Magnificent trimotor bomber.

It was L-112 of the Lebanese Air Force, being ex MM45508. Since repainted in Italy national markings.

A massive Italian entry of six racing SM.79s and two Fiat BR.20s dominated the 1937 Istres - Damascus - Paris Air Race. I-CUPA was the winner. It was painted red with a green cheatline and the three green rats of the 'Sorci Verdi' flight on the fuselage. Although this airframe was also allocated MM358 and I-CUPA is not worn, these aircraft were nominally civilian. We think the single fasces emblem worn on the fuselage by Fascist Italian planes is not a military, but a state marking. I-CUPA re-registered I-MONI in January 1938 for a three-ship flight to Rio. Photo from: Fondazione Fiera Milano

Forced down by Israeli jets when it allegedly violated Israeli airspace, in 1959! This airframe is now in the museum at Vigna di Valle. Photo by: Moshe Pridan / National Photo Collection of Israel

Perhaps the most famous Italian aircraft of WWII, the S.M.79 was initially designed as an airliner and was tested in October 1934. The Regia Aeronautica soon became interested in the design and used it as a medium bomber and topedo attack aircraft. Thi S.M.79 is one of only two complete frames in existance. It was built in July 1942 as MM.24499 and flew numerous active missions during WWII. In November 1949 it was transferred to Lebanon with three other examples, remaining in service in until January 1959. The plane was donated by Lebanon to the Caproni museum in 1993.

Photo taken by my father Algy Spurr, in WW2. Italian Co Beligerant Air Force.

One of four SM.79s used by Lebanon after the war. Three starred in the movie They who dare (1954). Photo from: Axis & Allies Paintworks

Close-up of the serial applied to the SM.79 of the museum that was actually the former L-112 of the Lebanese air force, and MM45508 before that. MM24327 was really a Piaggio P.108 heavy bomber of WW2. The model is of one of three SM.79s that gained fame early in 1938 with a Rome-Dakar-Rio de Janeiro flight.

This 'Sparviero' is one of two recovered from Lebanon, the other being on display in the Caproni Museum at Trento. A third one, being restored in Italy, completes the trio of only survivors of the type. A very fast and agile medium (torpedo) bomber, it stems from an early 1930s design for a fast passenger transport. Posing in full WW2 markings of the 278th Torpedo Bombing Squadron as 'MM24327'. Its real identity was L-112 of the Lebanese air force, ex MM45508.

Ex MM23881. Was refurbished and went to Lebanon as LR-AMD, becoming L-114, an official document showing the SM.79L designation and c/n 124. The wreck as shown represents MM23843 as found in the Libyan desert in 1960.

Fake identity, is actually ex L-112 of the Lebanon Air Force.

Though displayed in Italian WW2 markings, this aircraft is actually a post-war example which served with the Lebanese Air Force as L-112.

Over 1,200 examples of the tri-motor SM.79 medium and torpedo bomber were built from 1934 onwards. Originally designed as a fast passenger transport, it picked up some 26 world records before seeing extensive wartime service. After WW2 three were passed to the embryonic Lebanese Air Force and after lying derelict for many years, this one (ex MM24499) was gifted back to Italy for restoration. It now forms the magnificent centrepiece of the Caproni Museum at Trento and is one of only two complete examples left in the world, the other displayed at the Italian Air Force museum near Rome.