ITALY

(Royal Air Force/Regia Aeronautica)

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ABELLO, Oscar
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1916-1941)
Born: 25 Sep 1916 in Torino
Dead: 5 Jan 1941 in Ain el Gazala (Northern Africa) Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal Military Valour for combats from 23 Jun 1940 to 5 Jan 1941

ACCORSI, Giovanni
Maresciallo
Medagliad'Oro
(1917-1941)
Born: 18 Jul 1917 in Ferrara
Dead: 4 Feb 1941 in Bengazi, Lybia
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from Sep 1940-4 Feb 1941

AICHNER, Martino
Sottotenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1918-1994)
Born: 12 Mar 1918 in Trento
Dead: 21 Dec 1994 in Verona
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats in Mediterranean sky on 14-15 Jun 1942.

AMMANNATO, Athos
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1911-1941)
Born: 11 Nov 1911 in Roma
Dead: 20 Feb 1941 in Marmarica
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from 11 Jun 1940 to 20 Feb 1941

ANELLI, Mario
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1903-1941)
Born: 13 Feb 1903 in Casalmorano
Dead: 24 Jun 1941
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

ANGELUCCI, Silvio
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1909-1942)
Born: 20 Mar 1909 in Conza della Campania
Dead: 13 Aug 1942 Mediterranean Sea
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

ARAMU, Mario
Colonnello
Medaglia d'Oro
(1900-1940)
Born: 7 Apr 1900 a Cagliari
Dead: 17 Dec 1940 Lybia
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

BADALINI, Giovanni
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1916-1996)
Born: 19 Jun 1916 a Chiaravalle
Dead: 21 Feb 1996 a Milano
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats in Mediterranean Sea from Aug 1942 to May 1945

BALAGNA, Riccardo
Sergente Maggiore
Medaglia d'Oro
(1912-1941)
Born: 30 Oct 1912 in Pinerolo
Dead: 24 Jun 1941 Mediterranean Sea
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

BARBATI, Alfredo
Colonnello
Medaglia d'Oro
(1897-1941)
Born: 13 Nov in Pescina
Dead: 11 Sep 1941 near Sicily
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

BASSI, Livio
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1918-1941)
Born: 8 Oct in Trapani
Dead: 2 Apr 1941 in Greece
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from Oct 1940 to Feb 1941

BALBO, Italo
Maresciallo dell'Aria, Governatore di Libia.
(1896-1940)
Born: 6 Jun.1896 in Quartesana, (Ferrara)
Died: 28 Jun.1940 in Tobruk
Promotions:
Captain (Alpine Corp):1915; Air Force General: 10 Aug.1928; Maresciallo dell' Aria: Aug. 1933.
Assignments:
Founder Action Team "Celibano", Ferrara, 1921
Secretary of Fascio of Ferrara,1921
General Commander of theMilizia, 1923-1924
Undersecretary for the National Economy, 1925
Undersecretary for the Air Ministry, 6 Oct. 1926
Appointed "Ministro dell' Aeronautica", Minister of the Air Force, 12 Sep. 1929 - 1933
Governor of Libya, 1934-1940
Decorations and awards:
Bronze Medal Military Valour (I WW); (2) Silver Medal Military Valour (I WW)
Notes:
He was an officer in the Italian army, Alpine troops, during World War I; later he became active in the Fascist movement in Italy. In 1922 he participated in the Fascist march on Rome, helping Benito Mussolini seize control of the government. From 17 Dec. 1930 to 15 Jan. 1931 crossed the South Atlantic with 12 Hydroplanes and from 1 Jul. to 12 Aug.1933 crossed the North Atlantic with 22 Hydroplanes. He died at the beginning of the military operations in Northern Africa, on board a Savoia Marchetti "S-61" shot by mistake by Italian antiaircraft artillery, while flew in the skies of Tobruk.

BEVILACQUA, Ezio
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1917-1942)
Born: 2 May 1917 in Sevignano sul Rubicone
Dead: 21 Oct 1942 Sky of North Africa
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

BIANCHI, Pietro
Maresciallo
1915-1943)
Medaglai d'Oro
Born: 13 Jul 1915 in Stradella
Dead: 2 Aug 1943 in Capo Pula
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

BIONDI, Ezio
Sergente Maggiore
Medaglia d'Oro
(1914-1941)
Born: 26 Dec 1914 in Modena
Dead: 15 Apr 1941 (Accident Fly)
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from Apr 1938 to 4 Jan 1939 (Spain)

BOETTO, Armando
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1911-1941)
Born: 25 Aug in Cuorgn�
Dead: 8 May 1941 in Mediterranean sky
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from 12 Jun 1940 to 8 May 1941

BONANNO, Giovanni
Aviere Scelto
Medaglia d'Oro
(1919-1940)
Born: 13 Sep 1919 in Misilmeri
Dead: 15 Jun 1940 in Vidauban, France
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats in Cannet des Maures, France (15 Jun 1940)

BOTTO, Ernesto
Tenente Colonnello
Medaglia d' Oro
(1907-1984)
Born: 8 Nov 1907 in Torino
Dead: 9 Dec 1984 in Torino
Assignments:
Air Force Academy, 1932
Pilot License: 1932
Military Pilot License: 1933
1 Stormo CT: 1933-1936
53 Stormo CT: 1936-1937
Commander 84 Squadriglia, 4 Stormo: 1937
Volunteer Spnish Civil War*: Ap3 1937-May 1938
Squadron Leader, 31 Squadriglia, VI Gruppo Aviazione Legionaria: 1937
Comandante 37 Squadriglia, 4 Stormo CT: May 1938-Jul 1940
Commander 9 Gruppo: Jul 1940
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal Military Valour for combat on 12 Oct 1937 in Fuentes de Ebro, Spain.
Notes:
He lost a leg in Spain due severe wounds. Nicknamed after the accident "Iron Leg" and a badge was made and adopted by the whole VI Gruppo depicting an iron leg over an axe. He was wounded in a car accident in December 1940 after which he received administrative work before being assigned as commander of the Fighter School as a Tenente Colonello. After the Italian surrender in September 1943 he virtually created the A.N.R. (Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana) after that the Mussolini headed Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI) had been formed. He was however sacked from A.N.R. in March 1944. Botto ended the war with 7 biplane victories. 4 of these were claimed during the Spanish Civil War.

BRAGADIN, Vittorio
Sottotenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1920-1941)
Born: 5 May 1920 in Treviso
Dead: 5 Nov 1941 in Jugoslavia
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from Aug 1941 to 5 Nov 1941

BRAMBILLA, Nello
Tenente Colonnello
Medaglia d'Oro
(1906-1941)
Born: 14 Jul 1906 in Fontanella di Roccabianca
Dead: 6 Aug 1941 in Malta
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from 9 Apr 1941 to 6 Aug 1941

BREZZI, Andrea
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1910-1940)
Born: 31 Jul 1910 a Ollomont
Dead: 21 Dec 1940 Sky of Albania
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from 12 Oct 1940 to 21 Dec 1940

BRONDI, Alberto
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1915-1942)
Born: 26 jun 1915 in Ferrara
Dead: 14 Jun 1942 Mediterranean Sky
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

BULGARELLI, Loris
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1909-1940)
Born: 28 Feb 1909 in Cento
Dead: 13 Dec 1940 in Tobruk
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from Jun to 13 Dec 1940

BUSCAGLIA, Carlo Emanuele
Maggiore
Medaglia d'Oro
(1915-1944)
Born: 22 Sep 1915 in Novara
Dead: 24 Aug 1944 in Campo Vesuvio
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from May to Nov 1942 in Mediterranean area

CAGNA, Stefano
Generale di Brigata Aerea
Medaglia d'Oro
(1901-1940)
Born: 25 Dec 1901 in Ormea
Dead: 1 Aug 1940
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

CANNAVIELLO, Vittorio
Tenente Colonnello
Medaglia d'Oro
Born: 25 Feb 1906 in Napoli
Dead: 19 Aug 1943 Sicily Channel
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

CAPPA, Franco
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1916-1941)
Born: 9 May 1916 in Bovolone
Dead: 8 May 1941 Sardinia Sea
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from Mar 1941 to 8 My 1941

CASELLI, Alessandro
Sottotenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1920-1940)
Born: 18 Feb 1920 in Penne
Dead: 18 Nov 1940 in Koritza
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

CASTRO, Bruno
Sottotenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1918-1942)
Born: 24 Sep 1918 in Trieste
Dead: 14 Jun 1942
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

CATALANO, Simone
Tenente
Medaglia d'Oro
(1905-1940)
Born: 17 Nov 1905 in Paparella
Dead: 13 Jun 1940 in Hy�res, France
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

CECCOTTI, Livio
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1914-1942)
Born: 24 Feb 1914 in Poggio Terzarmata
Dead: 2 Oct 1942 North Africa
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

CENNI, Giuseppe
Maggiore
Medaglia d'Oro
(1915-1943)
Born: 27 Feb 1915 in Casola Val Senio
Dead: 4 Sep 1943 Mediterranen Sky
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from 10 Jul 1943 to 4 Sep 1943

CHIARINI, Guglielmo
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1917-1941)
Born: 10 Nov 1917 in Firenze
Dead: 4 Feb 1941 in Benina, Cyrenaica
Assignments:
Military College
Air Academy of Caserta: -1938
Volunteer Spanish Civil War in the "Falchi delle Baleari" Bomber Unit: 1938-1939
32 Squadriglia, 2 Stormo CT: 1939-1940
151 Gruppo, 53 Stormo CT "Asso di Spada": 1940 4 Feb 1941
Decorations and Awards:
Bronze Medal Military Valour; Silver Medal Military Valour; Gold Medal Military Valour.
Notes:
At the time of his death Chiarini was credited with a total of 5 biplane victories. His name was given to the 53 Stormo of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana on 15 October 1971. The unit's badge on the fins of the F-104s is the same "Ace of Spades" of the former 151 Gruppo.

CHIODI, Antonio
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1907-1940)
Born: 12 Aug 1907 in Udine
Dead 31 Jul 1940 in Malta
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats from 13 Jul 1940 to 31 Jul 1940

CIMICCHI, Giuseppe
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1913-1992)
Born: 22 Mar 1913 in Castelviscardo
Dead: 15 Oct 1992 in Bardano di Orvieto
Assignments:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour for combats in Mediterranean sky from 21 Sep t0 28 Nov 1942 and from 29 Jan to 17 Aug 1943.

GRAFFER, Giorgio
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1912-1940)
Born: 14 May 1912 in Trento
Dead: 28 Nov 1940 in Albania
Assignments:
Air Force Academy, Course "Leone"
Commander 365 Squadriglia, 150 Gruppo, 53 Stormo CT, Torino-Caselle: Jun 1940-28 Nov 1940
Decorations and Awards:
Bronze Medal Military Valour; Gold Medal Military Valour.

GRAZIANI, Giulio Cesare
Capitano
Medaglia d'Oro
(1915-1998)
Born: 24 Jan 1915 in Affile
Dead: 23 Dec 1998
Promotions:
Capitano: Jun 1942; Tenente: Mar 1940; Sottotenente: 11 Aug 1939.
Assignments:
Air Force Academy, Course "Rex B": 8 Sep 1936
Military Pilot: 14 Mar 1939
54 Stormo CT: 11 Aug 1939-Mar 1940
412 Squadriglia, 4 Stormo CT:Mar 1940-Apr 1940
10 Squadriglia, Gura, East Africa: Apr 1940-Dec 1940
2 Training Nucleo Aerosiluranti: 15 Apr 1941-1 Aug 1941
281 Squadriglia erosiluranti, 132 Gruppo: 1 Aug 1941-Nov 1942
Commander 132 Gruppo*: Nov 1942-End of war
Decorations and Awards:
Bronze Medal Military Valour; 5 Silver Medals military Valour; Gold Medal Military Valour; 3 War Cross Military Valour.
Notes:
Wounded on Dec 1940; sent home after being recovered at the Hospital of Asmara. After the war continued his career in the Air Force, ended it as Generale di Divisione.

*: Later "Stormo Baltimore"

LUCHINI, Franco
Capitano
Medaglia d' Oro
(1917-1943)
Born: 24 Dec 1917 in Rome
Dead: 5 Jul 1943 in Piana di Catania, Sicily, Italy
Assignments:
Air Force as a Reserve Officer: 1935
Military Pilot License, Air School of Foggia, Jul 1936
91 Squadriglia, 4 Stormo Caccia CT: Jul 1936-Jul 1937
Volunteer Spanish Civil War, 19 Squadriglia, XXIII Gruppo "Asso di Bastoni": Jul 1937-Jun 1939
10 Gruppo, 4 Stormo CT, 91 Squadriglia: Jun 1939-Apr 1940
10 Gruppo, 4 Stormo CT, 90 Squadriglia: Apr 1940-1 Dec 1941
Commander 84 Squadriglia: 1 Dec 1941-Jun 1943
Commander 10 Gruppo: Jun 1943-5 Jul 1943
Decorations and Awards:
3 Bronze Medal Military Valour; 7 Silver Medal Military Valour; Gold Medal Military Valour; 4 War Cross Military Valour; German Iron Cross 2 Class.
Notes:
His nome de guerre in Spain was "Lunigiano".

MARCHI, Emilio
Tenente
(1917-1944)
Born: 1917 in Hoboken, USA
Died: 2 Apr 1944 in Udine
Assignments:
1 Stormo in Campoformido, 1936-1938 and 1940-1944
Spanish Civil War, 1937-1938
Decoations and awards:
(3)Silver Medal Military Valour; Bronze Medal Military Valour; German Cross 2nd Class.
Notes:
He accomplished over seven hundred actions of war. On April 2, 1944, fighting against formations of Liberator in the sky of Udine, "won not by the adversary but seriously having the damaged apparatus, sacrificed his own youth throwing himself with his airplane against a Flying Fortress".

Tenente Pilota Emilio Marchi

OMICCIOLI, Enzo
Sergente Maggiore
Medaglia d'Oro
(1915-1941)
Born: 1 Jun 1915 in Fano
Dead: 3 Feb 1941 East Africa
Assignments:
410 Squadriglia, East African Campaign, 1940*
411 Squadriglia: Jul 1940
412 Squadriglia:
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour.

ROMAGNOLI, Carlo
Tenente Colonnello
Medaglia d'Oro
(1905-1941)
Born: 27 May 1905 in Napoli
Dead: 4 Sep 1941 in Malta
Assignments:
Volunteer at Spanish Civil War: 1937
10 Gruppo, 4 Stormo: 18 Sep 1940-Jan 1941
Commander 10 Gruppo, 4 Stormo*: Jan 1941-4 Sep 1941
Decorations and Awards:
Gold Medal for Military Valour

*: Flying Fiat CR 42 and later Macchi MC 200

SALA, Edoardo
Maggiore
(1913-1998)
Born: 21. Aug. 1913 in Sulina (Romania)
Died: 16. Oct. 1998 in Fresonara (Al)
Promotions:
Sotto Tenente: 1934; Tenente: 1938; Capitano: 1942; Maggiore 4. Jun. 1944.
Assignments:
Entered Scuola Ufficiali di Complemento, Milano, 1933
1st Rgt/Btg "Mondov�" 1934
Volunteer Spanish Civil War 2nd Rgt "Frecce Nere" 1937
17 Rgt. Inf. "Acqui" 1940
1.Rgt. Parachutist School in Tarquinia, Nov. 1940
185 Rgt/3.Btg." Folgore"
185 Rgt/3.Btg. "Nembo" 1942
Comandante 185.Rgt/1.Btg " Nembo" 4.Jun. 1944
Comandante Rgt. " Folgore 1944
Decorations and Awards:
(2) War Cross (1937), Bronze Medal Military Valour (1937), Silver Medal Military Valour (1937), Silver Medal Military Valour (1944), (2) Iron Cross 2nd Class (1944).

Maggiore Edoardo Sala

VISINTINI, Mario
Capitano
Medglia d'Oro
(1913-1941)
Born: 26 Apr 1913 in Parenzo d' Istria
Dead: 11 Feb 1941 in crash accident near Mount Negfasit, East Italian Africa
Promotions:
Capitano: 16 Jan 1941; Tenente: Jan 1940; Sottotenente: Dec 1936.
Assignments:
Civil Pilot License, Taliedo, Milan: Jun 1936
Recieved Military Wings: Sep 1936
Military Pilot, Grottaglie: Dec 1936
91 Squadriglia, 10 Gruppo, 4 Stormo, Gorizia: Dec 1936 - Nov 1937
Volunteer at Spanish Civil War, 25 Squadriglia, XVI Gruppo "La Cucaracha"*: Nov 1937 - Oct 1938
4 Stormo: Oct 1938 - 5 Apr 1940
413 Squadriglia, Italian East Africa: 5 Apr - 11 Jun 1940
412 Squadriglia**, Gura, Italian East Africa: 11 Jun 1940 - 11 Feb 1941
Commander 412 Squadriglia, 16 Jan 1941 - 11 Feb 1941
Decorations and Awards:
Silver Medal for Military Valour, 1938; Silver Medal for Military Valour: 29 Jul 1940; Bronze Medal for Military Valour; Gold Medal for Military Valour.
Notes
Visintini was the Italian top-scorer in East Africa Campaign of 1940-1941. The attached document to his Gold Medal states 50 combats, 16 destroyed and 32 shared destroyed. At the time of his death, had 23 victories, all of them claimed while flying biplane fighters.

*: Flying with Fiat CR 32.
**: Flying with Fiat CR 42.

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