Mario Visintini
Mario Visintini (born April 26, 1913 in Parenzo , Istria , in today's Croatia ; † February 11, 1941 near Keren , Eritrea ; actually Ven. Mario Visentin ) was an Italian fighter pilot of World War II . 17 personal aerial victories were confirmed to him.
Life
After completing his school education, Visintini wanted to pursue an officer and pilot career with the Regia Aeronautica , but he was rejected in the selection process for medical reasons. After he had acquired a civil pilot's license near Milan in 1936 , the Italian Air Force accepted him as a temporary officer candidate and granted him a military pilot's license after training in Grottaglie . Then he came to the 4º Stormo , a fighter squadron, which at the time was based in Gorizia in northern Italy . Visintini briefly took part in the Spanish Civil War, where he shot down a Soviet fighter plane.
Visintini was taken on as a career officer at the beginning of 1940 and transferred to Italian East Africa . There he fought with outdated biplanes against the Commonwealth forces from June and achieved 16 confirmed aerial victories, others were "collectivized" according to the procedure of the Italian Air Force, ie assigned to his unit. On December 12, 1940 Visintini took part with his squadron in an attack on the airfield of Gaz Regeb, in the course of which his squadron captain had to make an emergency landing . Visintini landed next to him and took him back to Asmara in his single-seat Fiat CR.42 . A few days later, Visintini was given command of the squadron (412ª Squadriglia) as a captain . Further attacks on enemy airfields followed, with several British aircraft devastated.
In early 1941 Visintini took part in the Battle of Keren with his squadron . After some Italian pilots made an emergency landing near the city due to a storm on February 11, 1941, Visintini returned to the scene to accompany them to their base. He probably got off course because of the strong wind and flew into Mount Nefasit in poor visibility. He was posthumously awarded the highest Italian military order. The Rivolto military airfield near Udine is named after Visintini.
See also
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Visintini, Mario |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian pilot in World War II |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 26, 1913 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Parenzo |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 11, 1941 |
| Place of death | Eritrea |