Posted by: jedi

Message:

I've read about the Macchi fighters from time to time. They look nice, they flew good, they'd be welcome additions to WB I reckon.

But I don't think I've ever read anything about the Italian aces. Everybody can name a German, American, British ace or two, although I reckon not too many guys can name more than one Japanese ace.

So who were the Italian aces? Which planes did they fly? Surely not that biplane Fiat thing???

:-) jedi

Posted by: -kosa- F/Lt RAF 303 Sqn (Polish)

Message:

: So who were the Italian aces? Which planes did they fly? Surely not that biplane Fiat thing???

Here's the top four from a list I have:

Adriano Visconti 25

Teresio Martinoli 22

Leonardo Ferrulli 21

Franco Lucchini 21

I am sure the Italian guys can add a few more names to this list :)

-kosa-

Posted by: 4° Stormo Home Page

Message:

: I am sure the Italian guys can add a few more names to this list :)

Sure!

Cap. Mario Visintini - 16 (32)

Ten. Luigi Giannella - 12 (14)

Cap. Claudio Solaro - 10 (14)

Cap. Emanuele Annoni - 9 (10)

Ten. Antonio Canfora - 7 (2)

Magg. Ettore Foschini - 7

Ten. Orlando Mandolini - 7 (2)

Cap. Clizio Nioi - 7 (8)

Cap. Furio Niclot Doglio - 6

Cap. Giorgio Tugnoli - 6

Ten. Livio Bassi - 6

M.llo Pietro Bianchi - 5 (5)

M.llo Francesco Pecchiari - 5

Cap. Carlo Ruspoli - 5 (1)

Ten. Carlo Seganti - 5

The numbers within brackets are those victories attributed "collectively" following an use in the Regia Aeronautica until 1942 to not emphasize the figure of the "ace" and to favour the attribution of individial victorie to the whole unit rather than to the single pilot...a strange behaviour reversed only in 1943, when even money prizes were awarded to the pilots for the downinh of enemy planes!

The data are extracted from the official listing of WW2 Italian aces preserved by the Historical Branch of the Italian Air Force.

Concerning the names you quoted here are a few amendments:

Serg.Magg. Teresio Martinoli - 22 (14)

S.Ten. Leonardo Ferrulli - 21 (10)

Cap. Franco Lucchini - 21 (52)

About Magg. Adriano Visconti, recently his score has been studied and revised and the total of confirmed victories reduced to 10.

Note: all of these victories are subject to corrections and amendments if each of them should be studied in depht... like those of many other aces of other nations, of course.

Hope this helps... L'E' BUNA !

_/_/_/_/

_/ Ferdinando 'veltro' D'Amico

_/_/_/'PR' of 4° Stormo Caccia

_/e-mail: f.damico(at)texnet.it

_/