My Sardinia

Aviation is my passion. So is exploring the sea. So what’s better than diving on a World War 2 Italian fighter plane? Let me tell you the whole story.

So on that fateful day, my diving instructor — Franco — finally decided to take our group of divers to the wreck of the Reggiane 2001. I couldn’t hold my excitement.

The REGGIANE 2001 “Falco II” was an Italian fighter aircraft manufactured by Caproni-Reggiane. It served the Regia Aronautica (Italian Air Force) during the Second World War.

Only two hundred thirty eight airplanes were built but only two Reggiane’s survive today. One is visible at the Italian Air Force Museum in Bracciano (near Rome) and the second one is 118 feet deep underwater between Tavolara and Molara Islands in Sardinia. This is also the place where we will dive and visit.

While navigating to the wreckage site, I remember day dreaming about the dive and what I was about to see. I remember locals telling me about this plane and all the wonderful stories it had left behind. Some say that the fighter was shot down during combat against two Messerschmitt Bf 109’s of the Luftwaffe and had crashed landed into the water. Others say that the pilot’s mission was to shoot down an enemy bomber before being hit by friendly fire.

There were many legendary stories of air combat and heroism about the plane. All of them, much to my disappointment, turned out to be absolute fabrications. And because, much to everyone’s consternation, the airplane tires from the wreckage had been replaced by Pirelli’s that were manufactured after the war had ended. So much for authenticity.

“But who cares,” I remember thinking and with an air of defiance, “it’s a World War 2 Italian fighter plane. It’s what I have always wanted to see when diving”.

Our diving instructor warned me that the wreck was not in good condition. Some of the parts had been stolen by enterprising scavengers. If the current is not good, the plane could prove difficult to explore as it will be covered in sand.

But with that defiance that only true aviation enthusiasts can understand, we pushed through with the dive. No matter what happens, nothing will keep me from not seeing the plane. It’s a REGGIANE 2001, for goodness sake!

Franco, our diving instructor, was born and raised in Porto San Paolo in Sardinia. The islands and waters of Tavolara and Molara were his playground growing up. So he knew every inch of the water like the back of his hand. He was also the one who discovered the plane wreck.

As we were sailing towards the site, I wondered how we were going to find it. It’s not as if there were markers in the site. But somehow, I knew that we were in good hands with Franco.

(The second part of this story continues tomorrow. Visit us for the thrilling ending.)