Profile image of the Italian ace Teresio Vittorio Martinoli

ImportantSimone5 · October 3, 2024, 5:24pm

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Profile image of the Italian ace Teresio Vittorio Martinoli.

History.

Teresio Vittorio Martinoli was born in Novara in March 1917 on the outbreak of the Great War. He showed an interest in aviation from a young age but had to give up his studies to begin supporting his family after the death of his father. In 1937 he finally succeeded in obtaining a license for unpowered gliders, and the following year he also obtained a license for powered aircraft. On the rise of international tensions, Martinoli was called to arms in 1939 and attended pilot school at the Ghedi military airport, and after school he was placed in the 53rd Wing with the rank of pilot sergeant and then moved to base in Sicily. A few days after the start of hostilities between Italy and the Allied powers Martinoli achieved his first aerial victory (unconfirmed but well witnessed by himself) against a French Potez bomber while aboard his Fiat C.R.42. He scored two more victories aboard this plane, then was repatriated to Italy to train to fly the Macchi C.202. Martinoli also flew several shoot-downs with this plane until he was assigned to Sicily in 1943 to use the new Macchi C.205s against the American bombers that were clearing the island. Shortly before the September 8 armistice Martinoli scored another victory aboard the C.205, and he later decided to join the ranks of the Cobelligerent Air Force. While serving with the Southern Kingdom he carried out his last shoot-down (a Junker 52) before losing his life in an accident on August 25, 1944 while practicing aboard a controversial Bell P-39 Aircobra.
A posthumous gold medal of remembrance was dedicated to him, adding to the two silver medals for valor and the second class iron cross he had been awarded.

Pictures.

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