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Profile image of the italian aviator Pietro Bonannini.
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.
Spoiler
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"
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3 Silver Medals, 1 Golden Medal, 1 War Cross, 10 aereal wins.
The only non pilot ace of all the Axis.
This man deserve a place in War Thunder.
Golden medal motivation:
“In una particolare azione di esplorazione, assalito da tre caccia nemici dopo averne abbattuto uno, resasi inefficiente l’arma principale di bordo, con estrema abilità e sangue freddo, smontava un’altra arma posta nel settore secondario e riportandosi nella torretta centrale azionando in condizioni difficilissime colpiva ripetutamente e metteva in fuga i rimanenti assalitori. Durante un’azione con bimotore di nuova dotazione, benché ferito alla mano destra, aggrappato alla sua arma, sventava i rabbiosi attacchi di due caccia nemici abbattendoli entrambi in fiamme. Magnifica tempra di soldato e fulgido esempio di eroismo che illumina di vivida luce le più alte vette dell’ardimento dell’Arma e della sua Specialità”
Translation:
“During a particular reconnaissance action, attacked by three enemy fighters after having shot one down, and with the main onboard weapon rendered unusable, he displayed extraordinary skill and composure by disassembling another weapon located in the secondary sector. Returning to the central turret under extremely difficult conditions, he repeatedly fired and forced the remaining attackers to flee.
During an operation with a newly assigned twin-engine aircraft, though wounded in the right hand, he clung to his weapon and repelled the furious attacks of two enemy fighters, shooting them both down in flames.
A magnificent example of a soldier’s character and a shining display of heroism, casting a vivid light on the highest peaks of courage within the Service and its Specialty.”
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