Mario Visintini

Mario Visintini, MOVM, (26 April 1913 – 11 February 1941), was the first Regia Aeronautica World War II ace. He was the top scoring pilot of all belligerent air forces in Eastern Africa (Africa Orientale) and the top biplane fighter ace of World War 2. He is credited with 16 confirmed air victories and five probable, plus the one achieved during Spanish civil war with Aviazione Legionaria. According to some authors he shot down 20 enemy aircraft. During 50 air battles, he shot down at least five Blenheim, a bigger number of Wellesley, almost certainly three Gladiator  and a Hawker Hurricane, plus 32 enemy aircraft (alone and shared with others pilots) destroyed on the airfields of  Gedaref, Gaz Regeb and Agordat. He made all his kills flying the biplane Fiat CR.42. For his skill and meticulousness was nicknamed “cacciatore scientifico” (scientific fighter pilot).

Spain
Visintini gained his military wings in September 1936. Two months later, he qualified as a military pilot at Grottaglie, Taranto, on Breda 25s and Fiat CR.20s. With the rank of Sottotenente, he was posted to the 91a Squadriglia, 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, at, Gorizia, on North-East of Italy. Here he trained on CR.30s and CR.32s.

In November 1937, Visintini volunteered for service in the Spanish Civil War. He was atttached to 25a Squadriglia of XVI° Gruppo "La Cucaracha", then equipped with Fiat CR.32s

He claimed a Russian I-16 over Venta de los Camposines on 5 September 1938.

Eastern Africa
Few days before Italy declared war, on 10 June 1940, Visintini was transferred to 412a Squadriglia. This unit had, in its ranks, a good number of ex 4° Stormo pilots and - after only one year of operations - produced five aces. On 14 June 1940, four days after Italy entered World war II, Visintini claimed his first kill. He intercepted a pair of Wellesleys from 14 Squadron bound to bomb Massawa and shot down the aircraft K7743, flown by Pilot Officer Reginald Patrick Blenner Plunkett: the first of  his 16 air victories in Eastern Africa. Visintini shot down another Wellesley (L2652), from 14 Squadron, during a reconnaissance flight on Decameré, on 3 July (according to other authors, on 4 July), flown by 26 year old Flight Officer Samuel Gustav Soderholm (RAF No. 40194) that was killed in the crash.

During the month of July he shot down several aircraft but the number and the dates are unknown. On 6 November the British forces in Sudan launched an offensive against Italian fort of Gallabat and Metemma, that were was just across the border. The CR.42s led by Capitano Raffi  and "ace" Mario Visintini from 412a Squadriglia clashed with the Gladiators of 1 SAAF Squadron and shot down 24-year-old Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Howard Savage (RAF no. 37483) (L7614), Pilot Officer Kirk (K7969), forcing  Pilot Officer J. Hamlyn to crash-land his aircraft (L7612). Meanwhile Major Schalk van Schalkwyk (N5855) of 1 SAAF Squadron was attacked by Fiat biplanes that put his plane in flames and forced him to bale out  but he did not survive.. Captain Brian Boyle took off to van Schalkwyk’s assistance but was himself immediately attacked and wounded and he had to crash land. That day, around midday, another flight of Gladiators was intercepted, while trying to attack Caproni Ca.133s bombers and Flying Officer Haywood (K7977) was hit and crashed in flames. South Africans claimed to have shot down two Fiat, but only Sottotenente Rosmino's aircraft was hit and he returned with his parachute pack riddled with bullets. Two or three of these victories were credited to Capitano Visintini.

On 12 December, five CR.42s of 412a Squadriglia and a Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79 attacked the airstrip of Gaz Regeb, base of 237 Squadron B Flight. They destroyed four Hawker Hardy (K4053, K4308, K4055 and K4307) parked on the ground, but the Sudan Defence Force defending the base hit the Fiat of Capitano Antonio Raffi, that was forced to land to the east of Aroma. Visintini landed and helped Raffi aboard, flying back to Barentù base. The day of his last victory was the day of his death. On 11 February 1941, Visintini claimed a Hurricane, over Keren, probably a plane from 1 SAAF Squadron that had 11 fighters on patrol, that day. Two of the British planes clashed with Fiat CR.42s, then the Hurricane of Lieutenant S. de K. Viljoen was forced to land. Visintini, landed on his airfield, refuelled and took off again, searching for his faithful wingman, Luigi Baron (an ace with a score of 12 kills, at the end of the war), that had been forced down by a storm. But Visintini's Fiat crashed on Mount Nefasit, Eritrea, because of the same foul weather.

All of Visintini air victories are unofficial, as up to date there isn’t any official confirmed listing of Italian aces. His successes, his charm and his demise during a gallant attempt to help his camerades, made Visintini a legend at the time. In 1942 a volume of the series Eroi della nostra guerra (Heroes of ours war), intitled Il Pilota solitario (The lonely Pilot) was dedicated to him.

Awards
Visintini was awarded a Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare (Gold Medal of Military Valor), one of Argento (Silver) and one of Bronzo (Bronze).