Mario Bellagambi was born in Firenze (Florence) on 14 September 1915.

He enlisted in the Regia Aeronautica at the Grottaglie school and in 1936 obtained his military pilot's license and 5 October 1936 he was promoted to Sottotenante (in S.P.E.).

He was assigned to the 362^a Squadriglia, 52^o Stormo.

In 1938, he volunteered for the Spanish Civil War using the nom du guerre ”Mario Bella”.

Initially, he flew in the VI Gruppo.

On 1 March 1938, Capitano Ferruccio Vosilla took command of the new Squadriglia Autonoma Caccia Mitragliamento equipped with IMAM Ro.37s. This unit was based at Valenzula, Saragossa and included pilots like Ido Zanetti, Bellagambi, Duilio Nicchiarelli, Giuseppe Lo Moro and Gastone Picchini.
The unit was re-equipped with CR.32s and operating from Caspe airfield, they participated in the battle of the Ebro, launched by the Republican army on 25 July.

In Spain he took part in eleven combats and was credited with five shared victories.

When he returned to Italy, he was promoted to Tenente and was part of the aerobatic team of the 362^a Squadriglia commanded by Capitano Antonio Vizzotto.

He then joined the ranks the 354^a Squadriglia, 24^o Gruppo, (in part) was equipped with the Fiat G.50.

After Italy's entry into the war, he took part in the Greek campaign with his unit.

Tenente Bellagambi was decorated with his second Medaglia d’argento al valor militare (gazetted 1941) for his actions over Albania between 2 November 1940 and 28 February 1941:

"An audacious fighter pilot, he participated in 105 combat missions, attacking enemy bombers, strafing and bombing troops and positions, and contributing to the downing of enemy aircraft in fierce battles.
During an action against overwhelming enemy fighters, after heroically helping to down six enemy planes, he was wounded in the throat and had his aircraft and engine severely damaged. With a tremendous effort, he managed to land within our forward lines."
Skies of Albania, 2 November 1940 – 28 February 1941-XIX.

After the Greek campaign, the 24^o Gruppo was transferred to Monserrato, Sardinia.

Bellagambi was promoted to Capitano in the beginning of December 1941 (it seems that it went in effect from 8 June 1942) and moved on to command the 364^a Squadriglia, 150^o Gruppo Autonomo "Gigi tre osei", after Capitano Luigi Corsini. This unit was equipped with Macchi C.200s.

He took part in the entire cycle of operations in North Africa.

Tenente Bellagambi was decorated with his third Medaglia d’argento al valor militare (gazetted 1942) for a combat on 23 February 1942:

"Squadron leader, already distinguished in numerous missions, an audacious combatant, during a low-flying attack on a heavily concentrated enemy armoured force, he persisted in the assault despite being wounded in the leg by intense return fire and his aircraft being hit in critical areas. With unbreakable resolve, he continued strafing the target until his ammunition was exhausted, then led his squadron back to base in perfect formation after achieving remarkable results. An example of fearlessness and selfless dedication."
Skies over El Gazala, 23 February 1942-XX.

After returning to Italy, the 150^o Gruppo Autonomo began to receive the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G. Bellagambi was enthusiastic:

“Finally, we had devices created to wage war: easy to handle, very fast, powerfully armed and equipped with excellent radio equipment for the necessary connections.”

Bellagambi took part in operational cycle in defence of Sicily.

After the Italian capitulation in September 1943, he served in the ”Italiana Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana” (ANR) where he served in the 2^o Gruppo Caccia commanded by Colonnello Vizzotto.
He went to command the 2^a Squadriglia (later the 5^a Squadriglia) ”Diavoli rosso”.

During his time in the ANR, he took part in 45 combats.

Bellagambi ended the war with 1 biplane victory and a total of 13.

After having been removed from the service for four years since he had been part of the ANR, he re-joined the service.

In 1953, and due to his considerable professional skills, he was entrusted with command of the "Tigre bianche”, the aerobatic team of the 51^a Aerobrigata.

During the late part of his career, he served as commander of the 51^a Aerobrigata and also served as military attaché in Tokyo.

Bellagambi passed away in Firenze in 2001.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	193?
	??/??/3?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Spain
	??/??/3?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Spain
	??/??/3?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Spain
	??/??/3?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Spain
	??/??/3?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Spain
	1941
1	28/02/41	15:30-	1	Gladiator	Destroyed	Fiat G.50bis		Tepelene - Himare	354a Squadriglia
2	27/09/41		1	Hurricane	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Sardinia	354a Squadriglia
	1942
	09/08/42	16:20	1/2	Liberator	Shared damaged	MC.200		Benghazi area	364a Squadriglia
	1943
3	30/06/43	11:30-	1	Liberator	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Sciacca airfield area	364a Squadriglia
	03/07/43		1	P-40	Damaged	Bf 109 G		Sicily area	364a Squadriglia
	03/07/43		1	P-40	Damaged	Bf 109 G		Sicily area	364a Squadriglia
	04/07/43	10:00-11:00	1	P-40	Damaged	Bf 109 G		S Cape Passero	364a Squadriglia
	04/07/43	10:00-11:00	1	P-40	Damaged	Bf 109 G		S Cape Passero	364a Squadriglia
	1944
4	29/06/44	13:00	1	Baltimore	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Cesena - Forli	2o Gruppo
5	11/07/44	11:10	1	B-26	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Piacenza/Reggio Emilia	2a Squadriglia
6	19/10/44		1	B-26	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Mantova - Modena	2a Squadriglia
7	04/11/44		1	B-24	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Foce Piave	2a Squadriglia
8	05/11/44		1	B-26	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Lake Garda	2a Squadriglia
9	10/12/44	11:00	1	B-25	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Lake Garda - Lake d'Iseo	2a Squadriglia
10	22/12/44		1	Spitfire	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Isola della Scala	2a Squadriglia
	1945
11	04/02/45		1	P-47	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		N Vicenza	5a Squadriglia
12	08/02/45		1	B-25	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Adriatic Sea	5a Squadriglia
13	08/02/45		1	B-26	Destroyed	Bf 109 G		Conegliano	5a Squadriglia
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed
	??/??/4?		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed

Biplane victories: 1 and 5 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 13 and 12 shared destroyed, 4 and 1 shared damaged.

Sources:
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell’ A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 1 Volume A - L
Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2 - Håkan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo, 2009 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 978-1-84603-427-5
Gli Assi Italiani Della Regia Aeronautica - Givanni Massimello, 2023 Difesa Servizi SpA Edizioni Rivista
Istituto del Nastro Azzurro
Ministero della Difesa - Banca Dati sulle sepolture dei Caduti in Guerra