Image kindly provided by Eugenio Costigliolo.

Paolo Arcangeletti was born on 1 March 1912.

He received his permanent commission on 5 October 1936.

He took command of the 84^a Squadriglia of the 4^o Stormo C.T. on 13 April 1937, when the previous commander Capitano Ernesto Botto went to Spain to take part in the Civil War.

On 1 May 1937, Tenente Roberto Fassi took command of the 84^a Squadriglia, 4^o Stormo, after Tenente Arcangeletti.

On 10 June 1937, Tenente Arcangeletti took command of the 96^a Squadriglia after Capitano Marco Minio Paluello.

On 8 July 1937, Sottotenente Vittorio Pezzè took command of the 96^a Squadriglia after Tenente Arcangeletti.

Arcangeletti volunteered for service in Spain in July 1937.

He served with the XXIII Gruppo and the 31^a Squadriglia of the VI Gruppo. The 31^a Squadriglia was commanded by Capitano Borgogno and the VI Gruppo was commanded by Maggiore Leotta.

At around noon on 20 August 1937 he claimed a ’Curtiss’ (I-15) over Selaya on the Santander front.

During the winter of 1937-38 he served in 32^a Squadriglia of the VI Gruppo.

On 12 October, the Republican Air Force intervened heavily to support International battalions and tanks in an attempt to break through the enemy lines at Fuentes del Ebro.
At 07:30, ten CR.32s of the 31^a Squadriglia (Capitano Luigi Borgogno) and eight of the 32^a (Capitano Ernesto Botto), VI Gruppo, took off from Alfàmen to patrol the area over Fuentes del Ebro. Each Squadriglia was split in two, so the four patrols were led respectively by Borgogno, Tenente Alessio Neri (31^a Squadriglia) at 3,500 meters while Botto (“white 3-1” no. 623) and Tenente Edoardo Molinari (32^a Squadriglia) flew at 5,000 meters.
Over Mediana at 07:55, they spotted six (alternatively nine) Tupolev SB “Katiuskas”, escorted by 25 (alternatively 40) fighters; I-15s near the bombers and I-16 at a higher altitude (the fighters were in fact 13 Polikarpov I-15s of 1. Escuadrilla and 19 I-16s of 2. and 6. Escuadrillas, mostly piloted by Russians. Borgogno waved the wings to warn his pilots and then climbed to 4000 meters to gain an advantage. The Republicans were to pass unaware below them, but over Lerida, before Borgogno could order the attack, a pilot (it seems that it was Tenente Neri) suddenly dived on them, followed by the three of his patrol. Soon the I-15s turned into them. Borgogno had no other choice than to intervene to help his pilots. In the fray, two CR.32s flown by Tenente Neri and Sergente Maggiore Ugo Corsi collided, and both pilots parachuted. Sottotenente Roberto Boschetto (“Boscarelli”) was hit and made an emergency landing with his damaged fighter. A “Curtiss” was destroyed and another was damaged. Then, Sottotenente Francis Leoncini also was shot down and parachuted.
Botto, meanwhile, kept cool enough to stay above and watch the “Ratas”. As the CR.32s were overwhelming the I-15s, the I-16s dived to intervene, but at this point Botto jumped them from 5,000 meters. Botto destroyed a “Rata” and dispersed the others, before being hit at his right thighbone by an explosive bullet. He nevertheless managed to reach Sanjurjo and land but the limb had to be amputated. In the combat, Arcangeletti claimed two additional I-16s while Sergente Maggiore Giuseppe Rigolli was shot down and killed.
It seems that two I-16s of 6. Escuadrilla were lost, one was shot down with the loss of the pilot while the other crash-landed. Russian pilots piloted both I-16s. One I-15 of 1. Escuadrilla piloted by a Spanish pilot, crash-landed in friendly territory.
Boschetto, Leoncini and Corsi were captured and returned home after the war. Neri, who tried to defend himself by shooting at his captors with his handgun, was captured, prosecuted and executed on 16 December 1937. Botto, Neri and Rigolli were decorated with the Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare (Italy's highest military award) after this combat, the last two of them posthumously.

Arcangeletti is also credited with a number of shared victories during the Spanish Civil War.

On 20 October 1939, he was promoted to Capitano.

During the Greek campaign he initially served as commander over 354^a Squadriglia (equipped with Fiat G.50bis), before becoming commander over 395^a Squadriglia (Fiat G.50bis) and then 393^a Squadriglia of the 160^o Gruppo (Fiat CR.42s)

On 19 November 1940, 'B' Flight of 80 Squadron, which recently had arrived to Greece to reinforce the Greek fighter forces, flew up to Trikkala during the morning. After refuelling, nine Gladiators took off, led by three Greek PZL P.24s, for an offensive patrol over the Koritza area. Squadron Leader William Hickey led the Gladiators.
When they neared the Italian airfield at Koritza the PZLs were obliged to turn back due to their short range. The Gladiators flew over Koritza were Italian anti-aircraft opened up. Flight Lieutenant 'Pat' Pattle, who were leading the second section, sighted four Fiat CR.42s climbing towards them from the starboard beam.
It had been arranged beforehand that the Gladiators would not use their radiotelephones unless it was absolutely essential, because they had discovered in the desert that the CR.42s used a similar wavelength; by listening in to the Gladiators, the Italians received prior information of an attack. Pattle warned Hickey of the presence of the CR.42s simply by diving past the Commanding Officer's section and pointing his Gladiator towards the Italian aircraft. Hickey acknowledged that he understood by waggling his wing and Pattle withdrew to his position at the head of his section.
As Hickey’s section dived towards the four CR.42s, Pattle noticed a second group of two more CR.42s and took his section, consisting of Pilot Officer 'Heimar' Stuckey and Sergeant Charles Casbolt, to engage these. Pattle went for the leading CR.42, which attempted to evade the attack by diving steeply and slipping from side to side. Pattle followed, closing in rapidly, but he didn't fire until the CR.42 straightened out and thereby offered a steadier target. From 100 yards astern, he lined up the CR.42 in his sight and opened fire. The CR.42 steepened its dive; the pilot had apparently been hit, because he fell forward over the control column. Pattle pulled away, as the CR.42 went straight down to crash about two miles west of Koritza, bursting into flames on striking the ground. Stuckey, following close behind Pattle's Gladiator, smiled and gave a thumbs-up signal to Pattle signifying confirmation of the victory.
The two Gladiators, now completely alone, climbed up to 15,000 feet immediately over the airfield, and saw a dogfight in progress a few miles to the north. Heading in that direction, they were soon engaged by five CR.42s and two G.50s. One of the G.50s came at Pattle in a head-on attack, but broke away much to early, the tracers passing yards below the Gladiator. A CR.42 had a go next, but Pattle quickly snap-rolled, up and over the Italian aircraft, and came down perfectly in position fifty yards behind the CR.42. A short burst and the cockpit of the CR.42 became a mass of flames and it fell away burning furiously. After this combat he noticed that his air pressure were so low that he couldn't fire his guns and he soon returned to base.
80 Squadron had been involved in combat with Fiat CR.42s of 160^o Gruppo Autonomo C.T., which were patrolling over this area, and with G.50bis from 24^o Gruppo Autonomo C.T., which were escorting bombers in the same area.
Totally in this combat the British pilots claimed nine and two probables shot down. Apart from Pattle's two CR.42s, Stuckey claimed one G.50, which crashed, and one CR.42, Flight Lieutenant 'Shorty' Graham claimed one G.50 and one CR.42, Pilot Officer S. G. Cooper claimed one shared CR.42 with Pilot Officer William Vale, who also claimed one additional CR.42, Sergeant Charles Casbolt claimed one G.50 and finally Flying Officer Sidney Linnard claimed two CR.42s as probables.
In the combat was Stuckey hit and wounded in the right shoulder and leg, but managed to get back to Trikkala from where he would be despatched to hospitals in Athens.
Three CR.42s and one G.50bis were actually lost. In 160^o Gruppo Sergente Maggiore Natale Viola (363^a Squadriglia), Maresciallo Giuseppe Salvadori (363^a Squadriglia) and Sergente Maggiore Arturo Bonato (393^a Squadriglia) all failed to return, as did Tenente Attilio Meneghel of 355^a Squadriglia, 24^o Gruppo. A fourth CR.42 flown by Sergente Maggiore Walter Ratticchieri was hit and the pilot was wounded in both legs. One CR.42 pilot, Sergente Maggiore Luciano Tarantini, claimed a Gladiator shot down, two more being claimed as probables, one by Capitano Arcangeletti, the other by a G.50bis pilot.

At 10.30 on 21 December 1940 80 Squadron took off from Yanina for the front in Greece. They were led by Squadron Leader William Hickey and flew in three sections. The first comprised four aircraft and was led by Hickey, the second of three was led by Flight Lieutenant "Pat" Pattle and the third trio was led by Flying Officer Sidney Linnard.
Near Argyrokastron three enemy trimotor bombers were seen. They were identified as S.79s, and then three more aircraft with twin tails were seen, recognised in this case as Fiat BR.20s. All six were in fact Cant Z.1007bis aircraft from the 47^o Stormo B.T. from Grottaglie. The Italian bombers were attacked by the Gladiators and Pattle believed that he had hit one.
At this moment however 15 CR.42s of the 160^o Gruppo appeared on the scene. Maggiore Oscar Molinari, the Gruppo commander, was leading these Italian aircraft on an offensive reconnaissance over Yanina, Paramythia and Zitsa. Seeing the bombers under attack by an estimated 20 Gladiators, the Italian attacked, joined by other aircraft from the 150^o Gruppo so that 80 Squadron pilots assessed the number of their opponents at 54!
After 25 minutes the air battle broke up and eight of the British pilots returned to claim eight confirmed and three probables. Pilot Officer 'Bill' Vale claimed three, one of them in flames. Sergeant Charles Casbolt claimed one, which blew up and another, which spun down (later down-graded to a probable). Sergeant Donald Gregory claimed another two, again one in flames, but his own aircraft was badly shot up and he was wounded in the right eye. He however managed to return to Yanina. Pattle and Flight Sergeant S. A. Richens also claimed one CR.42 each, Pattle reporting that his victim fell in flames, whilst Flying Officers W. B. Price-Owen and F. W. Hosken both claimed probables. However Flying Officer A. D. Ripley in N5854 was seen to be shot down in flames and killed, while Squadron Leader Hickey was spotted bailing out of N5816; sadly his parachute caught fire, and he died from injuries soon after reaching the ground. Greek troops recovered the bodies of both pilots. Flying Officer Sidney Linnard's aircraft (N5834) was also badly hit and he was hit in the left calf by an explosive bullet and was taken to hospital after landing at Yanina.
In return the 160^o Gruppo pilots claimed six Gladiators, two each by Maggiore Molinari and Tenente Edoardo Crainz (in CR.42 '394-7'), and one apiece by Tenente Eber Giudici and Capitano Arcangeletti. Probables were claimed by Tenente Torquato Testerini, Sergente Maggiore Francesco Penna and Sergente Maggiore Domenico Tufano. The 150^o Gruppo pilots claimed two more Gladiators in collaboration, while 47^o Stormo gunners claimed one more and a probable. As in the case of the British fighters, actual Italian losses totalled only two aircraft, Tenente Mario Gaetano Carancini and Tenente Mario Frascadore of the 160^o Gruppo being lost, while Maggiore Molinari was wounded in the right foot and force-landed near Tepelene with a damaged engine.

Later in the war he served as commander of the 160^a Squadriglia.

During the war, he was decorated with three Medaglie d'argento al valor militare, the Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare, Croce al merito di guerra (twice), Medaglia commemorativa della campagna di Spagna, Medaglia commemorativa della campagna di Albania and Medaglia di benemerenza per i volontari della guerra Spagna.

Archangeletti continued to serve in the Italian Air Force after the war.

Arcangeletti ended the war with at least 4 biplane victories and a total of 5.

He passed away in Rimini, Italy, in December 1996.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1937
1	20/08/37		1	I-15	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Selaya	31a Squadriglia
2	12/10/37	07:55-	1	I-16 (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Mediana	31a Squadriglia
3	12/10/37	07:55-	1	I-16 (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Mediana	31a Squadriglia
	1940
	19/11/40		1	Gladiator (b)	Probable	Fiat CR.42		Koritza area	393a Squadriglia
?	21/12/40		1	Gladiator (c)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Argyrokastron area	393a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: At least 4 destroyed, 1 probable.
TOTAL: 5 destroyed, 1 probable.
(a) Claimed in combat with I-16s from 2. and 6. Escuadrillas, which lost two aircraft. VI Gruppo claimed three I-16s.
(b) In this combat 160^o Gruppo Autonomo C.T. claimed one and one probable Gladiator while 24^o Gruppo Autonomo C.T. claimed one probable. 80 Squadron got one Gladiator flown by Flying Officer 'Heimar' Stuckey damaged and the pilot was wounded.
(c) In this combat 80 Squadron claimed 8 and 3 probables while the 160^o Gruppo C.T. lost 2 aircraft and 1 one force-landed. Regia Aeronatica claimed 9 and 4 probables while 80 Squadron lost 2 aircraft and 2 damaged.

Sources:
Ace of Aces: M T StJ Pattle - E C R Baker, 1992 Crécy Books, Somerton, ISBN 0-947554-36-X
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Ali in Spagna - Giuseppe Federico Ghergo and Angelo Emiliani, kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Ali nella tragedia - Giulio Lazzati, 1970 Mursia, Milan, ISBN 88-425-2132-9, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999
Aviatori Italiani - Franco Pagliano, 1964 Longanesi Milano, kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Aviobrigada X - Alfredo Lagoluso, 2001 no. 97, 98 and 99 of Storia Militare (October-December 2001), kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Guerra di Spagna e Aviazione Italiana - Ferdinando Pedriali, 1992 USSMA, Rome, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Il 23^o Gruppo Caccia - Nicola Malizia, 1974 Bizzarri, Roma, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Le giovani aquile – Antonio Trizzino, 1972 Longanesi Milano, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Quelli del Cavallino Rampante - Antonio Duma, 1981 Editore Dell'Ateneo, Roma, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Wings Over Spain - Emiliani Ghergo, 1997 Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milano
Additional information kindly provided by Alfredo Logoluso.