Guido Fibbia
Encyclopedia
Guido Fibbia was an Italian Second World War fighter pilot
in the Regia Aeronautica
and in the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
.
He was credited with 9 enemy planes shot down flying with biplanes Fiat C.R.32, Fiat C.R.42 and monoplanes Macchi C.200
, C.202, C.205, Fiat G.50
, G.55 and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109
.
He was decorated with two Silver Medal of Military Valor
(Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare), one Bronze Medal of Military Valor
(Medaglia di Bronzo al Valor Militare), one Croce di Guerra
and one German Iron Cross
2nd Class.
on 1 October 1917. During his youth he cultivated his passion for flying making models of gliders with his brothers.
When he was 17, he joined the Regia Aeronautica
(Royal Air Force) and became Pilota militare (military pilot) of the Fiat C.R.20 on 31 January 1936 in Aviano
.
Between June and July 1936, in Mirafiori (Torino), he got the qualification for Fiat C.R.32 (367^ Squadriglia)
and Fiat C.R.42 (368^Squadriglia).
On 17 September 1937, as a volunteer, he embarked on the ship "Domine" bound for Spain
to fight
the Spanish Civil War
.
), he was assigned to a newly formed squadron, the 33^ Squadriglia Autonoma Caccia bombardamento, equipped with Fiat C.R.32, flying over the Cordova
front.
During this war he was credited with 3 aerial victories in 87 combat missions which earned him one Silver Medal of Military Valor
(Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare) and one Bronze Medal of Military Valor
(Medaglia di Bronzo al Valor Militare).
After almost ten months of war campain, on 16 July 1938, he left Spain. When he arrived in Italy, he was assigned to 365^ Squadriglia of 53°Stormo.
and Great Britain
started, he performed his first missions from Caselle
(Torino) and Albenga
.
In September 1940 he moved to 95^ Squadriglia 18° Gruppo 3° Stormo, and in October he flew with Corpo Aereo Italiano
during the Battle of Britain
.
He operated escort missions from Ursel base (Belgium
) engaging several dogfights with English Supermarine Spitfires.
On 11 November 1940 he crashlanded in the vicinity of Cassel (France
).
and on 14 April, during an escort mission on Junkers Ju87 over Tobruk
, he shot down an English Hurricane and damaged another.
Between August and September 1941 he got the qualification for monoplanes Fiat G.50
and Macchi C.200
.
During winter 1941-42 he escorted convoys between Italy
and Greece
and in summer 1942, with 85^ Squadriglia 18° Gruppo, he went to Libya
again to perform
escort missions and as well as bombing missions of armored vehicles.
During the final months of 1942 and the first six months of 1942, he was trained to fly Macchi C.202.
In June 1942 he flew as a ferry pilot to transfer captured Dewoitine D.520
fighters from France to Italy, for Italian home defence.
At the beginning of summer 1943, he was given one of the three new Macchi C.205
"Veltro" assigned to "3°Stormo" (the other two were alloted to the aces
Franco Bordoni
and Luigi Gorrini
).
with four-engine Boeing B-17 bombers (the flying fortresses), escorted by Lockheed P-38 fighters.
On 28 and 29 August he shot down two P-38. On 30 August, still flying with a Macchi C.205,
he shot down a B-17 flying fortress ( his war flight-log reports how many rounds of ammunition were used: 580 rounds of 12.7mm and 390 rounds of 20mm ammunition).
, where he was assigned to 2 Squadriglia of 1°Gruppo Caccia "Asso di bastoni" in defence of the cities of northern Italy from the attacks of the Allied forces.
On 2 April 1944 he got the qualification on Fiat G.55
and on 12 May he fought against a B-17 formation.
On 22 June, 1st and 2nd Gruppo, in the area between Bologna
and Ferrara
, attacked together 400 Consolidated B-24 Liberator escorted by 60 P-38 Lightning
, which had as their target the station of Parma
.
Flying with a Macchi C.205
, he shot down one P-38 flown by Lieutenant Tolmie of the 97th Fighter Squadron (he bailed out and taken prisoner) and damaged two, firing 400 rounds of 20mm ammunition.
On 26 July, he took off again, flying a Fiat G.55
, to intercept an Allied bombers formation
escorted by P-47 Thunderbolt
over the area of Mantova-Verona
.
He engaged a low-altitude dogfight against 5 Thunderbolts shooting down one.
This is the last aerial victory obtained by Maresciallo Fibbia. At the end of November, in Holzkirchen
airport (Germany
), he was trained on German Messerschmitt Me109-G10 with which he flew his last war missions.
The last sortie was reported on 17 April 1945.
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
in 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...
and in the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
thumb|250px|Wing emblem of the A.N.R. from 1944 to 1945.The National Republican Air Force was the air force of the Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Air Force in northern Italy.-Description:This air force was tasked with defending the industrial areas of...
.
He was credited with 9 enemy planes shot down flying with biplanes Fiat C.R.32, Fiat C.R.42 and monoplanes 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...
, C.202, C.205, 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...
, G.55 and the German Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
.
He was decorated with two Silver Medal of Military Valor
Silver Medal of Military Valor
The Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
(Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare), one Bronze Medal of Military Valor
Bronze Medal of Military Valor
The Bronze Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on March 26, 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold and Silver Medals for Military valor...
(Medaglia di Bronzo al Valor Militare), one Croce di Guerra
Croce di Guerra
The Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare is an Italian decoration for military valour.- Past recipients :* Edouard Izac, Lieutenant, United States Navy* Douglas MacArthur, General, United States Army...
and one 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....
2nd Class.
Early life
Guido Fibbia was born in TrevisoTreviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
on 1 October 1917. During his youth he cultivated his passion for flying making models of gliders with his brothers.
When he was 17, he joined 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...
(Royal Air Force) and became Pilota militare (military pilot) of the Fiat C.R.20 on 31 January 1936 in Aviano
Aviano
Aviano is a town and comune of province of Pordenone at the foot of the Dolomites mountain range in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy.-History:...
.
Between June and July 1936, in Mirafiori (Torino), he got the qualification for Fiat C.R.32 (367^ Squadriglia)
and Fiat C.R.42 (368^Squadriglia).
On 17 September 1937, as a volunteer, he embarked on the ship "Domine" bound for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to fight
the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
Spain
When he arrived in Tablada (SevilleSeville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
), he was assigned to a newly formed squadron, the 33^ Squadriglia Autonoma Caccia bombardamento, equipped with Fiat C.R.32, flying over the Cordova
Cordova
-Places:*Cordova, Alabama, USA*Cordova, Alaska, USA*Cordova, Cebu, Philippines*Cordova, Illinois, USA*Cordova, Maryland, USA*Cordova, Nebraska, USA*Cordova, New Mexico, USA*Cordova, South Carolina, USA*Cordova, Tennessee, USA*Córdoba, Argentina...
front.
During this war he was credited with 3 aerial victories in 87 combat missions which earned him one Silver Medal of Military Valor
Silver Medal of Military Valor
The Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
(Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare) and one Bronze Medal of Military Valor
Bronze Medal of Military Valor
The Bronze Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on March 26, 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold and Silver Medals for Military valor...
(Medaglia di Bronzo al Valor Militare).
After almost ten months of war campain, on 16 July 1938, he left Spain. When he arrived in Italy, he was assigned to 365^ Squadriglia of 53°Stormo.
2nd World War
When the war against FranceFrance
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 Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
started, he performed his first missions from Caselle
Caselle
Caselle may refer to the following places in Italy:*Caselle, Italy, a subdivision of San Zeno Naviglio in the province of Brescia*Caselle in Pittari, town and commune in the province of Salerno*Caselle Landi, in the province of Lodi...
(Torino) and Albenga
Albenga
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:...
.
In September 1940 he moved to 95^ Squadriglia 18° Gruppo 3° Stormo, and in October he flew with 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...
during 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 operated escort missions from Ursel base (Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) engaging several dogfights with English Supermarine Spitfires.
On 11 November 1940 he crashlanded in the vicinity of Cassel (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...
).
North Africa and Greece
In January 1941 he was sent to LibyaLibya
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....
and on 14 April, during an escort mission on Junkers Ju87 over 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 ....
, he shot down an English Hurricane and damaged another.
Between August and September 1941 he got the qualification for monoplanes 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...
and 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...
.
During winter 1941-42 he escorted convoys between Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and in summer 1942, with 85^ Squadriglia 18° Gruppo, he went 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....
again to perform
escort missions and as well as bombing missions of armored vehicles.
During the final months of 1942 and the first six months of 1942, he was trained to fly Macchi C.202.
In June 1942 he flew as a ferry pilot to transfer captured Dewoitine D.520
Dewoitine D.520
The Dewoitine D.520 was a French fighter aircraft that entered service in early 1940, shortly after the opening of World War II. Unlike the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, which was at that time the Armée de l'Airs most numerous fighter, the Dewoitine D.520 came close to being a match for the latest...
fighters from France to Italy, for Italian home defence.
At the beginning of summer 1943, he was given one of the three new Macchi C.205
Macchi C.205
The Macchi C.205 Veltro was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, the Macchi C.205 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine...
"Veltro" assigned to "3°Stormo" (the other two were alloted to the aces
ACeS
ACeS is a regional satellite telecommunications company based in Jakarta, Indonesia. It offers GSM-like satellite telephony services to Asian market. The coverage area includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China and India. The company operates the Garuda 1...
Franco Bordoni
Franco Bordoni
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" that was painted on most of his aircraft and racing cars.-Early life:Bordoni was born in Milan...
and Luigi Gorrini
Luigi Gorrini
Luigi Gorrini, MOVM, is a former Italian World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana....
).
Defence of Rome
At the end of August 1943, the Allied forces carried out massive air strikes over RomeRome
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...
with four-engine Boeing B-17 bombers (the flying fortresses), escorted by Lockheed P-38 fighters.
On 28 and 29 August he shot down two P-38. On 30 August, still flying with a Macchi C.205,
he shot down a B-17 flying fortress ( his war flight-log reports how many rounds of ammunition were used: 580 rounds of 12.7mm and 390 rounds of 20mm ammunition).
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
After the Cassibile armistice, on December 1943, he joined the Aeronautica Nazionale RepubblicanaAeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
thumb|250px|Wing emblem of the A.N.R. from 1944 to 1945.The National Republican Air Force was the air force of the Italian Social Republic during World War II, closely linked with the German Air Force in northern Italy.-Description:This air force was tasked with defending the industrial areas of...
, where he was assigned to 2 Squadriglia of 1°Gruppo Caccia "Asso di bastoni" in defence of the cities of northern Italy from the attacks of the Allied forces.
On 2 April 1944 he got the qualification on Fiat G.55
Fiat G.55
The Fiat G.55 Centauro was a single-engine single-seat World War II fighter aircraft used by the Regia Aeronautica and the A.N.R. in 1943-1945. It was designed and built in Turin by Fiat. The Fiat G.55 was probably the best type produced in Italy during World War II, but it did not enter...
and on 12 May he fought against a B-17 formation.
On 22 June, 1st and 2nd Gruppo, in the area between Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, attacked together 400 Consolidated B-24 Liberator escorted by 60 P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
, which had as their target the station of Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
.
Flying with a Macchi C.205
Macchi C.205
The Macchi C.205 Veltro was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, the Macchi C.205 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine...
, he shot down one P-38 flown by Lieutenant Tolmie of the 97th Fighter Squadron (he bailed out and taken prisoner) and damaged two, firing 400 rounds of 20mm ammunition.
On 26 July, he took off again, flying a Fiat G.55
Fiat G.55
The Fiat G.55 Centauro was a single-engine single-seat World War II fighter aircraft used by the Regia Aeronautica and the A.N.R. in 1943-1945. It was designed and built in Turin by Fiat. The Fiat G.55 was probably the best type produced in Italy during World War II, but it did not enter...
, to intercept an Allied bombers formation
escorted by P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
over the area of Mantova-Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
.
He engaged a low-altitude dogfight against 5 Thunderbolts shooting down one.
This is the last aerial victory obtained by Maresciallo Fibbia. At the end of November, in Holzkirchen
Holzkirchen
Holzkirchen is a market town in Bavaria, Germany. With a population of over 16,000 it is the largest town in the Miesbach district.Holzkirchen is located on the Alpenvorland in the county of Miesbach. It was established as a Markt in the 13th century....
airport (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), he was trained on German Messerschmitt Me109-G10 with which he flew his last war missions.
The last sortie was reported on 17 April 1945.
Awards
- Two Silver Medal of Military ValorSilver Medal of Military ValorThe Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
(Medaglia d'Argento al V.M.) - One Bronze Medal of Military ValorBronze Medal of Military ValorThe Bronze Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on March 26, 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold and Silver Medals for Military valor...
(Medaglia di Bronzo al V.M.) - One Croce di GuerraCroce di GuerraThe Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare is an Italian decoration for military valour.- Past recipients :* Edouard Izac, Lieutenant, United States Navy* Douglas MacArthur, General, United States Army...
- One German 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