Luigi Gorrini

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Luigi Gorrini (born July 12, 1917 in Alseno , Piacenza province , † November 8, 2014 in Fiorenzuola d'Arda ) was one of the most successful Italian fighter pilots of World War II . Although there is documentation confirming 24 personal aerial victories, only 19 have been officially recognized by the Italian Air Force and others have been "collectivized" (i.e. awarded to his unit).

Life

Luigi Gorrini joined the Regia Aeronautica in 1937 and then became a non-commissioned officer . In 1939 he was trained at the fighter pilot school in Castiglione del Lago ( Umbria ) and then came to the 3º Stormo , a fighter squadron, where he flew obsolete Fiat CR.42 biplanes . With these aircraft he fought against French aircraft in the summer of 1940 and then from Belgium against British aircraft, but without success.

In 1941 and 1942 Gorrini fought, again with CR.42 biplanes, in North Africa, where he managed to shoot down a British Bristol Beaufighter over Tripoli . In 1943 he first flew the modern Macchi MC.202 and then the more powerful Macchi MC.205 , with which he was used with success, especially during the Battle of Tunisia and then in the defense of Naples and Rome . From January to August 1943 he shot down at least twelve enemy fighter planes. In late August, he was seriously wounded in an aerial battle and received medical treatment for several months.

After Italy had concluded an armistice with the Allies on September 8, 1943 after the deposition and arrest of Benito Mussolini ( Armistice of Cassibile ), Gorrini decided in December to continue on the side of the Germans as part of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) to fight against the Allies. He came to the 1st ANR squadron in Lagnasco near Cuneo , which was equipped with the Macchi MC.205 and was under the command of Adriano Visconti . In the following months he achieved four more confirmed aerial victories. Via Udine he saved the life of the German fighter pilot Wilhelm Steinmann in a fight against the American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt . On June 15, 1944, Sergeant Gorrini was shot down by this type of fighter aircraft and seriously wounded. He could no longer fly until the end of the war. From 1940 to 1944 Gorrini was shot down four times and seriously wounded twice. In these four years he was involved in 182 air battles and shot down a total of 24 enemy aircraft. 19 kills were officially confirmed.

After the war, Gorrini served in the re-established Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) until 1979 . Because this emerged from the Aeronautica Cobelligerante Italiana (ACI or ICBAF) fighting on the Allied side , his military achievements were not recognized until 1958 in the form of the highest Italian military order, but only for the period up to September 8, 1943. In contrast to the Pilots who had fought as non-commissioned officers on the Allied side, Gorrini was not promoted to officer after the war . It was only when he retired from active service that he was promoted to lieutenant in the reserve.

After the war, Gorrini organized regular meetings of the ANR pilots on Lake Garda , in which German pilots also took part. a. Wilhelm Steinmann, Adolf Galland and Eduard Neumann .

Luigi Gorrini lived with his wife in his birthplace Alseno in the province of Piacenza.

Awards

See also

Web links