Mario Visintini
Encyclopedia
Mario Visintini, MOVM
, (26 April 1913 – 11 February 1941), was the first Regia Aeronautica
World War II ace. He was the top scoring pilot of all belligerent air forces in Eastern Africa (Africa Orientale) and the top biplane fighter ace of World War 2.
He is credited with 16 confirmed air victories and five probable, plus the one achieved during Spanish civil war with Aviazione Legionaria
. According to some authors
he shot down 20 enemy aircraft.
During 50 air battles, he shot down at least five Blenheim
, a bigger number of Wellesley
, almost certainly three Gladiator
and a Hawker Hurricane
, plus 32 enemy aircraft (alone and shared with others pilots) destroyed on the airfields of Gedaref, Gaz Regeb and Agordat
. He made all his kills flying the biplane
Fiat CR.42
.
For his skill and meticulousness was nicknamed “cacciatore scientifico” (scientific fighter pilot).
s. With the rank of Sottotenente, he was posted to the 91a Squadriglia, 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, at, Gorizia, on North-East of Italy. Here he trained on CR.30s and CR.32s.
In November 1937, Visintini volunteered for service in the Spanish Civil War. He was atttached to 25a Squadriglia of XVI° Gruppo "La Cucaracha", then equipped with Fiat CR.32s
He claimed a Russian I-16 over Venta de los Camposines on 5 September 1938.
and shot down the aircraft K7743, flown by Pilot Officer Reginald Patrick Blenner Plunkett: the first of his 16 air victories in Eastern Africa. Visintini shot down another Wellesley (L2652), from 14 Squadron, during a reconnaissance flight on Decameré, on 3 July (according to other authors, on 4 July), flown by 26 year old Flight Officer Samuel Gustav Soderholm (RAF No. 40194) that was killed in the crash.
During the month of July he shot down several aircraft but the number and the dates are unknown. On 6 November the British forces in Sudan launched an offensive against Italian fort of Gallabat and Metemma, that were was just across the border. The CR.42s led by Capitano Raffi and "ace" Mario Visintini from 412a Squadriglia clashed with the Gladiators of 1 SAAF Squadron and shot down 24-year-old Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Howard Savage (RAF no. 37483) (L7614), Pilot Officer Kirk (K7969), forcing Pilot Officer J. Hamlyn to crash-land his aircraft (L7612). Meawhile Major Schalk van Schalkwyk (N5855) of 1 SAAF Squadron was attacked by Fiat biplanes that put his plane in flames and forced him to bale out but he did not survive.. Captain Brian Boyle took off to van Schalkwyk’s assistance but was himself immediately attacked and wounded and he had to crash land. That day, around midday, another flight of Gladiators was intercepted, while trying to attack Caproni Ca.133s bombers and Flying Officer Haywood (K7977) was hit and crashed in flames. South Africans claimed to have shot down two Fiat, but only Sottotenente Rosmino's aircraft was hit and he returned with his parachute pack riddled with bullets. Two or three of these victories were credited to Capitano Visintini.
On 12 December, five CR.42s of 412a Squadriglia and a Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 attacked the airstrip of Gaz Regeb, base of 237 Squadron B Flight. They destroyed four Hawker Hardy (K4053, K4308, K4055 and K4307) parked on the ground, but the Sudan Defence Force defending the base hit the Fiat of Capitano Antonio Raffi, that was forced to land to the east of Aroma. Visintini landed and helped Raffi aboard,
flying back to Barentù
base. The day of his last victory was the day of his death. On 11 February 1941, Visintini claimed a Hurricane, over Keren
, probably a plane from 1 SAAF Squadron that had 11 fighters on patrol, that day. Two of the British planes clashed with Fiat CR.42s, then the Hurricane of Lieutenant S. de K. Viljoen was forced to land. Visintini, landed on his airfield, refuelled and took off again, searching for his faithful wingman, Luigi Baron (an ace with a score of 12 kills, at the end of the war), that had been forced down by a storm. But Visintini's Fiat crashed on Mount Nefasit, Eritrea, because of the same foul weather.
All of Visintini air victories are unofficial, as up to date there isn’t any official confirmed listing of Italian aces.
His successes, his charm and his demise during a gallant attempt to help his camerades, made Visintini a legend at the time. In 1942 a volume of the series Eroi della nostra guerra (Heroes of ours war), intitled Il Pilota solitario (The lonely Pilot) was dedicated to him.
), one of Argento (Silver
) and one of Bronzo (Bronze
).
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
, (26 April 1913 – 11 February 1941), was the first 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...
World War II ace. He was the top scoring pilot of all belligerent air forces in Eastern Africa (Africa Orientale) and the top biplane fighter ace of World War 2.
He is credited with 16 confirmed air victories and five probable, plus the one achieved during Spanish civil war with Aviazione Legionaria
Aviazione Legionaria
The Legionary Air Force was an expeditionary corps from the Italian Royal Air Force. It was set up in 1936 and sent to provide logistical and tactical support to Francisco Franco's Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War, alongside its German equivalent, the Condor Legion, and the Italian ground...
. According to some authors
he shot down 20 enemy aircraft.
During 50 air battles, he shot down at least five 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...
, a bigger number of Wellesley
Vickers Wellesley
The Vickers Wellesley was a British 1930s light bomber built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands near Weybridge, Surrey, for the Royal Air Force...
, almost certainly three Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
and a 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...
, plus 32 enemy aircraft (alone and shared with others pilots) destroyed on the airfields of Gedaref, Gaz Regeb and Agordat
Agordat
Agordat is a city in Eritrea. It was the former capital of the now defunct Barka Province of Eritrea .- Overview :...
. He made all his kills flying the biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
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 his skill and meticulousness was nicknamed “cacciatore scientifico” (scientific fighter pilot).
Spain
Visintini gained his military wings in September 1936. Two months later, he qualified as a military pilot at Grottaglie, Taranto, on Breda 25s and Fiat CR.20Fiat CR.20
|-See also:-References:* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York:Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8....
s. With the rank of Sottotenente, he was posted to the 91a Squadriglia, 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, at, Gorizia, on North-East of Italy. Here he trained on CR.30s and CR.32s.
In November 1937, Visintini volunteered for service in the Spanish Civil War. He was atttached to 25a Squadriglia of XVI° Gruppo "La Cucaracha", then equipped with Fiat CR.32s
He claimed a Russian I-16 over Venta de los Camposines on 5 September 1938.
Eastern Africa
Few days before Italy declared war, on 10 June 1940, Visintini was transferred to 412a Squadriglia. This unit had, in its ranks, a good number of ex 4° Stormo pilots and - after only one year of operations - produced five aces. On 14 June 1940, four days after Italy entered World war II, Visintini claimed his first kill. He intercepted a pair of Wellesleys from 14 Squadron bound to bomb MassawaMassawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
and shot down the aircraft K7743, flown by Pilot Officer Reginald Patrick Blenner Plunkett: the first of his 16 air victories in Eastern Africa. Visintini shot down another Wellesley (L2652), from 14 Squadron, during a reconnaissance flight on Decameré, on 3 July (according to other authors, on 4 July), flown by 26 year old Flight Officer Samuel Gustav Soderholm (RAF No. 40194) that was killed in the crash.
During the month of July he shot down several aircraft but the number and the dates are unknown. On 6 November the British forces in Sudan launched an offensive against Italian fort of Gallabat and Metemma, that were was just across the border. The CR.42s led by Capitano Raffi and "ace" Mario Visintini from 412a Squadriglia clashed with the Gladiators of 1 SAAF Squadron and shot down 24-year-old Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Howard Savage (RAF no. 37483) (L7614), Pilot Officer Kirk (K7969), forcing Pilot Officer J. Hamlyn to crash-land his aircraft (L7612). Meawhile Major Schalk van Schalkwyk (N5855) of 1 SAAF Squadron was attacked by Fiat biplanes that put his plane in flames and forced him to bale out but he did not survive.. Captain Brian Boyle took off to van Schalkwyk’s assistance but was himself immediately attacked and wounded and he had to crash land. That day, around midday, another flight of Gladiators was intercepted, while trying to attack Caproni Ca.133s bombers and Flying Officer Haywood (K7977) was hit and crashed in flames. South Africans claimed to have shot down two Fiat, but only Sottotenente Rosmino's aircraft was hit and he returned with his parachute pack riddled with bullets. Two or three of these victories were credited to Capitano Visintini.
On 12 December, five CR.42s of 412a Squadriglia and a Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 attacked the airstrip of Gaz Regeb, base of 237 Squadron B Flight. They destroyed four Hawker Hardy (K4053, K4308, K4055 and K4307) parked on the ground, but the Sudan Defence Force defending the base hit the Fiat of Capitano Antonio Raffi, that was forced to land to the east of Aroma. Visintini landed and helped Raffi aboard,
flying back to Barentù
Barentu
Barentu may refer to:* Barentu, Eritrea is a town in Eritrea.* Barentu is a moiety of the Oromo people....
base. The day of his last victory was the day of his death. On 11 February 1941, Visintini claimed a Hurricane, over Keren
Keren, Eritrea
Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea. It is situated about 91 kilometers northwest of Asmara. The town serves as the capital of the Anseba region, and is home to the Bilen ethnic group.-History:...
, probably a plane from 1 SAAF Squadron that had 11 fighters on patrol, that day. Two of the British planes clashed with Fiat CR.42s, then the Hurricane of Lieutenant S. de K. Viljoen was forced to land. Visintini, landed on his airfield, refuelled and took off again, searching for his faithful wingman, Luigi Baron (an ace with a score of 12 kills, at the end of the war), that had been forced down by a storm. But Visintini's Fiat crashed on Mount Nefasit, Eritrea, because of the same foul weather.
All of Visintini air victories are unofficial, as up to date there isn’t any official confirmed listing of Italian aces.
His successes, his charm and his demise during a gallant attempt to help his camerades, made Visintini a legend at the time. In 1942 a volume of the series Eroi della nostra guerra (Heroes of ours war), intitled Il Pilota solitario (The lonely Pilot) was dedicated to him.
Awards
Visintini was awarded a Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare (Gold Medal of Military ValorGold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
), one of Argento (Silver
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...
) and one of Bronzo (Bronze
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...
).