Ugo Drago
Ugo Drago (born March 3, 1915 in Arborio , † April 22, 2007 in Rome ) was an Italian fighter pilot of World War II . The figures for the aerial victories he achieved vary between 11 and 17. Recently published US and Italian documents confirm 25 kills, making him the third most successful Italian fighter pilot of World War II after Franco Lucchini and Adriano Visconti .
Life
Drago acquired a civil pilot's license in 1938 and then joined the Regia Aeronautica that same year , where he became a fighter pilot in 1939. During the war he first flew Fiat CR.42 biplanes , then the more modern Macchi MC.202 and also the German Messerschmitt Bf 109G . On June 9, 1943, he was shot down by a Supermarine Spitfire near Pantelleria after he himself shot down two fighters of this type. He was able to save himself with the parachute .
After an armistice with the Allies came into force on September 8, 1943 , Drago decided to continue fighting on the German side as part of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana . He commanded a squadron that was equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighters. Drago was the first ANR pilot to fly the Bf 109K-4. Some of his pilots were earmarked for training on the Messerschmitt Me 262 , but that did not happen. For the leadership of his squadron he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from the German side on April 6, 1945 .
After the war, Ugo Drago initially worked as a test pilot at Fiat , then as a consultant and trainer for the Argentine Air Force. From 1953 to 1973 he was a pilot for the Italian airline Alitalia . He died in Rome at the age of 92.
See also
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Drago, Ugo |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian pilot in World War II |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 3, 1915 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Arborio , Italy |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 22, 2007 |
| Place of death | Rome |