April 21, 1941. From the Field of Berka (Benghazi) home of 278 Squadron Autonomous Torpedo Bombers, takes off the SM 79 MM. 23881 with the aim to intercept an enemy convoy reported southwest of Crete.
On board there are Capt. Oscar Cimolini, the Mar. GDP. Cesare Barro, the Serg.M. Armorino De Luca, the airmen Quintilius Joello and Gianni Romanini and STV Franco Franchi as an observer.
After more than two hours of sailing, almost dusk, the crew sighted the wakes of ships and the attacks by launching the torpedo.
Happy to be escaped the barrage, realize they have the radio fails, probably damaged in the attack.
20.30 and are now flying blind because with the radio fails you can not pick up the beacon of Benghazi.
Due to deteriorating weather conditions and strong wind drift the crew does not have the faintest idea of what the position.
At about 23.00, the finished fuel is forced to land ..ammarando on a sea of sand. Only the airman Romanini is unharmed others are all injured but not seriously.
April 22, 1941
The first light of dawn revealed the vast expanses of sand that surround the plane.
Romanini which is the only one to be able to walk at sunset starts heading north to reach the coast, brings a flare gun, a water bottle compass of the aircraft and the name plate engraved with "SM79 MM23881".
July 21, 1960
A few kilometers from the ice-Giala Giarabub during mineral exploration are discovered by Italian staff of human bones and among other objects also a nameplate engraved with "SM79 MM23881".
Asked the Office Historical AOS we learn that the plate belongs to a plane reported missing in action on 21 April 1941. The research of the wreck were taken immediately without success.
October 5, 1960
Pasquale Bartolucci, former pilot of SM79 of the Italian Royal Air Force during the 2nd World War, now commands a AB47J AGIP-Mining, sighted a wreck of plane ..man it approaches, in emotion recognizes the wreck of the three engines on which for years there has lent to 400 km from the coast - southwest of Giarabub.
Romanini traveled 90 km between the sand, a few hours walk from salvation.
For the scene was used Italeri kit in 1/72 scale widely modificat and detailed.
Honors to all airmen who died in war .
