It is appropriate to say it, the one accomplished by a handful of men of the Aeronautica Regia in the aftermath of the armistice, the “leak“From Decimomannu to Sardinia to return to the continent, it was a unique undertaking of its kind. The exceptional protagonist of this story, the Italian hunting ace Adriano Visconti That, Together with two other combat drivers, the second lieutenant Giovanni Sajeva, Sergeant Domenico Laiolo, decided not to leave “none” behind.
Only three hunting planes
The three aircraft in question, three single -seater hunting Macchi C.205 Veltro Modified for conducting photographic observation missions, they were the evolution of the Macchi C.202 Folgore, of which most of the cell and equipment kept unchanged, but equipped with a more powerful Daimler-Benz engine. The Veltro had entered service in April 1943, and was the first Italian hunting to bring the aeronautical director in the condition of confronting “equal“With the opposing hunt, although the conditions of overwhelming numerical inferiority had already begun to clearly mark the fate of the conflict.
Last mission of the Hunting-Observatories team commanded by Visconti, was given September 7 and had the objective to monitor the unfolding of the allied operations between Tunisia and Sicily. The armistice with the allies ratified in great secret a Cassibile on 3 Septemberbut officially communicated only 8, he had thrown the chaos into the hierarchical line, and in complete absence of precise orders from the Ministry of the Air Force of Rome and his direct superior, Visconti was decided that the only thing he could and had to do, was to bring the planes and men who had been placed under his command at the base, and of which he was in any case responsible.
Captain Visconti, who just a few months earlier had raised himself from the coasts of Africa, earning the possibility together with the pilot and Aegean friend Fioroni continue fightingflying low on the sea for Holding the enemy huntwith the companion of arms crammed into the passenger compartment and the letters of those who could not return to their homeland and were instead ready to serve the imprisonment. He will think about the way to bring his specialists with him.
During the night, all that could be removed from the three Veltro to gain space and weight is removed: the seats, the protective battleships, the ammunition and even the delicate e precious cameras Zeiss RB. 50 × 30 with 500mm focal that weigh at least 80. Of the 12 men of the direction who are in Decimanannu, 11 embark on the three hunting. The pilot sits directly on a second that acts as a “session” in the passenger compartment. Two others are careful emptied fuselage. On the ground only the Marshal Magnaghi will remain, to keep the photographic equipment. So, in the aftermath, at the first light of dawn, Visconti is found for the second flies to turn low, and this time not with one, but with 3 passengers exceptional.
A reckless flight to the continent divided from 8 September
The Squadron of Fuggiasci prepared by Visconti moves in free formation to reduced speed and speed. A route follows that provides more land than sea, if a makeshift landing is necessary. From Dacimomannuextreme south of Sardinia, the three fighters fly over the whole Ichnusacross the mouths of Bonifacio, reach Corsica focus on Bastia. From there they face the Tyrrhenian Sea, and once reached the continent, after flying over the Elba and Grosseto, they correct south, up to the port of Civitavecchia, to finally approach the base of the base of Guidonia. Where, precisely in the summer of ’43, the 310th Aerofotographic Squadron Caccia placed under the command of Visconti.
THE’landing It will be all easy. The planes risk going off the track twice, Visconti himself, who must try two landings, will stop in a hangar that fortunately was empty, in dismay of those present Which with immense surprise I see the comrades that were not exactly expected out of the fuselage.
A hunting pilot, until the end
The rest of the story is known to most. As we know the Italian ace welcomed the “Botto call“By joining theRepublican National Air Force which remained faithful to the Duce and opponent of the allies until 1945. With the rank of major, Visconti will get the command of the 1st hunting group “Ace of sticks”, patrolling the skies of northern Italy and hiring, albeit in small group, the formations of Anglo-American bombers sent to destroy what remained of the Italian war industry and the moral of the civilian population. Among the 10 victories that were credited to him, there are those who support were more than double, three fearsome heavy double drift hunts will also find a place P-38 Lightning of the American air force.
Unbeaten in the skies, Adriano Visconti came
found by death the April 29, 1945when he went to the Barracks of the Savoy Cavalry in Milan, instead of treating the surrender with the compatriot opponents, he was assassinated by the partisans. He was 29 years old.