- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
Born in Olbia in 1919, Pietro Bonannini was recalled to the ranks of the Regia Aeronautica as an airman of choice after Italy’s entry into the war in 1940, and was assigned to the 170th Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron stationed in Sardinia.
On 25 October 1941, Bonannini carried out his first shoot-down as gunner of a CANT Z.506 against a British Hurricane. Three months later Bonannini made his second shoot-down against a Spitfire, and after his fame began to grow he was also called upon to star in a propaganda film (Ali d’Argento) in his eponymous role as a machine-gunner.
A week after the second shoot-down Bonannini exceptionally shot down a Spitfire and seriously damaged another, and a few months later he also won a victory against a Bristol-Blenheim, and until 1943 Pietro continued his activity by increasing the number of shoot-downs until a forced convalescence due to a wound found after a too-close encounter against a Blenheim.
After the war, Bonannini continued his work as a civil pilot, only to be killed in 1961 during a plane crash near Frosinone with a former colleague.
Bonannini had the honour of being the only non-pilot airman qualified as an ace in the entire Regia Aeronautica.
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.
Spoiler
Pietro Bonannini - Wikipedia
https://www.gd15.it/spariamo-accurati-ricordate/
https://www.olbia.it/pietro-bonannini-eroe-olbiese-coraghju-terranoa-dalli-a-su-furisteri
“Il cacciatore del re” by Federico Frezzan
“Storie di Ali Tricolori. 4 assi della Regia” by Orazio Ferrara"