07/07/2007. Remarks by Bernhard Klein: "Known as 'Benito's B-17', the first prototype was finished in October 1939. The P.108B was the only heavy four-engine bomber to see service with the Regia Aeronautica (Italian AF) during World War Two. Although quite a good plane, too few were built to play a significant role in the war, only ca. 36. It had a very advanced defensive armament for its day: two waist positions with each a 7.7 mm machine, a 12.7 mm machine gun in the lower turret, a similar weapon in the nose turret, and a remotely-controlled twin 12.7 gun barbette on top of each outboard engine nacelle. These barbettes could not turn forward, just upward, rearward and outward."