Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero crash, Jun 28, 1940 (9 killed)
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero accident on June 28, 1940 near Tobruk Butnan, Libya with 9 fatalities. Cause: Friendly fire from Italian anti aircraft...
- Date: June 28, 1940
- Aircraft: Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
- Location: Tobruk Butnan, Libya
- Fatalities: 9
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Friendly fire from Italian anti aircraft batteries that misidentified the aircraft as British.
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 I-MANU carrying Italo Balbo, the Italian aviation minister, was shot down near Tobruk on 28 June 1940. Italian anti aircraft batteries defending the airfield reportedly misidentified the aircraft as British. All nine occupants were killed.