Franco Bordoni
Encyclopedia
Franco Bordoni-Bisleri was an Italian aviator
and racing car driver. He is one of the top-scoring ace
of Regia Aeronautica
, with 19 air victories. His nickname was "Robur" ("strength" in Latin
) that was painted on most of his aircraft and racing cars.
. His grandfather was Felice Bisleri
(1851–1921) who had started and owned the family-run maker of the Ferro-China-Bisleri amaro (drink)
.
Franco studied at Collegio San Carlo (one of the most exclusive private schools in the city). By the time he had completed his studies, he had already shown himself to be a talented car driver. The young Franco was attracted to flying by the lure of the speed.
He became civil pilot (1936) but failed in his efforts to join the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica
), due to a minor nasal problem. He finally succeeded in entering the service as a temporary Sottotenente
in 1937. And he got a military aviation license that allowed him to fly combat missions in World War II
.
airfield, during the fighting against France
and was then assigned to the Italian Air Corps (Corpo Aereo Italiano
) and in October arrived in Belgium for the last part of the Battle of Britain
.
He recalled: "My first visit to Libya
was in August 1940.... I returned on 29 January 1941 when I served with 18° Gruppo (3° Stormo) until 14 August 1941."
Bordoni, who had his nickname "Robur
" (related to the family brand) painted on his plane, obtained his first air victory on 10 March 1941: flying a Fiat CR.42
for 95a Squadriglia, he shot down a Bristol Blenheim
, 100 km East of Benghazi
. On the 14 of April, still flying a CR.42, he attacked – together with some FIAT G.50 from 155° Gruppo Aut. C.T. – the Hawker Hurricane
Mk.1 from 'Fighter Squadron 73 that were bouncing the Junkers Ju 87
"Stuka" in action on Tobruk
bay. During the dogfight
, Bordoni-Bisleri downed the Hurricane flown by Pilot Officer Lamb. According to other sources, Bisleri shot down the Hurricane Mk.I V7553 "TP-E" of Flight Sergeant Herbert Garth Webster (RAF No. 519739), who was killed.
Three days later, 17 April, he claimed another Blenheim, destroyed 40 km East of Derna.
In May, while his unit was stationed in Benghazi, he was promoted to Tenente
and was awarded his first Medaglia d'argento al valore militare and the German Iron Cross
.
On 2 June he shot down two more Blenheims, on the Port of Benghazi
and 20 km off the coast, but his CR.42 was damaged by defensive fire. For these claims he was awarded his second Medaglia d'argento al valore militare.
On the evening of 28 July 1941 he and one other CR.42 took part in an attack on a British submarine south of Benghazi together with five Ju87s.
It is possible that the submarine was the HMS Union, which were claimed to have been sunk.
"In 1941 – he remembered – the CR.42 was a good aircraft, easy to fly. strong and manoeuvrable, but it lacked sufficient speed and armament. It was possible to fight Gladiators, Blenheims and Wellingtons in this aircraftt, but against other aircraft it was outclassed."
Upon returning to Italy in August of the same year, 18° Gruppo was re-equipped with Fiat G.50
. By the time they were moved to Greece, the 18° had shifted to Macchi C.200
"Saetta". But here the unit never encountered any enemy planes.
In the beginning of October 1942 the 3° Stormo pilots started to receive their first MC.202s as replacements for lost MC.200
s.
"The situation became very different – he recalled – as with this new aircraft it was possible to successfully combat Hurricanes and P40s and it was easier to intercept bombers."
The score of Bisleri started to rise. On 20 October he claimed a twin-engined bomber over Fuka. In fact, during the day a Martin Baltimore
was lost over El Daba and a Martin Maryland from 203 Squadron was also lost and it is possible that Bordoni-Bisleri’s claim matches these losses.
Six days later, on the 26th of October, Bordoni-Bisleri (83a Squadriglia, 18° Gruppo) with eleven other pilots of 3° Stormo and seven from 4° (all flying 202s ) attacked a wide formation of thirty Kittyhawks
and seventeen Spitfires covering twelve Bostons and six Baltimores, in the Fuka and Daba areas.
Bordoni-Bisleri claimed one of the Kittyhawks, which crash-landed about 15 km south-east of Fuka (Flying Officer J. G. Meredith) but according to some sources the same pilot was claimed by Tenente Vittorio Squarcia (73a Squadriglia).
Bisleri claimed another P-40, on 30 October, over El Kattara, in El Alamein
area, while returning from a reconnaissance flight.
On 1 November 1942, he and his wingman Tenente Caetani attacked 15 P-40s on the road Sidi el Barrani – Marsa Matrouh. Bordoni-Bisleri shot down two P-40s and Caetani claimed a third.
For this achievement they were awarded a Medaglia d'argento al valore militare (Bordoni-Bisleri’s third).
Three days later, 4 November, Bordoni-Bisleri, with Capitano Mario Pinna of 74a Squadriglia and Sergente Maggiore Francesco Cuscuna of 75a Squadriglia intercepted three P-40 Kittyhawks. Near their airfield at Abu Smeit, Bordoni-Bisleri shot down one of the Curtiss fighter that, moments before, had hit Pinna, forcing him to bale out badly wounded in his face and on his hands.
On 30 July 1943 some Italian pilots attacked a formation
of B-17s escorted by P-38s over Rome
. Flying his C.205, Bordoni-Bisleri shot down a B-17 (kill number 13) over Pratica di Mare, firing 800 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition
. Some sources claims that this claim was shared with Sergente Mantelli.
In two combat missions on 11 August he downed two more B-17s. The first fell in the sea, off Civitavecchia
. The second four-engine bomber was shot down from 8,500 meters and fell north-east of Bracciano
lake.
While flying one of the older MC.202s., on 19 August, he claimed a B-26 off the coast of Ostia, still near Rome. The following day he was promoted Comandante (flight commander) of 83a Squadriglia. On 21 August, still flying a C.202, he fired 630 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition at a B-17 that fell near the Pomigliano d' Arco railway station (Naples). Nine days later (30 August 1943), Bordoni, now flying again a C.205, destroyed a B-17 near Viterbo
, with 430 rounds of 20 mm and 400 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition.
He obtained his last air victory with 83a Squadriglia, in 3° Stormo, flying a C.205. On the 5th of September 1943, just three days before Italian armistice of Cassibile he shot down a B-17 Flying Fortress, off Civitavecchia
, on the Latium
coast.
Bordoni-Bisleri ended the conflict "with 19 victories with CR.42s and C.202s. Twelve were over Libya and the final seven were American bombers." Six were Curtiss P-40s and four were Blenheims.
. He went on to become one of Europe's leading amateur drivers during the 1950s. He continued to use the "Robur" logo and slogan (featuring a fighting lion
) also seen on the liquor bottles.
The debut came in 1949, driving a Fiat 1100
B in the Mille Miglia
.
In 1950 he scored his first victory in the Coppa Inter-Europa at Monza
in a Maserati A6
. He took further wins later the same year and the following, driving a Dagrada-Fiat Sport 750 at Modena
, Circuito del Castello in Teramo
and in the Coppa Ascoli at Circuito delle Caldaie.
In 1952 he won the 1.1 liter class of the Bari Grand Prix
in an O.S.C.A.
In 1953 he became Italian Sportscar Champion, driving a Gordini
T15S in which he won the Coupe de Vitesse at the Autodrome de Montlhéry
, the Trullo d'Oro at the Castellana circuit and the Pergusa
Grand Prix.
The 1954 season saw him repeat his wins of the Trullo d'Oro and the Pergusa Grand Prix as well as winning the Trieste
-Opicina
hillclimb.
During 1955 he was offered to drive for the works Maserati
team; Officine Alfieri Maserati, and got the chance to race a number of different models. He drove a Maserati 300S
in the 10 Hours of Messina, the RAC Tourist Trophy
at Dundrod
and won his second Trieste-Opicina hillclimb with it. In the Targa Florio
he had to retire with a Maserati 200S
. He had more luck with a Maserati A6GCS, that brought him his third victory in the Pergusa Grand Prix.
Bordoni continued to drive for Maserati during the following years.
His last victory came at the 1957 Grand Prix des Frontieres
.
He retired from racing in 1959 at the age of 46.
and organized by the Aero Club of Milan, of which he was President. He was flying a SIAI Marchetti F.260, with his ten years old son, Andrea, and a friend, Gianni Allegri. Near Chiavari
, in Liguria
, they met a heavy storm and the plane crashed on Mount Anchetta. His tragic demise had considerable press coverage at the time, although little was mentioned of his glorious past with the Regia Aeronautica
.
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and racing car driver. He is one of the top-scoring ace
Ace
An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
of Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
, with 19 air victories. His nickname was "Robur" ("strength" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) that was painted on most of his aircraft and racing cars.
Early life
Bordoni was born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. His grandfather was Felice Bisleri
Felice Bisleri
Felice Bisleri was an Italian pharmacist, a maker of liquor and freedom fighter under Garibaldi .Bisleri was born in Gerolanuova near Brescia...
(1851–1921) who had started and owned the family-run maker of the Ferro-China-Bisleri amaro (drink)
Amaro (drink)
Amaro is a variety of Italian herbal liqueur, commonly drunk as an after-dinner digestif. It is usually bitter and sweet, sometimes syrupy, usually with an alcohol content between 16% and 35%...
.
Franco studied at Collegio San Carlo (one of the most exclusive private schools in the city). By the time he had completed his studies, he had already shown himself to be a talented car driver. The young Franco was attracted to flying by the lure of the speed.
He became civil pilot (1936) but failed in his efforts to join the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
), due to a minor nasal problem. He finally succeeded in entering the service as a temporary Sottotenente
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
in 1937. And he got a military aviation license that allowed him to fly combat missions in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War II
When Italy entered the war in June 1940, he rejoined the Regia Aeronautica and was sent to 95a Squadriglia of 18° Gruppo, based in AlbengaAlbenga
Albenga is a city and comune situated on the Gulf of Genoa on the Italian Riviera in the Province of Savona in Liguria, northern Italy.left|thumb|220px|Towers of Albenga.The economy is mostly based on tourism, local commerce and agriculture-History:...
airfield, during the fighting against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was then assigned to the Italian Air Corps (Corpo Aereo Italiano
Corpo Aereo Italiano
The "Italian Air Corps" was an expeditionary force of the Italian Royal Air Force that participated in the Battle of Britain during the final months of 1940 during World War II. The CAI supported the German Air Force and flew against the British Royal Air Force...
) and in October arrived in Belgium for the last part of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
He recalled: "My first visit to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
was in August 1940.... I returned on 29 January 1941 when I served with 18° Gruppo (3° Stormo) until 14 August 1941."
Bordoni, who had his nickname "Robur
Robur (truck)
Robur was a marque of the Volkseigener Betrieb VEB Robur-Werke Zittau of East Germany . It mainly produced 3-ton trucks. The vehicles were produced in the town of Zittau in what now is South-East Saxony...
" (related to the family brand) painted on his plane, obtained his first air victory on 10 March 1941: flying a Fiat CR.42
Fiat CR.42
The Fiat CR.42 Falco was a single-seat sesquiplane fighter which served primarily in Italy's Regia Aeronautica before and during World War II. The aircraft was produced by the Turin firm, and entered service, in smaller numbers, with the air forces of Belgium, Sweden and Hungary...
for 95a Squadriglia, he shot down a Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
, 100 km East of Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
. On the 14 of April, still flying a CR.42, he attacked – together with some FIAT G.50 from 155° Gruppo Aut. C.T. – the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
Mk.1 from 'Fighter Squadron 73 that were bouncing the Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
"Stuka" in action on Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
bay. During the dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
, Bordoni-Bisleri downed the Hurricane flown by Pilot Officer Lamb. According to other sources, Bisleri shot down the Hurricane Mk.I V7553 "TP-E" of Flight Sergeant Herbert Garth Webster (RAF No. 519739), who was killed.
Three days later, 17 April, he claimed another Blenheim, destroyed 40 km East of Derna.
In May, while his unit was stationed in Benghazi, he was promoted to Tenente
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and was awarded his first Medaglia d'argento al valore militare and the German Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
.
On 2 June he shot down two more Blenheims, on the Port of Benghazi
Port of Benghazi
The Port of Benghazi is a major seaport in the city of Benghazi, Libya, on the Mediterranean Sea coast within the Gulf of Sidra.-History:A natural seaport, it was founded as Euesperides by the ancient Greeks of Cyrenaica in the 6th Century BC. After passing it to the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy III,...
and 20 km off the coast, but his CR.42 was damaged by defensive fire. For these claims he was awarded his second Medaglia d'argento al valore militare.
On the evening of 28 July 1941 he and one other CR.42 took part in an attack on a British submarine south of Benghazi together with five Ju87s.
It is possible that the submarine was the HMS Union, which were claimed to have been sunk.
"In 1941 – he remembered – the CR.42 was a good aircraft, easy to fly. strong and manoeuvrable, but it lacked sufficient speed and armament. It was possible to fight Gladiators, Blenheims and Wellingtons in this aircraftt, but against other aircraft it was outclassed."
Upon returning to Italy in August of the same year, 18° Gruppo was re-equipped with Fiat G.50
Fiat G.50
The Fiat G.50 Freccia was a World War II Italian fighter aircraft. First flown in February 1937, the G.50 was Italy’s first single-seat, all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to go into production...
. By the time they were moved to Greece, the 18° had shifted to Macchi C.200
Macchi C.200
The Macchi C.200 Saetta was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy, and used in various forms throughout the Regia Aeronautica . The MC.200 had excellent manoeuvrability and general flying characteristics left little to be desired...
"Saetta". But here the unit never encountered any enemy planes.
In the beginning of October 1942 the 3° Stormo pilots started to receive their first MC.202s as replacements for lost MC.200
Macchi C.200
The Macchi C.200 Saetta was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy, and used in various forms throughout the Regia Aeronautica . The MC.200 had excellent manoeuvrability and general flying characteristics left little to be desired...
s.
"The situation became very different – he recalled – as with this new aircraft it was possible to successfully combat Hurricanes and P40s and it was easier to intercept bombers."
The score of Bisleri started to rise. On 20 October he claimed a twin-engined bomber over Fuka. In fact, during the day a Martin Baltimore
Martin Baltimore
The Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States, originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was...
was lost over El Daba and a Martin Maryland from 203 Squadron was also lost and it is possible that Bordoni-Bisleri’s claim matches these losses.
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
and seventeen Spitfires covering twelve Bostons and six Baltimores, in the Fuka and Daba areas.
Bordoni-Bisleri claimed one of the Kittyhawks, which crash-landed about 15 km south-east of Fuka (Flying Officer J. G. Meredith) but according to some sources the same pilot was claimed by Tenente Vittorio Squarcia (73a Squadriglia).
Bisleri claimed another P-40, on 30 October, over El Kattara, in El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
area, while returning from a reconnaissance flight.
On 1 November 1942, he and his wingman Tenente Caetani attacked 15 P-40s on the road Sidi el Barrani – Marsa Matrouh. Bordoni-Bisleri shot down two P-40s and Caetani claimed a third.
For this achievement they were awarded a Medaglia d'argento al valore militare (Bordoni-Bisleri’s third).
Three days later, 4 November, Bordoni-Bisleri, with Capitano Mario Pinna of 74a Squadriglia and Sergente Maggiore Francesco Cuscuna of 75a Squadriglia intercepted three P-40 Kittyhawks. Near their airfield at Abu Smeit, Bordoni-Bisleri shot down one of the Curtiss fighter that, moments before, had hit Pinna, forcing him to bale out badly wounded in his face and on his hands.
On 30 July 1943 some Italian pilots attacked a formation
Formation flying
Formation flying is the disciplined flight of two or more aircraft under the command of a flight leader.Military pilots use formations for mutual defense and concentration of firepower....
of B-17s escorted by P-38s over Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Flying his C.205, Bordoni-Bisleri shot down a B-17 (kill number 13) over Pratica di Mare, firing 800 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
. Some sources claims that this claim was shared with Sergente Mantelli.
In two combat missions on 11 August he downed two more B-17s. The first fell in the sea, off Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometers west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbor is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse...
. The second four-engine bomber was shot down from 8,500 meters and fell north-east of Bracciano
Bracciano
Bracciano is a small town in the Italian region of Lazio, 30 km northwest of Rome. The town is famous for its volcanic lake and for a particularly well-preserved medieval castle Castello Orsini-Odescalchi...
lake.
While flying one of the older MC.202s., on 19 August, he claimed a B-26 off the coast of Ostia, still near Rome. The following day he was promoted Comandante (flight commander) of 83a Squadriglia. On 21 August, still flying a C.202, he fired 630 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition at a B-17 that fell near the Pomigliano d' Arco railway station (Naples). Nine days later (30 August 1943), Bordoni, now flying again a C.205, destroyed a B-17 near Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
, with 430 rounds of 20 mm and 400 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition.
He obtained his last air victory with 83a Squadriglia, in 3° Stormo, flying a C.205. On the 5th of September 1943, just three days before Italian armistice of Cassibile he shot down a B-17 Flying Fortress, off Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometers west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbor is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse...
, on the Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
coast.
Bordoni-Bisleri ended the conflict "with 19 victories with CR.42s and C.202s. Twelve were over Libya and the final seven were American bombers." Six were Curtiss P-40s and four were Blenheims.
Sports car racing
After the war, Bordoni became president of the family's liquor company and started a career in sports car racingSports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
. He went on to become one of Europe's leading amateur drivers during the 1950s. He continued to use the "Robur" logo and slogan (featuring a fighting lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
) also seen on the liquor bottles.
The debut came in 1949, driving a Fiat 1100
Fiat 1100
The Fiat 1100 is a compact automobile produced from 1937 to 1969, by the Italian car maker Fiat.- Fiat 508C Nuova Balilla 1100 :The Fiat 1100 was first introduced in 1937 as an updated version of the 508 "Balilla" with a look similar to the 1936 Fiat 500 "Topolino" and the larger 1500, with the...
B in the Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
.
In 1950 he scored his first victory in the Coppa Inter-Europa at Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
in a Maserati A6
Maserati A6
Maserati A6 were various cars made by Maserati of Italy, named for the Alfieri brothers and for the straight-six engine....
. He took further wins later the same year and the following, driving a Dagrada-Fiat Sport 750 at Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, Circuito del Castello in Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
and in the Coppa Ascoli at Circuito delle Caldaie.
In 1952 he won the 1.1 liter class of the Bari Grand Prix
Bari Grand Prix
The Bari Grand Prix was a Grand Prix road race, held in Bari, Italy, between 1947 and 1956. The course was and, except for 1956, was run in an anticlockwise direction. In 1953 the race was not contested.- Winners :-Bibliography:...
in an O.S.C.A.
O.S.C.A.
Officine Specializzate Costruzioni Automobili - Fratelli Maserati SpA was an Italian brand of sports car automobiles, usually abbreviated to O.S.C.A., OSCA or Osca.- History :...
In 1953 he became Italian Sportscar Champion, driving a Gordini
Gordini
Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956....
T15S in which he won the Coupe de Vitesse at the Autodrome de Montlhéry
Autodrome de Montlhéry
Autodrome de Montlhéry is an automobile racetrack, officially called L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, located across the towns of Linas Bruyères-le-Châtel and Ollainville, outside Paris in the southside....
, the Trullo d'Oro at the Castellana circuit and the Pergusa
Pergusa
Pergusa is a small town in Sicily. It is a frazione of Enna, the administrative seat of the same-named province.-Geography:Pergusa lies in hills about 10 km south of Enna...
Grand Prix.
The 1954 season saw him repeat his wins of the Trullo d'Oro and the Pergusa Grand Prix as well as winning the Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
-Opicina
Villa Opicina
Villa Opicina is a village in north-eastern Italy, close to the Slovenian border at Fernetti . The first town in Slovenia after the border is Sežana, which is also where the first railway station in Slovenia is located after Villa Opicina....
hillclimb.
During 1955 he was offered to drive for the works Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
team; Officine Alfieri Maserati, and got the chance to race a number of different models. He drove a Maserati 300S
Maserati 300S
The Maserati 300S was a racing car produced by Maserati of Italy between 1955-58, which competed in the FIA's World Sportscar Championship. Twenty eight examples were produced....
in the 10 Hours of Messina, the RAC Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
at Dundrod
Dundrod Circuit
Dundrod Circuit is a motorsport race track based on public roads used for the RAC Tourist Trophy for sports cars between 1950 and 1955 and for the motorcycle Ulster Grand Prix from 1953 onwards. It is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
and won his second Trieste-Opicina hillclimb with it. In the Targa Florio
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
he had to retire with a Maserati 200S
Maserati 200S
Maserati 200S were twenty-eight racing cars made by Maserati of Italy, to take over for the aging Maserati A6 GCS racing variants.The Tipo 52 development started in 1952, led by Giulio Alfieri. The car had a 1994.3 cc inline-four cylinder light-alloy engine, dual OHV per cylinder and DOHC...
. He had more luck with a Maserati A6GCS, that brought him his third victory in the Pergusa Grand Prix.
Bordoni continued to drive for Maserati during the following years.
His last victory came at the 1957 Grand Prix des Frontieres
Grand Prix des Frontières
The Grand Prix des Frontières was a motor race held at Chimay in Belgium. The race was created by Jules Buisseret, who was also responsible for the circuit's existence...
.
He retired from racing in 1959 at the age of 46.
Death
Bordoni-Bisleri lost his life in a plane crash on 15 September 1975. He was coming back from Rome after a commemoration of parachutists, attended by Pope Paul VIPope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
and organized by the Aero Club of Milan, of which he was President. He was flying a SIAI Marchetti F.260, with his ten years old son, Andrea, and a friend, Gianni Allegri. Near Chiavari
Chiavari
Chiavari is a town and comune on the Italian Riviera in the Province of Genoa, region of Liguria. It is situated near the mouth of the Entella River, in the center of a fertile plain surrounded by mountains except on the southwest, where it comes down to the Mediterranean Sea...
, in Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, they met a heavy storm and the plane crashed on Mount Anchetta. His tragic demise had considerable press coverage at the time, although little was mentioned of his glorious past with the Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
.
Awards
- Medaglia d'Oro al valor Militare (three times during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(2nd class).
Formula One World Championship results
(Races in bold indicate pole position; Races in italics indicate fastest lap)| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 1950 Formula One season The 1950 Formula One season included the inaugural FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on May 13, 1950, and ended on September 3 after 7 races... |
Enrico Platé Enrico Platé Enrico Platé was a motor racing driver and team manager. Although born in Italy, Platé raced, and latterly ran his racing team Scuderia Enrico Platé, under Swiss nationality. He began his career as a mechanic, but swiftly took to racing cars in addition to repairing them... |
Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago was a French automobile manufacturer based in Suresnes, Hauts de Seine, outside of Paris.-Origins:The Anglo-French STD combine collapsed in 1935. The French Talbot company was acquired and reorganised by a Venetian born engineer called Anthony Lago and after that, the Talbot-Lago... 700 |
Talbot Talbot Talbot was an automobile marque that existed from 1903 to 1986, with a hiatus from 1960 to 1978, under a number of different owners, latterly under Peugeot... L6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
GBR 1950 British Grand Prix The 1950 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 13 May 1950 at the Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, England. It was the fifth British Grand Prix, and the third to be held at Silverstone after motor racing resumed after World War II. It was the first round of the 1950 World... |
MON 1950 Monaco Grand Prix The 1950 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on May 21, 1950 at Monaco. This race was the second round of 1950 World Drivers' Championship. The race, contested over 100 laps at an overall distance of 318.1 km was won by Juan Manuel Fangio for the Alfa Romeo team after starting from... |
500 1950 Indianapolis 500 The 1950 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race which was held on Tuesday, May 30, 1950 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the third round of the 1950 World Drivers' Championship... |
SUI 1950 Swiss Grand Prix The 1950 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on June 4, 1950 at Bremgarten. It was the fourth round of the 1950 World Drivers' Championship.-Report:... |
BEL 1950 Belgian Grand Prix The 1950 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on June 18, 1950 at Spa-Francorchamps. It was the fifth round of the 1950 World Drivers' Championship.-Report:... |
FRA 1950 French Grand Prix The 1950 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on July 2, 1950 at Reims-Gueux. It was the sixth round of 1950 World Drivers' Championship.__FORCETOC__-Report:Fangio put in a stunning display with a 116 mph practice lap... |
ITA 1950 Italian Grand Prix The 1950 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on September 3, 1950 at Monza. It was the seventh and final event of the 1950 World Drivers' Championship... DNA |
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