still struggling to fine-tune and produce the P.108B, there were many other requests for the 'C' model airliner, the P.108T military transport, and the 'A' anti-ship versions. Finally, there was also the new strategic bomber, the P.108bis or P.133 to be developed as the "final solution" for Italian bombers, and other projects, such as the P.126, P.127, P.130 to be considered. Following the P.108Bs' last missions, a few P.108T transports continued to be used until the end of the war, mainly on the Eastern Front when Germany needed to evacuate their encircled troops, even carrying over 100 troops at a time (maximum load was 12 tonnes/13 tons, the total payload was around 14 tonnes/15 tons). The P-108Cs and Ts proved to be more reliable than the bombers, following successful efforts to improve and modify them. One was destroyed in a flying accident over Germany, early in 1945, while the others were used until the end of the war. Variants Production totals of the P108C and T are unclear, but combined there were approximately 16 built, with most of the P108Cs subsequently converted to the transport version. Prototype : MM 22001 Series 1 : MM 22002—22008, MM 22601—22604 Series 2 : MM 24315—24326 Series 3 : MM 24667—24678 P.108 Prototype P.108A Artigliere Anti-shipping version. One built. P.108B Bombardiere Heavy bomber version. 24 built. P.108C Civile Civil transport version. Uncertain number built, but probably six. P.108M Modificato Intended modification of P.108B with heavier armament. None built P.108T Trasporto Transport version. More than 12 (including converted P.108Cs). P.133 Advanced version of the P.108B with better engines and increased bombload. Not completed. Operators Regia Aeronautica Luftwaffe Specifications (Piaggio P.108B) See also References Sources Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I (Sampson Low Guides). Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978. Bignozzi, Giorgio. "The Italian 'Fortress' (part 1)." Air International Vol. 31 No. 6, December 1986. pp. 298–305, (part 2)." Air International, Vol. 32 No. 1, January 1987. pp. 29–31, pp. 47–49. Garello, Giancarlo. Il Piaggio P.108 (in Italian). Rome: Edizioni Bizzarri, 1973. Knox, MacGregor. Hitler's Italian Allies. Cambridge University Press, 2000. . Matricardi, Paolo. Aerei Mililtari: Bombardieri e da Trasporto 2 (in Italian). Milano: Electa Mondadori, 2006. Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Bounty Books, 2006. . Pedriali, Ferdinando. "Le Fortezze Volanti Italiane. (in Italian)" RID magazine, November 1991, pp. 60–65. Sgarlato, Nico.