by an onboard electric generator. A planimetric camera built by Lamperti & Garbagnati could be carried which allowed for better definition of the surrounding topography.
Testing began on 10 July 1916 from Mirafiori airfield. Testing lasted four months, at which time the S.P.2s were leaving the factory at the rate of ten a month.
The DTAM noted that frontline personnel criticized the poor take off and handling characteristics of the heavy S.P2s. Stalls and crash landing were blamed on inadequate pilot training. The chief of flight testing, brigadiere Guido Guidi, gave a vigorous take off and landing demonstration in a fully loaded S.P.2 to convince the aircrews of the sounds of the design. He succeeded, but very few of those aircrew would have possessed Guidi’s piloting abilities.
The S.P.2, was to equip eight army co-operation/reconnaissance squadriglias, while six other squadriglias would use the twin engine SP 4s. The S.P.4s would operate in mountain regions due to the added safety of having twin engines, plus the possibility of carrying a heavier weapons payload. Also the S.P.4s were intended to equip nine squadriglias assigned at the Armata level.
Produced by both Pomilio and SIT, the Pomilios often had different nacelle configurations. Some were oval, others had pointed noses. The decking also varied with some being completely plywood covered,while others had some metal panels. Where and when these differences originated from remains unknown.
Tenente Brach-Papa tested the S.P.2 and, on July 16, flew one to 6,175 meters. The heavier airframe resulted in poor manoeuvrability, enhancing the type’s already considerable vulnerability to enemy fighters. The S.P.2 was not a success meaning that the 402 examples built would be of limited use in combat.
Savoia Pomilio S.P.2s and 3s were intended to re-equip the artillery and reconnaissance squadriglias and used the first version of the 200-hp Fiat A.12 in-line engine, a few S.P2s were already assigned to some front line units in late summer 1916. Although faster and with a superior climb rate than the M.F.11s and Caudron G.3s they were replacing, the crew found them difficult to fly as they were heavier and less maneuverable due to their higher weight. The only solution was to replace them with a lighter version with a shorter wing, the S.P.3. A total of 300 examples of this version, designated as the S.P.3, would be built.
S.P. 2 Production
Manufacturer Ordered Built Period
SIA 200 102 July - Dec. 1916
100 Jan. - July 1916
O. Poudiio? 200 26 July-Dec. 1916
131 Jan.-July 1917
43 July-Dec. 1917
Source: The Savoia Pomilios by Gregory Alegi
S.P.3
The S.P.3 was only 17 kg lighter than the S.P.2, but its reduced wingspan (from 16.74 m to 14.71 m) and the changes made to the interplane struts, increased the speed by 10 km/h, bringing it to 145 km/h. Manoeuvrability was also improved. Thus, the S.P.3 was superior to the S.P.2, but the degree of improvement could not make up for the aircraft’s limited performance and lack of rearward defense.
As with with the preceding S.P.2, there were variations on nacelle configurations. Alegi has suggested the flat sided nacelles were built by SIA, while the rounded ones came from SIT.
S.P. 3 Production
Manufacturer Ordered Built Period
SIA 200 200 1917
SIT 100 70 July-Dec. 1917
30 Jan.-July 1917
Totals 330 270
Source: The Savoia Pomilios by Gregory Alegi
The alterations introduced in the S.P.3 brought the maximum speed up from 135 to 145 km/h and made the machine more maneuverable, but they could not overcome the limits of the pusher configuration. Fiat (whose aircraft carried the SIA - Italian Aviation Society designation) acquired a reputation for difficult-to-fiy aircraft. The numerous landing incidents were attributed to the inadequate training of the pilots and to their lack of familiarity with an aircraft that was more powerful than the M.F.11s and Caudron G.3s. Furthermore, Fiat (as had the French manufacturer Farman) had stayed too long with the pusher formula, long after it was obvious that this layout involved attacks from the rear that the crew would be helpless to defend against.
This was confirmed by the obvious superiority of the tractor layout, as the first reports on the SAML two-seaters had shown.
Unfortunately, in the time it took to create a satisfactory Italian version of the M.F.11, the time of the combat pusher aircraft was over. All the S.P.s were vulnerable to rearward attacks, which is exactly the weakness that the Austro-Hungarian fighters exploited. It has been suggested that the S.P. series were an interim type until the Pomilio PC, then under development, would become available. This might have worked as the S.P.s were certainly easy to produce, but the PC had major developmental troubles requiring the continued use of M.F.11s and S.P.2s and 3s with operational squadriglias.
A 2a armata aviation report dated 20 May 1917 emphasized the type’s heaviness heaviness and poor handling. The aircraft also had a tendency to stall and there were frequent crash landings, although the report took pains to emphasize that these were mainly due to the inexperience of the pilots or their unfamiliarity with such a powerful machine. It was also clearly stated that the pusher configuration was outdated.
During the Tenth Battle of Isonzo (12 May to 8 June, 1917), the units with Savoia-Pomilios in particular suffered from a lack of observers and equipment, which added to the poor performance of these obsolescent aircraft. Furthermore, the tendency of their propellers to break grounded many aircraft.
The new 27a, 28a, 33a and 36a Squadriglias arrived at the Isonzo front in the summer of 1917; they were all equipped with S.P.3s, which, while a definite improvement over the Voisin 3s, were not much better than the M.F.11s they would be replacing. Yet, while the S.P.3 crews were being trained for front line operations, including familiarization with the fronts they would operate over, it was necessary to continue to use the G.3s in 42a, 43a, and 44a.
During the first few days of the Caporetto attack, the units equipped with S.P.3s could no longer be assured of fighter escort as the fighter units had also been widely dispersed. For this reason the S.P.3s were ordered to be returned to the training centers.
Pomilio S.P. 2 Two-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft with One 260-hp FIAT A-12 Engine
Wingspan 16.78 m; length 10.95 m; wing area 78 sq m
Empty weight 1,250 kg; loaded weight 1,700 kg
Maximum speed 135 km/h; climb to 3,000 m in 26 minutes; celling 5,000 m; endurance four hours
402 built
Pomilio S.P. 3 Two-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft with One 260-hp FIAT A-12 Engine
Wingspan 14.41 m; length 10.95 m; wing area 60 sq m
Empty weight 1,233 kg; loaded weight 1,683 kg
Maximum speed 145 km/h; climb to 3,000 m in 25 minutes; celling 5,000 m; endurance four hours
300 built
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