Osvaldo Bartolozzi was born in Mansura (Egitto), Libya, on 12 March 1915.

He was commissioned as a reserve Sottotenente pilot on 19 August 1938.

Bartolozzi took part in the East African campaign of 1940-41, where he served with 410^a Squadriglia, which was equipped with Fiat CR.32s.

When the war started in East Africa on 10 June 1940, the 410^a Squadriglia was equipped with nine Fiat CR.32s and based at Diredawa. Pilots in the unit were Colonnello Mario Pezzi, Capitano Corrado Ricci, Tennete Elio Pesce, Sottotenente Vincenzo Forcheri, Sottotenente Alberto Veronese, Sottotenente Bartolozzi, Sergente Maggiore Antonio Giardinà, Sergente Maggiore Enzo Omiccioli, Sergente Maggiore Alberto Puliti, Sergente Maggiore Athos Tieghi, Sergente Giovanni Tellurio and Sergente Ugo Zoino.

On 31 October 1940, he claimed his first victory when he claimed a Blenheim over Aiscia.
This claim has not been possible to verify with Commonwealth records.

In December 1940 he was loaned to the 413^a Squadriglia, equipped with Fiat CR.42s.

On the evening of 29 December 1940, four Hurricanes of ‘B’ Flight, 2 SAAF Squadron, led by Flight Lieutenant Robert Blake (Hurricane V7283) and including Lieutenant J. A. Kok (Hurricane R4104), Captain A. Q. Masson and Lieutenant A. M. Colenbrander raided Bardera airfield. During the attack one S.81 was set on fire and two more were possibly badly damaged.
Three CR.42s, which were at a satellite strip, were scrambled. Tenente Franco De Micheli and Sottotenente Bartolozzi got off first, but Sergente Strano had to wait for the dust they had raised to subside before he could follow. This same dust brought the Hurricanes down on him as he begun his run and one attacked him, firing two bursts. The first of these hit the left side of the aircraft and put 17 splinters into his body, also damaging the throttle control, while the second burst struck the right side, puncturing the compressed air cylinder. Strano continued his run, however, taking off under attack. Without compressed air he was unable to operate his guns and had to manoeuvre wildly to escape being shot down. He later landed with the tyres flat and the fabric stripped completely from the rear fuselage. The Hurricanes meanwhile continued their strafing, unaware that two CR.42s had already got into the air. Flying cover, Blake saw the Italian fighters climbing up, but as the Hurricanes were not as this stage fitted with radio, was unable to warn either his wingman, Lieutenant J. A. Kok, or the other Hurricane pilots who were now making their third strafe. Although Blake made a dummy pass on Kok’s aircraft in an effort to attract his attention, the latter did not catch on in time, and Tenente De Micheli was enable to engage Kok in a dogfight, while Bartolozzi similarly engaged Blake. The fight continued, according to observers on the ground, for around seven to nine minutes, De Micheli then shooting down Kok’s Hurricane in flames; the pilot baled out and became a prisoner, having been slightly wounded. Bartolozzi finally managed to get a good burst into Blake’s Hurricane from below, wounding the pilot in the foot and setting fire to the fuel tank. Burned around the waist and legs, Blake was unable to climb out of his cockpit, so he turned his aircraft on its back and fell out at 700 feet. On landing by parachute he was almost immediately surrounded by ‘banda’, followed soon after by an Italian officer, and taken prisoner. Blake was removed to the airfield sick quarters where Sergente Strano just had been brought in. Blake was now in bad shape from his wounds and was later moved to the town hospital for more extensive treatment, as the wound to his foot was quite severe. He remained in the hospital for some time.

Sottotenente Bartolozzi was decorated with his first Medaglia d’argento al valor militare (gazetted 1941) for the combat on 29 December 1940:

"Under the imminent threat of a sudden low-altitude air raid by enemy fighters, he immediately took off, boldly launching into the attack to counter the superior enemy forces. After fierce combat, through skilful and courageous manoeuvring, he succeeded in shooting down an enemy aircraft in flames, marking his first victory against an opponent considered by the enemy itself to be a skilled and daring pilot. An example of a valiant and courageous fighter and a pilot of great skill."
Skies of Bardera, December 29, 1940-XIX.

On 2 February 1941 he claimed his third victory when he claimed Hurricane.
This claim has not been possible to verify with Commonwealth records.

On 15 March Hurricanes of 3 SAAF Squadron attacked Diredawa. During the night Blenheims of 8 Squadron from Aden had bombed the airfields there, and in the morning six fighters from Dogabur approached the main airfield at the same time as Junkers Ju86s of 12 SAAF Squadron arrived to bomb. There the Hurricane pilots found three Fiat CR.32s of the 410^a Squadriglia in the air, the South African pilots identified these as two CR.32s and one CR.42. One of the CR.32 pilots, Sergente Maggiore Antonia Giardinà, had just begun an attack on a Ju86 when he suddenly spotted a Hurricane approaching to attack him, and a dogfight began. Sottotenente Bartolozzi rushed to Giardinà’s aid without checking his own tail, next moment hearing an explosion and being hit in the face and neck by splinters. He immediately broke away and began turning with his attacker, avoiding two more bursts of fire. He landed with 188 holes in his aircraft, but no serious damage. Bartolozzi, normally on loan to 413^a Squadriglia, equipped with CR.42s, had just landed at Diredawa before the raid because his aircraft was in need of repair. At the outset of the attack he had taken off again in one of 410^a Squadriglia’s CR.32s.
Giardinà meanwhile fought on for several minutes, returning fire, and at last the Hurricane left. He was then able to land, his aircraft also exhibiting a few holes in the fabric. The third CR.32 escaped undamaged.
In this combat the South Africans considerable overestimated the result of their fire against the nimble Fiats, Captains Theron and Frost each claiming a CR.32 shot down, while Lieutenants Morley and Venter claimed a shared CR.42. The Hurricanes then strafed the aircraft seen on the ground and claimed S.79s in flames and one damaged, one CR.32 or Romeo in flames and four CR.32s or Romeos damaged. One fighter and two Ro.37bis aircraft were actually damaged.

He managed to return to Italy before the Italian collapse in East Africa after having clamed 3 and 1 shared victories.

Sottotenente Bartolozzi was decorated with the Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare (gazetted 1942) for his actions over East Africa between June 1940 and May 1941:

"Fighter pilot, he took part in numerous combat missions, demonstrating skill, boldness, and disregard for danger in every circumstance."
Skies of Italian East Africa, June 1940-XVIII to May 1941-XIX.

Later he served with the 300^a Squadriglia, 167^o Gruppo.
However, the unit struggled in its night-fighter role due to a "chronic shortage of resources", as noted in the memoirs of its commander, Capitano Corrado Ricci.

On 12 May 1942 he was promoted to Tenente.

Bartolozzi was later assigned to the 353^a Squadriglia , 20^o Gruppo, 51^o Stormo CT, equipped with MC.202s and tasked with defending Sardinia and mainland Italy from Anglo-American air raids.

At 16:45 on 27 May, 35 P-40s of the 325th FG escorted 26 B-26s of the 320th BG to attack Decimomannu. Intercepting Axis fighters were reported as 25-30 Bf 109s and MC.202s against which the P-40 pilots claimed four Messerschmitts and two Macchis when Major Robert L. Baseler (325th FG) claimed one MC.202 in the Decimomannu airfield area between 16:45-19:50, Flying Officer Mark P. Boone (318th FS in a P-40F) claimed one Bf 109 over Sardinia at 18:40, Flying Officer John W. Smallsreed (319th FS in P-40L 41-10476/’89’ Belva) claimed one Bf 109 24km south-west of Cagliari at 18:45, Flying Officer Richard L. Catlin (319th FS in 42-10870) claimed one Bf 109 6,4km east of Cap Spartivento at 18:50, 1st Lieutenant Frank J. Collins (319th FS in 41-19966) claimed one Bf 109 6,4km east of Cap Spartivento at 18:50 and Major Everett B. Howe (319th FS in 41-20005) claimed one MC.202 at 18:50.
Seven more claims for Bf 109s were made by the gunners in the bombers between 18:42-19:00. These claims were made by:
Technical Sergeant L. K. Stoerkel from 444th BS in B-26 no. 792
Staff Sergeant A. L. Clark from 444th BS in B-26 no. 024
Sergeant J. J. O’Keefe from 441st BS in B-26 no. 036
Sergeant C. E. Tackman from 441st BS in B-26 no. 009
Staff Sergeant B.Chouinard from 444th BS in B-26 no. 853
Sergeant S. C. Farr from 441st BS in B-26 no. 189
Private A. Griffin from 442nd BS in B-26 no. 001
The interceptors had in fact been 14 MC.202s and two MC.205s of the 20^o Gruppo, which had taken off at 18:05 led by Capitano Italo D’Amico (CO 151^a Squadriglia). Despite that it seems that no P-38s were present, the Italian pilots claimed two destroyed with one P-38 as a shared between Capitano D’Amico and Sergente Dante Testera (353^a Squadriglia) over Acqua Cadda/Palmas while Sergente Sirio Mugherli (151^a Squadriglia) claimed a second P-38 west of Capoterra. Sottotenente Carlo Citelli (353^a Squadriglia) claimed a P-40 west of Capoterra. Tenente Barolozzi (353^a Squadriglia) claimed a probable P-40. Sergente Mugherli and Sottotenente Citelli both landed at 19:20. However both Capitano D’Amico and Sergente Testera were lost. Sottotenente Citelli’s MC.202 was damaged by return fire near Capoterra and he was wounded.
The Carbonia AA gunners claimed a further P-40 over Decimomannu and an unidentified aircraft south of Antioco.
The Macchis had attacked both the P-40s and the B-26s aggressively, but nonetheless the US losses amounted to just one Warhawk from 317th FS, which ditched in the sea. The crew of an air/sea rescue Walrus I W2734 of 283 Squadron left at 19:40 for a location 89km east of Bône to rescue 1st Lieutenant William R. Hemphill and apparently did so. Darkness fell and it is not known if the Walrus crashed on take-off or was damaged and unable to do so. Extensive searches next day failed to find any trace of the aircraft. Unfortunately, Flying Officer N. W. Peat and all aboard were killed.

On 22 July 1943 he claimed his fourth victory.

On the 27 August Tenente Bartolozzi claimed a B-17.
At this mission he flew aircraft belonging to the 365^a Squadriglia.

Two days later on 29 August he, Tenente Giuseppe Bennicelli and Maresciallo Alessandro Sicco were each credited with a P-38.

Tenente Bartolozzi was decorated with his second Medaglia d’argento al valor militare (gazetted 1945) and the Croce di guerra al valor militare (gazetted 1944) for his actions between 28 July and 6 September 1943. The citation for the Croce di guerra al valor militare stated:

"An exceptionally skilled fighter pilot, he carried out intense activity in a short period, achieving outstanding results. In engagements against superior enemy forces, he single-handedly downed a fighter, a four-engine bomber, a twin-engine plane, and contributed to the destruction of numerous other aircraft. A splendid example of combativeness and calm disregard for danger."
Skies over the Aegean, Sardinia, and Lazio, 28 July – 6 September 1943.

Bartolozzi ended the war with 3 biplane victories and a total of 6 destroyed.

Due to war merit, Bartolozzi was promoted to Sottotenente in active service (in S.P.E.) with seniority from 25 July 1943 and effect for administrative purposes from 11 April 1947 (gazetted 1947).

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1940
1	31/10/40		1	Blenheim (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Aiscia	410a Squadriglia
2	29/12/40		1	Hurricane (b)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Bardera	413a Squadriglia
	1941
3	02/02/41		1	Hurricane (c)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		A.O.I.	413a Squadriglia
	1943
	27/05/43	18:05-	1	P-40 (d)	Probably destroyed	MC.202		Sardinia	353a Squadriglia
4	22/07/43		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed				353a Squadriglia
5	27/08/43		1	B-17	Destroyed	G.55			353a Squadriglia
6	29/08/43		1	P-38	Destroyed	G.55			353a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 3 and 1 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 6 and 1 shared destroyed.
(a) This claim cannot be verified with Commonwealth records.
(b) Flight Lieutenant Robert S. Blake, flight leader of ‘B’ Flight, 2 SAAF Squadron, shot down, wounded and POW.
(c) This claim cannot be verified with Commonwealth records.
(d) Claimed in combat with P-40s from the 325th FG and B-26s from 320th BG which claimed 11 destroyed Bf 109s and 2 MC.202 while losing 1 P-40 (pilot KiA). The 20^o Gruppo claimed 2 P-38s and 2 P-40s while losing 2 MC.202 (pilots KiA) and getting 1 damaged (pilot WiA). AA claimed 2 Allied aircraft.

Sources:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Four – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk, Winfried Bock and Wg Cdr Andy Thomas, 2018 Grub Street, London, ISBN-13: 9781911621102
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999, kindly provided by Jean Michel Cala
Dust Clouds in the Middle East - Christopher Shores, 1996 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-898697-37-X
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell’ A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 1 Volume A - L
G.55, 1999 Ali d'Italia nr. 10, kindly provided by Jean Michel Cala
Gli Assi Italiani Della Regia Aeronautica - Giovanni Massimello, 2023 Difesa Servizi SpA Edizioni Rivista Aeronautica, ISBN 9788888180779
Istituto del Nastro Azzurro
Italian Aces of World War 2 - Giovanni Massimello and Giorgio Apostolo, 2000 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 1-84176-078-1
Springbok Fighter Victory: East Africa Volume 1 1940 – 1941 – Michael Shoeman, 2002 African Aviation Series No. 11, Freeworld Publications CC, ISBN 0-958-4388-5-4
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Additional information kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro, Tomáš Polák and Flavio Silvestri.