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Teresio Vittorio Martinoli

March 17, 2024

Teresio Vittorio Martinoli, MOVM, (26 March 1917 – 25 August 1944) was an Italian World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (ICBAF). During the war, he fought over Libya and Tunisia, in North Africa, on Malta, and was involved in the defence of the Italian mainland. Martinoli has been credited with 22 air victories and 14 shared destroyed in 276 sorties. Flying the Fiat C.R.42 biplane and Macchi C.202 and C.205 monoplanes, he shot down: a Gloster Gladiator, Bristol Blenheims, Hawker Hurricanes, Curtiss P-40s, Spitfires, a P-38 Lightning, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and a Junkers Ju 52, the last after the Armistice of Cassibile.

Teresio Vittorio Martinoli
Born(1917-03-26)26 March 1917
Novara, Italy
Died25 August 1944(1944-08-25) (aged 27)
AllegianceItaly
Service/branchRegia Aeronautica
Aeronautica Militare Italiana
Years of service1938 – 1944
RankSergente Maggiore
Unit366ª Squadriglia, 151° Gruppo, 53° Stormo (RA); 384ª Squadriglia, 157° Gruppo; 78ª Squadriglia, 13° Gruppo, 2° Stormo; 9° Gruppo, 4° Stormo
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsMedaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare
Medaglia d’Argento al Valor Militare
German Iron Cross second class

He lost his life in a flying accident on 25 August 1944, while converting from the C.205 to the P-39 Airacobra.[1]

Before World War II edit

Martinoli gained a glider pilot's licence in 1937. The following year, he was enlisted in the Regia Aeronautica, and after a military flying course at Ghedi, was assigned to 366ª Squadriglia of 151° Gruppo (53°Stormo) with the rank of Sergente Pilota.[2] Subsequently, he was posted to the 384ª Squadriglia, 157° Gruppo, stationed in Trapani, Sicily.[2]

Theatres of war edit

North Africa edit

He claimed his first air victory, just three days after Italy entered the war, on 13 June 1940. His apparent first victim was a bomber, most probably a French Potez 630, shot down over Tunis, while flying his Fiat CR.42. This encounter is unverified from any other source however Martinoli's own log book has a precise attesting entry in it.[3] Then he was posted to 78ª Squadriglia, 13° Gruppo of 2° Stormo and on 13 October he claimed a Gloster Gladiator (most probably from No. 112 Squadron RAF), while escorting a Savoia-Marchetti S.79, to Mersa Matruh, Egypt. Having transferred to 4° Stormo, Martinoli claimed a Bristol Blenheim shot down in the Bardia, Libya zone on 5 January 1941.[3]

Malta edit

After he had transferred to 4° Stormo (which became his permanent unit), in autumn 1941 Martinoli flew fighter sweeps over Malta, from Comiso in Sicily. Flying the Macchi C.202, in just two months, he claimed three Hurricanes (two on 19 October 1941) and a Blenheim. Still over Malta, he was credited with the destruction of three Spitfires (plus one probable) between 4 and 16 May 1942.[4] Back in North Africa, during the Battle of Bir Hacheim, on 9 June 1942, he shot down two P-40 fighters and damaged a third.[5] On 29 June, in Marsa Matruh area, along with three more 73ª Squadriglia Macchi C.202s, he attacked a formation of 12 P-40s, downing a Curtiss fighter (while his fellow pilots shot down two more).[6] Martinoli's final kill in the North Africa theatre was over El Daba on 23 October 1942. Officially, this was identified as a Bell P-39 Airacobra but was more likely a Curtiss Kittyhawk from No. 260 Squadron RAF.[3]

Home Defence edit

During the summer of 1943, he took part in the defence of Sicily and Italy.

On 4 July, he claimed a P-38 Lightning and a shared Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress over Sicily.

Aeronautica Co-Belligerante edit

After the armistice of 8 September, he joined the Aeronautica Co-Belligerante (Co-Belligerent Air Force), fighting alongside the Allies. He flew, with other 4° Stormo pilots, sorties to Yugoslavia, attacking the German Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe. He shot down a Junkers Ju 52/3m over Podgorica, on 1 November 1943, after a dogfight with two Messerschmitt Bf 109s. It was his last air victory.

He was killed in a flying accident on 25 August 1944, at Campo Vesuvio air base, while training on one of the second-hand Bell P-39s that had just been delivered to the Co-Belligerent Air Force.[7]

Awards edit

Martinoli was posthumously awarded the Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare (Gold Medal of Military Valor). He had been previously decorated with two silver medals and the German Iron Cross Second Class.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Dimensione Cielo 1972, p. 65.
  2. ^ a b Massimello and Apostolo 2000, p. 48.
  3. ^ a b c Massimello and Apostolo 2000, p. 59
  4. ^ Massimello and Apostolo 2000, p. 59.
  5. ^ Duma 2007, p. 288.
  6. ^ Duma 2007, p. 299.
  7. ^ Dimensione Cielo 1972, p. 78.

Bibliography edit

  • "Caccia Assalto 3." Dimensione Cielo Aerei italiani nella 2° guerra mondiale (in Italian). Rome: Edizioni Bizzarri, 1972.
  • Duma, Antonio (2007). Quelli del Cavallino Rampante – Storia del 4º Stormo Caccia Francesco Baracca (in Italian). Roma: Aeronautica Militare – Ufficio Storico.
  • Lioy, Vincenzo. Gloria senza allori (in Italian). Roma: Associazione Arma Aeronautica, 1953.
  • Lazzati, Giulio. Ali nella tragedia (in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 1970.
  • Lazzati, Giulio. I soliti Quattro gatti (in Italian). Milano: Mursia, 1965.
  • Massimello, Giovanni (July 2001). "Teresio Martinoli, l'as discret" [Teresio Martinoli, the Quiet Ace]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (100): 31–34. ISSN 1243-8650.
  • Massimello, Giovanni and Giorgio Apostolo. Italian Aces of World War Two. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 978-1-84176-078-0.
  • Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1.
  • Palermo, Michele, Eagles over Gazala - air battles on North Africa May–June 1942, Roma: IBN Editore, 2014. ISBN 88-7565-168-X.
  • Pesce, Giuseppe and Giovanni Massimello. Adriano Visconti Asso di guerra (in Italian). Parma: Albertelli editore s.r.l., 1997.
  • Sgarlato, Nico. C.202 Lo chiamavano il Macchi (in Italian). Parma: Delta Editrice, 2008.
  • Sgarlato, Nico. "Macchi Folgore" (in Italian). Aerei Nella Storia 1998 (8): 8-20. Parma, Italy: West-Ward sas.
  • Shores, Christopher. Air Aces. Greenwich, CT: Bison Books, 1983. ISBN 0-86124-104-5.

External links edit

  • Italian biplane fighter aces - Teresio Martinoli
  • Scheda sul sito dell'ANPI
  • Motivazione del conferimento della M.O.V.M. da quirinale.it

March 17, 2024
teresio, vittorio, martinoli, movm, march, 1917, august, 1944, italian, world, fighter, pilot, regia, aeronautica, italian, belligerent, force, icbaf, during, fought, over, libya, tunisia, north, africa, malta, involved, defence, italian, mainland, martinoli, . Teresio Vittorio Martinoli MOVM 26 March 1917 25 August 1944 was an Italian World War II fighter pilot in the Regia Aeronautica and in the Italian Co Belligerent Air Force ICBAF During the war he fought over Libya and Tunisia in North Africa on Malta and was involved in the defence of the Italian mainland Martinoli has been credited with 22 air victories and 14 shared destroyed in 276 sorties Flying the Fiat C R 42 biplane and Macchi C 202 and C 205 monoplanes he shot down a Gloster Gladiator Bristol Blenheims Hawker Hurricanes Curtiss P 40s Spitfires a P 38 Lightning a Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress and a Junkers Ju 52 the last after the Armistice of Cassibile Teresio Vittorio MartinoliBorn 1917 03 26 26 March 1917Novara ItalyDied25 August 1944 1944 08 25 aged 27 AllegianceItalyService wbr branchRegia Aeronautica Aeronautica Militare ItalianaYears of service1938 1944RankSergente MaggioreUnit366ª Squadriglia 151 Gruppo 53 Stormo RA 384ª Squadriglia 157 Gruppo 78ª Squadriglia 13 Gruppo 2 Stormo 9 Gruppo 4 StormoBattles warsSecond World WarAwardsMedaglia d Oro al Valor MilitareMedaglia d Argento al Valor Militare German Iron Cross second classHe lost his life in a flying accident on 25 August 1944 while converting from the C 205 to the P 39 Airacobra 1 Contents 1 Before World War II 2 Theatres of war 2 1 North Africa 2 2 Malta 3 Home Defence 4 Aeronautica Co Belligerante 5 Awards 6 Notes 7 Bibliography 8 External linksBefore World War II editMartinoli gained a glider pilot s licence in 1937 The following year he was enlisted in the Regia Aeronautica and after a military flying course at Ghedi was assigned to 366ª Squadriglia of 151 Gruppo 53 Stormo with the rank of Sergente Pilota 2 Subsequently he was posted to the 384ª Squadriglia 157 Gruppo stationed in Trapani Sicily 2 Theatres of war editNorth Africa edit He claimed his first air victory just three days after Italy entered the war on 13 June 1940 His apparent first victim was a bomber most probably a French Potez 630 shot down over Tunis while flying his Fiat CR 42 This encounter is unverified from any other source however Martinoli s own log book has a precise attesting entry in it 3 Then he was posted to 78ª Squadriglia 13 Gruppo of 2 Stormo and on 13 October he claimed a Gloster Gladiator most probably from No 112 Squadron RAF while escorting a Savoia Marchetti S 79 to Mersa Matruh Egypt Having transferred to 4 Stormo Martinoli claimed a Bristol Blenheim shot down in the Bardia Libya zone on 5 January 1941 3 Malta edit After he had transferred to 4 Stormo which became his permanent unit in autumn 1941 Martinoli flew fighter sweeps over Malta from Comiso in Sicily Flying the Macchi C 202 in just two months he claimed three Hurricanes two on 19 October 1941 and a Blenheim Still over Malta he was credited with the destruction of three Spitfires plus one probable between 4 and 16 May 1942 4 Back in North Africa during the Battle of Bir Hacheim on 9 June 1942 he shot down two P 40 fighters and damaged a third 5 On 29 June in Marsa Matruh area along with three more 73ª Squadriglia Macchi C 202s he attacked a formation of 12 P 40s downing a Curtiss fighter while his fellow pilots shot down two more 6 Martinoli s final kill in the North Africa theatre was over El Daba on 23 October 1942 Officially this was identified as a Bell P 39 Airacobra but was more likely a Curtiss Kittyhawk from No 260 Squadron RAF 3 Home Defence editDuring the summer of 1943 he took part in the defence of Sicily and Italy On 4 July he claimed a P 38 Lightning and a shared Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress over Sicily Aeronautica Co Belligerante editAfter the armistice of 8 September he joined the Aeronautica Co Belligerante Co Belligerent Air Force fighting alongside the Allies He flew with other 4 Stormo pilots sorties to Yugoslavia attacking the German Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe He shot down a Junkers Ju 52 3m over Podgorica on 1 November 1943 after a dogfight with two Messerschmitt Bf 109s It was his last air victory He was killed in a flying accident on 25 August 1944 at Campo Vesuvio air base while training on one of the second hand Bell P 39s that had just been delivered to the Co Belligerent Air Force 7 Awards editMartinoli was posthumously awarded the Medaglia d oro al Valor Militare Gold Medal of Military Valor He had been previously decorated with two silver medals and the German Iron Cross Second Class Notes edit Dimensione Cielo 1972 p 65 a b Massimello and Apostolo 2000 p 48 a b c Massimello and Apostolo 2000 p 59 Massimello and Apostolo 2000 p 59 Duma 2007 p 288 Duma 2007 p 299 Dimensione Cielo 1972 p 78 Bibliography edit Caccia Assalto 3 Dimensione Cielo Aerei italiani nella 2 guerra mondiale in Italian Rome Edizioni Bizzarri 1972 Duma Antonio 2007 Quelli del Cavallino Rampante Storia del 4º Stormo Caccia Francesco Baracca in Italian Roma Aeronautica Militare Ufficio Storico Lioy Vincenzo Gloria senza allori in Italian Roma Associazione Arma Aeronautica 1953 Lazzati Giulio Ali nella tragedia in Italian Milano Mursia 1970 Lazzati Giulio I soliti Quattro gatti in Italian Milano Mursia 1965 Massimello Giovanni July 2001 Teresio Martinoli l as discret Teresio Martinoli the Quiet Ace Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 100 31 34 ISSN 1243 8650 Massimello Giovanni and Giorgio Apostolo Italian Aces of World War Two Oxford Osprey Publishing 2000 ISBN 978 1 84176 078 0 Neulen Hans Werner In the Skies of Europe Ramsbury Marlborough UK The Crowood Press 2000 ISBN 1 86126 799 1 Palermo Michele Eagles over Gazala air battles on North Africa May June 1942 Roma IBN Editore 2014 ISBN 88 7565 168 X Pesce Giuseppe and Giovanni Massimello Adriano Visconti Asso di guerra in Italian Parma Albertelli editore s r l 1997 Sgarlato Nico C 202 Lo chiamavano il Macchi in Italian Parma Delta Editrice 2008 Sgarlato Nico Macchi Folgore in Italian Aerei Nella Storia 1998 8 8 20 Parma Italy West Ward sas Shores Christopher Air Aces Greenwich CT Bison Books 1983 ISBN 0 86124 104 5 External links editItalian biplane fighter aces Teresio Martinoli Scheda sul sito dell ANPI Motivazione del conferimento della M O V M da quirinale it Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Teresio Vittorio Martinoli amp oldid 1189758266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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