Biplane fighter aces

Italy

Sergente Maggiore Gastone De Portis

Decorations
Date Decoration Note
??/??/49 Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare 1940-43
??/??/43 Croce di guerra al valor militare 1940-43

Gastone De Portis was from Udine.

In May 1941, Sergente Maggiore De Portis served in the 162a Squadriglia on Rhodes. This unit was at the time equipped with the Fiat CR.42.

Early in the morning on 27 May, a photo-reconnaissance Hurricane (V7423) of 2 PRU made a sortie over Rhodes in the hands of ex-30 Squadron pilot, Flying Officer S. N. Pearce. It was intercepted and claimed as probably shot down by Sergente Maggiore De Portis, but in fact returned undamaged.

De Portis ended the war with 1 probable victory, this one claimed while flying the Fiat CR.42.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1941                
  27/05/41 morning 1 Blenheim (a) Probably destroyed Fiat CR.42   Rhodes 162a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 1 probably destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 probably destroyed.
(a) Hurricane (V7423) of 2 PRU flown by Flying Officer S. N. Pearce returned undamaged.

Sources:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume One Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN 978-1908117076
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell’ A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 1 Volume A - L




Last modified 13 November 2023