Original Item: One of a Kind. Here we have a fantastic piece of history from the North African Campaign of WWII! This is a wonderful engine cover or cowling section from an Italian WWII Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Bomber & Transport aircraft, which bears North Africa style camouflage on much of the exterior. It is slightly curved and tapered, and measures approximately 21"W x 11 1/2", with twist lock attachment bolts around the perimeter. The bottom of the aluminum piece has a clear designation added by the manufacturer:

S.M. 82 -N- 47 Mot. C.

This would indicate it was part of the cover or "cowling" for Motor "C" on the Bomber, which was a three engine design. These were used by the Italian Airforce in North Africa, and there are even period photographs showing them in Luftwaffe Use. They were noted for having been used during the East Africa campaigns during WWII, which were launched from the Italian possession of Eritrea.

During this period, the United States had not yet entered the war, however it had become obvious to many that eventually they would be drawn into the worldwide conflict on the side of the Great Britain. Lend Lease was enacted in March 1941, and many American volunteers began to join up with the R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. Also, several clandestine projects were already underway when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and one of these was known as "Project 19", aimed at helping Britain maintain its Air Forces in Africa.

This project began with President Roosevelt having secret meetings with the top aircraft manufacturers in the U.S., with the goal of creating a maintenance air depot deep in Africa, established and operated by American civilian volunteers. Douglas Aircraft Company was selected to lead the project, and recruited from the general population. Approximately 2,000 volunteers were found, and put under command of the U.S. Army Air Corps. When Pearl Harbor was attacked and the U.S. Entered the war, "Project 19" was already well under way.

In early 1942 the men of the project were shipped out on a troop carrier, and eventually arrived in Africa just as Rommel was pushing into Egypt. They were then transported by trucks to a bombed out former Italian Air Force base in the Gura region of Eritrea, where the secret Air Depot would be. As there was little left of the Base, it needed to be pretty much built from scratch. There was also little protection from enemy forces or wildlife, so volunteers formed the American Volunteer Guard (AVG) under the direction of the Army. The volunteers of the Guard were issued uniforms, guns and refurbished Italian rifles. The AVG held drills, attended security meetings and trained on various weapons. Although the AVG performed routine armed guard duty around the airfield, they were never called upon to defend the camp against an outside threat.

To read more details about Project 19, please see this lovely article at the West Seneca NY Veterans Committee Website: Project 19.

This Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Engine Cover section was captured by one of the U.S. Army members of the A.V.G, who wrote the full capture information on the camouflage side:

MOTOR TOP ITALIAN TRIMOTER PLANE
BURNED AT ZULA AIR FIELD
            ERITREA
FEB. 1943 No. AFRICA
Leon E. Thompson
      1st Lt.
       A.V.G.

Zula air field near the red sea was a known landing location for SM.82 bombers on missions during the war, as well as other aircraft of the Italian Air Force. By February 1943 the outlook for the Axis powers in North Africa was bleak, and by May the war in North Africa was over. This component was possibly picked up during investigation after an air raid against the field, or possibly after it was abandoned by Italian forces.

We have attempted to locate information on "Leon E Thompson", and we found 6 different individuals in the NARA database, but were unable to determine which, if any, are the one that brought back this aircraft piece. Definitely some great research potential in this wonderful WWII artifact!

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Marsupiale is an Italian bomber and transport aircraft of World War II. It was a cantilever, mid-wing monoplane trimotor with a retractable, tailwheel undercarriage. There were 875 (plus one prototype) built, the first entering service in 1940. Although able to operate as a bomber with a maximum bombload of up to 8,818 lb (4000 kg), the SM.82 saw very limited use in this role.[4] The SM.82 was the foreign aircraft used in largest number by the Luftwaffe, which operated several hundreds of this aircraft, as a transport. Post-war about 30 SM.82s continued in service with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, many remaining in service until the early 1960s.

Development
The SM.82 was developed from the earlier SM.75 Marsupiale civil transport as a heavy bomber and military transport. Although having the same configuration of the SM.75, the SM.82 was larger. The aircraft was quickly developed and the prototype first flew in 1939. Although underpowered and slow, it was capable of carrying heavy loads, including the L3 light tank and a complete disassembled CR.42 fighter (these loads demanded special modifications). It had both cargo and troop transport capability, with room for up to 40 men and their equipment.

Deliveries to the Regia Aeronautica began in 1940. However, production rates were slow, with only 100 aircraft delivered in 1940, and another 100 in 1941, so that there were never enough of these aircraft in service. By 1942 production doubled to 200 a year, while in 1944 almost 300 were produced, by which time the factory was under the control of the Germans.

In 1939 it set a world's closed circuit distance record when it covered 10,000 km at an average speed of 239.67 km/h, remaining in the air for 56.5 hours. The aircraft saw extensive service throughout all the various African campaigns.