Italy
Maresciallo GianLino 'Giri' Baschirotto
Italy
Maresciallo GianLino 'Giri' Baschirotto
Sergente Maggiore Baschirotto in front of a MC.200 on Catania in August 1940.
GianLino Baschirotto was born on 15 August 1914 in Montagnana near Vicenza, in the province of Padova.
When he enrolled the Regia Aeronautica he had already obtained a pre-military pilot licence at Campoformido with a local Air Tourism Squadron.
In 1935 he earned his military wings at Aviano and was after this assigned as a Sergente to 1o Stormo C.T. 1o Stormo was Regia Aeronautica's oldest Stormo and it was regarded as a rare privilege to be assigned to this unit since it was regarded as a "aerobatics academy".
Baschirotto got basic operational training with the 88a Squadriglia of 6o Gruppo.
In August 1936 he volunteered, as one of the early pilots, for service in the Spanish Civil War.
He reached Vigo on 27 August and was assigned to the 1a Squadriglia 'Aviacion de el Tercio' of the Spanish Foreign Legion equipped with Fiat CR.32s. While in Spain he used the pseudonym 'Edoardo Giri'.
The Italian fighter element grow rapidly and soon his unit was part of the XVIo Gruppo 'la Cucaracha'.
On 13 September 1936, a Nationalist patrol, including Sergente Baschirotto, Sergente Vincenzo Patriarca and the Spanish Captain Joaquín García-Morato, intercepted a formation of Republican Breuget XIXs escorted by Nieuport Delage Ni.52s and Dewoitine D.371s over Madrid.
Baschirotto quickly shot down one of the Ni.52s. The pilot of this aircraft, a Carlos Colomb, managed to parachute to safety unseen by Baschirotto (Colomb was killed in a collision with another CR.32 on 17 September 1936).
Patriarca, meanwhile, got involved in combat with a second Ni.52 with which he collided. The Republican pilot, Felix Urtubi Ercilla (a former Nationalist pilot) of the 2 Escuadrilla Lafayette, was killed but Patriarca managed to parachute. As soon as he landed he was captured by Republican troops and was only saved from a summary execution by showing his American passport. He was later trailed and sentenced to death. Because of the uproar occasioned by the capture of an American citizen, the US State Department successfully applied pressure to the Republican government and Patriarca was released and sent back to the U.S. in November 1936.
On 16 September, Baschirotto claimed a shared damaged Potez 540 together with Captain Joaquín García-Morato near Navalcarnero. The damaged Republican bomber managed to make an emergency landing behind it’s own lines. Morato claimed an additional Potez 54.
On 25 September the squadron moved from Cáceres to Talavera (Gamonal aerodrome) to be better located to participate in the advance on Toledo.
During the day Baschirotto claimed a shared Potez 540 together with the Spanish ace-to-be Captain Ángel Salas Larrazábal near Barciencie and Villamiel. The Potez crashed vertically into the ground near Rielves, killing the crew.
The Republican aircraft, a Potez 540 c/n 4219, which was named ’Aqui le espero’ (I will wait for you here), was flown by Captain Joaquìn Mellado and Lieutenant Moreno (who had been involved in the assassination of Calvo Sotelo). It had taken of from Getafe (Madrid) on an attack mission near Toledo.
This aircraft had gained some distinction three days before when it bombed the Canarias in Galician waters. It had also been involved in incidents across the whole of Spain from Asturias to Málaga. Mellado had, from the very beginning, been the most active pilot on his side, performing outstanding service at Seville, Madrid and in the Sierra.
The unit moved to Torrijos on 1 November.
On 13 November, while escorting a patrol of Ro.37s in the Madrid area he surprised an I-15 “Chato” and shot it down. The enemy aircraft was seen falling out of the sky smoking.
On 4 December Polikarpov R-5s and R-Zs attacked Torrijos airfield. They were however intercepted by patrolling CR.32s and two of them were shot down. One R-5 was claimed by Baschirotto.
He claimed a Polikarpov I-16 on 17 July 1937 over the outskirts of Madrid..
On 25 July he claimed a Polikarpov I-15.
During his eighteen months in Spain he totally claimed 5 and 6 shared victories.
During his time in Spain he was decorated with two Medaglie d'argento al Valore Militare and one Medaglia di bronzo al Valore Militare for military valour.
He returned to Italy in February 1938 and returned back to 88a Squadriglia, 6o Gruppo, where he was to spend the whole Second World War.
When the Second World War started the 6o Gruppo was equipped with Macchi MC.200s and based at Sicily (6o Gruppo was the first unit to receive this aircraft when the received the first 29 on 1 November 1939).
The unit at once took part in the attacks on Malta.
On 16 June Baschirotto, who had been promoted to Maresciallo, claimed a shared Gladiator together with eight other pilots over Malta. The Malta Gladiator however managed to escape safely.
At the end of July 1940 the 6o Gruppo was assigned to the 1o Stormo.
In October 1941, the unit returned to Italy to re-equip with Macchi MC.202s (series 3 aircraft) and was then sent to Libya.
The unit started to operate over the North African front in January 1942.
On 9 January 1942, eight MC.202s of the 88a Squadriglia took off at 08:10, led by Capitano Ocarso, for a free sweep over Agedabia. When over the airstrip of the town, Maresciallo Baschirotto went down to strafe an aircraft that he considered to have damaged.
North of the town, some vehicles were discovered and attacked. Some of them were claimed damaged with the use of 1260 rounds of ammunition. The Macchis were back at base at 09:35.
In April 1942, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel decorated him with the German Iron Cross 2nd Class at Martuba.
On 25 May, ten MC.202 of the 6o Gruppo (four from the 79a Squadriglia and six from the 88a Squadriglia) took off at 16:20, led by Maggiore Marco Larcher, for a free sweep between Gazala and Bir Hakeim.
At 16:45, south-east of Gazala, at the height of 5000 metres a formation of 20 enemy fighters (identified as P-40s and Spitfires) was discovered at inferior height. Making use of the tactical advantage given by the height, the Italians attacked, broke the Commonwealth formation and followed them deep inside enemy territory. At the end, nine P-40s were claimed shot down together with 13 P-40s and Spitfires damaged. A single Macchi was reported damaged in return when the Italian pilots landed at 17:40, recording the use of 3600 rounds of ammunition. Two victories each were assigned to 88a Squadriglia’s Maresciallo Baschirotto and Maresciallo Natalino Stabile, while one victory went to Capitano Domenico.Camarda (CO 79a Squadriglia), Sottotenente Alfredo Civetta (88a Squadriglia), Sottotenente Roberto Sgorbati (88a Squadriglia), Sottotenente Ferrazza (79a Squadriglia ) and Sergente Maggiore Paroli (79a Squadriglia). Thanks to these two victories Maresciallo Stabile reached the total of six confirmed individual victories and was thus the second pilot of the Stormo to became an ace.
The Italians had probably met twelve Hurricane II of 274 Squadron over Gazala, which had taken off from Tobruk at 17:05 being directed over Gazala at the height of 12000 feet, where it was expected to find four enemy fighters. The British pilots returned at 17:40 claiming to have probably shot down two Bf109s by Flight Lieutenant George Keefer (BE229) and Sergeant John Neil (not officially credited to him) and one damaged by Pilot Officer Frank Samuel. They lost one Hurricane when Flight Lieutenant ”Bags” Playford was forced to belly-land and was slightly wounded while Flight Lieutenant Parbury was obliged to force-land two miles west of base due to lack of fuel (however to an Italian pilot it could have seemed a aircraft shot down).
In the same area, there was also 260 Squadron, flying at 12000 feet but it didn’t record any action and only reported to have seen three enemy planes taking off. The number of opponents estimated by the Italians led to think that there could have been some other unit present – perhaps equipped with P-40s.
He claimed two Hurricanes on 10 June.
At the end of June 1942 the 1o Stormo returned to Italy for a period of rest.
After the rest they were sent to Decimomannu (Sardinia), reinforcing units of the 'Aeronautica della Sardegna'.
From this new base Baschirotto completed several escort missions over the Mediterranean, often heading to Bona, Algeria, at the limits of the aircraft range.
From Sardinina the Stormo was transferred to Pantelleria to operate over Tunisia.
During this time Baschirotto flew a MC.202 with the numbers "88-9".
On 31 January 1943, he claimed a Beaufighter, while escorting a naval convoy transferring men and goods to Tunisia.
During this time the 1o Stormo started to re-equip with the Macchi MC.205Vs.
On 20 April, he claimed he claimed a Spitfire off Pantelleria.
During this combat The Regia Aeronautica claimed 15 victories and admitted losses of 3 aircraft while the RAF claimed 11 victories and didn't admit any losses at all.
On 8 June, he made his last claim when he at 19:35 took from Chinisia and claimed a shared Spitfire north-west of Pantelleria.
This claim was shared with Tenente Levrini, Tenente Zatti, Sottotenente Sgorbati and Sergente Saiani.
On 24 June the 1o Stormo was retired to Campoformido due to large losses.
The unit was still reorganising when the armistice was announced on 8 September 1943.
During the war Baschirotto had flown more than 1000 hours of combat and been awarded two additional Medaglie d'argento and a German Iron Cross, Second Class.
Baschirotto was the only Italian pilot who became an ace both in the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.
Baschirotto ended the war with 5 biplane victories and a total of 11.
After the war, having been commissioned for war merits, he flew with the first post-war aerobatics team, equipped with Spitfire Mk.Ixs.
Then came the jet age where he first flew Vampires, Thunderjets and Thunderstreaks.
After this he assumed many commanding roles and retired from active service in 1970 as a Colonello.
Baschirotto died in 1986 in Vicenza.
Claims:
| Kill no. | Date | Time | Number | Type | Result | Plane type | Serial no. | Locality | Unit |
| 1936 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13/09/36 | 1 | Nieuport Ni.52 (a) | Destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | Spain | 1a Squadriglia | ||
| 16/09/36 | 1 | Potez 540 | Shared damaged | Fiat CR.32 | Navalcarnero area | 1a Squadriglia | |||
| 25/09/36 | 1 | Potez 540 (b) | Shared destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | Barciencie-Villamiel | 1a Squadriglia | |||
| 2 | 13/11/36 | 1 | I-15 | Destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | Madrid area | XVIo Gruppo | ||
| 3 | 04/12/36 | 1 | R-5 | Destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | Torrijos airfield | XVIo Gruppo | ||
| 1937 | |||||||||
| 4 | 17/07/37 | 1 | I-16 | Destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | outskirts of Madrid | XVIo Gruppo | ||
| 5 | 25/07/37 | 1 | I-15 | Destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | Spain | XVIo Gruppo | ||
| 1940 | |||||||||
| 16/06/40 | 1/9 | Gladiator (c) | Shared destroyed | Macchi MC.200 | Malta | 88a Squadriglia | |||
| 1942 | |||||||||
| 09/01/42 | 08:10-09:35 | 1 | Enemy aircraft | Damaged on the ground | Macchi MC.202 | Agedabia area | 88a Squadriglia | ||
| 6 | 25/05/42 | 16:45-17:40 | 1 | P-40 (d) | Destroyed | Macchi MC.202 | SE Gazala | 88a Squadriglia | |
| 7 | 25/05/42 | 16:45-17:40 | 1 | P-40 (d) | Destroyed | Macchi MC.202 | SE Gazala | 88a Squadriglia | |
| 8 | 10/06/42 | 1 | Hurricane | Destroyed | Macchi MC.202 | North Africa | 88a Squadriglia | ||
| 9 | 10/06/42 | 1 | Hurricane | Destroyed | Macchi MC.202 | North Africa | 88a Squadriglia | ||
| 1943 | |||||||||
| 10 | 31/01/43 | 1 | Beaufighter | Destroyed | Macchi MC.202 | Mediterranean | 88a Squadriglia | ||
| 11 | 20/04/43 | 1 | Spitfire (e) | Destroyed | Macchi MC.205V | off Pantelleria | 88a Squadriglia | ||
| 08/06/43 | 1 | Spitfire | Shared destroyed | Macchi MC.205V | NW Pantelleria | 88a Squadriglia |
Sources:
AEROPORTO di GORIZIA "il QUARTO STORMO ed i PILOTI"
Air War over Spain - Jesus Salas Larrazabal, 1974 Ian Allan Ltd, Shepperton, Surrey, ISBN 0-7110-0521-4
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999 kindly provided by Jean Michel Cala
Courage Alone - Chris Dunning, 1998 Hikoki Publications, Aldershot, ISBN 1-902109-02-3
Due Volte Asso - Giovanni Massimello, 1997 Storia Militare Nr. 49 Ottobre 1997 kindly provided by Massimo Cappone
GianLino Baschirotto (Galleria degli Assi) - Giovanni Massimello, 1999 Aerofan nr. 68 Jan.-Mar. 1999 kindly provided by Massimo Cappone
Italian Aces of World War 2 - Giovanni Massimello and Giorgio Apostolo, 2000 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 1-84176-078-1
Additional information kindly provided by Michele Palermo and Ludovico Slongo.
