20 January 1916 – 19 November 1940

Arturo Bonato was born on 20 January 1916 in Asiago.

In November 1940, Bonato belonged to 393^a Squadriglia of 160^o Gruppo Autonomo C.T., which was equipped with Fiat CR.42s. The unit was at this time operating over Greece.

On 18 November CR.42s of 160^o Gruppo engaged PZLs from 21, 22 and 23 Mire and claimed six shot down and one probable. Sergente Maggiore Bonato (two), Tenente Torquato Testerini, Tenente Mario Gaetano Carancini, Sergente Luca Minella and Sergente Teofila Biolcati submitted these claims. On this occasion at least three Greek fighters were lost, both Hiposminagos (First Lieutenant) Yianikostas of 22 Mira and Episminias (Sergeant) Gregory Valcanas of 23 Mira being killed, while Hiposminagos Corneleus Kotrones of 22 Mira was wounded in one leg, but managed to force-land his shot-up aircraft at an emergency airfield. In return the Greeks claimed two CR.42s shot down, one each by Hiposminagos Laskaris of 23 Mira and Anthyposminagos (Second Lieutenant) Katsaros of 2l Mira, but no Italian aircraft was actually lost.

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 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 Paolo Arcangeletti, the other by a G.50bis pilot.

At the time of his death, Bonato was credited with 2 biplane victories.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Tme	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1940
1	18/11/40		1	PZL P.24 (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Greece	393a Squadriglia
2	18/11/40		1	PZL P.24 (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Greece	393a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 2 destroyed.
TOTAL: 2 destroyed.
(a) Claimed in combat with PZL P.24s of 21, 22 and 23 Mire. 160^o Gruppo claimed six and one probable while losing no aircraft. The Greek fighters lost at least three aircraft when Hiposminagos Yianikostas of 22 Mira and Episminias Gregory Valcanas of 23 Mira were killed, while Hiposminagos Corneleus Kotrones of 22 Mira was wounded in one leg, but managed to force-land his shot-up aircraft. The Greek pilots claimed two CR.42s shot down.

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
Ministero della Difesa - Banca Dati sulle sepolture dei Caduti in Guerra
Additional information kindly provided by Gianmaria Spagnoletti.