Biplane fighter aces

Italy

Maggiore Ettore Foschini

17 February 1908 –

Decorations
Year Gazetted Decoration Note
1940 Medaglia d'argento al valor militare (1st) O.M.S.
1940 Medaglia d'argento al valor militare (2nd) O.M.S.
1942 Medaglia d'argento al valor militare (3rd) 1940-43
1940 Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare (1st) O.M.S.
1940 Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare (2nd) O.M.S.
19?? Medaglia commemorativa della campagna di Spagna (1936-1939) O.M.S.
19?? Medaglia di benemerenza per i volontari della guerra Spagna O.M.S.
19?? Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1940-43

Ettore Foschini was born on 17 February 1908 and was from Milano.

On 1 October 1931, he was commissioned (in Servizio Permanente Effettivo).

On 16 July 1937, Giuseppe D'Agostinis was back at the 4o Stormo, and on 1 August he was appointed CO of the 91a Squadriglia, X Gruppo, after Capitano Foschini. The unit was equipped with Fiat CR.32s.

Ettore Foschini volunteered for service in the Spanish Civil War.

On 15 November 1937, Capitano Enrico Degli Incerti left as CO of the 19a Squadriglia, XXIII Gruppo, which he had commanded since January.
He was replaced by Capitano Foschini.

In March 1938, the Squadriglia COs of the XXIII Gruppo were Capitano Marco Larker (18a Squadriglia), Capitano Foschini (19a Squadriglia) and Capitano Carlo Calosso (20a Squadriglia). The new Gruppo CO was Maggiore Ciro Ajello.

In September, Capitano Foschini was replaced as CO of the 19a Squadriglia by Capitano Giulio Crosara.

Foschini ended the Spanish Civil War with 1 biplane victory.

Foschini took part in the Greek campaign.

On 28 February 1941, HQ ‘W’ Wing ordered that all available aircraft should patrol between Tepelene and the coast between 15:30 and 16:30, since Intelligence sources indicated the operation of large numbers of Italian aircraft in that area at that time. Hence during the morning all available Gladiators of 80 and 112 Squadrons were flown up to Paramythia in preparation for this action. Patrols were flown during the morning by flights of Hurricanes, but nothing was seen.
At about 15:00 Squadron Leader Harry Brown and Squadron Leader Edward Jones led of eleven Gladiators of 112 Squadron and seven of 80 Squadron to patrol over the designated area; they were accompanied by the ‘W’ Wing leader, Wing Commander Patric Coote, flying an 80 Squadron Gladiator. Fifteen minutes later Flight Lieutenant ‘Pat’ Pattle in Hurricane V7589 led Flying Officer Nigel Cullen (V7138), Flying Officer Wanklyn Flower (V6749) and Flying Officer Richard Acworth (V7288) to the same area, while Flight Lieutenant Young led four 33 Squadron Hurricanes to patrol near the coast. Here some S.79s were seen and chased over Corfu, two being claimed damaged, one of them by Pilot Officer D. S. F. Winsland (Winsland was later during the war shot down by Bernardino Serafini). These were probably 105o Gruppo B.T. aircraft, which reported being attacked by Spitfires, one Savoia landing at Tirana with one member of the crew dead.
Meanwhile Pattle’s section spotted BR.20s of the 37o Stormo B.T. flying south from Valona; they identified the ten-strong formation as comprising 15 aircraft, while the bomber crews reported being attacked by 18 ‘Spitfires’! Pattle selected one on the starboard flank of the formation, and after three short bursts it broke into flames and went down; a second bomber likewise burst into flames following a further attack by Pattle, and his windscreen was covered in oil from this doomed aircraft. Reducing speed, Pattle attempted to clean the screen with his scarf, but he was then attacked by five G.50bis which dived on him. After a brief skirmish he managed to get away and returned to Paramythia. Both Flower and Acworth also claimed BR.20s. although the latter thought his victim may have been a Z.1007bis. Flying Officer Cullen reported considerable success in the run of claims which was to bring him the award of an immediate DFC. He later recalled:

”The battle extended right across Albania. First I found four Breda 20s (sic). I got one, which went down in flames Then we found three formations of S.79s. I took on one and aimed at the starboard engine. It caught fire, and crashed in flames. I climbed and dived on the next - and he too crashed in flames. Then we attacked ten CR.42s, climbing to get above them. I got behind one, and he caught fire and went down in flames. Up again immediately, dived, fired into the cockpit, and another took fire, rolled over and crashed. I had to come home then - no more ammo.”
Three BR.20s were in fact shot down during this combat and a fourth force-landed near Otranto. Three BR.20Ms from the 277a Squadriglia, 116o Gruppo were shot down and known killed were aircraft commanders Tenente Antonio Zanetti and Sottotenente Leonetto Zilioli and the pilots Tenente Giuseppe Valerio, Sergente Maggiore Aldo Monicolini and Sergergente Gualtiero Favalini. A forth BR.20M (MM22641/220-1) from the 220a Squadriglia, 55o Gruppo made an emergency landing in the Otranto area and being damaged (it was broken up in 1943 by the SRAM Lecce but it’s not known if this was due to combat damage sustained on 28 February). Other BR.20s returned with wounded crewmembers aboard, plus one dead.
By now the Gladiators had joined the fighting, as had CR.42s of 160o Gruppo and G.50bis of 24o Gruppo. A single Hurricane of 33 Squadron arrived late on the scene. Flying Officer Newton having scrambled from Paramythia with the only remaining serviceable Hurricane when news of the heavy fighting came through. On arrival over the battle area, he promptly attacked a CR.42, only to find that it was an 80 Squadron Gladiator! A 112 Squadron Gladiator then got on his tail, obviously taking the Hurricane for a G.50bis, and inflicted damage on his aircraft, chasing him back towards Paramythia. A few of the Gladiators made contact with the bombers, Pilot Officer William Vale claiming an S.79 shot down, whilst Flying Officer Edwin Banks and Pilot Officer R. H. McDonald of 112 Squadron each claimed damage to a BR.20. The Gladiators’ main claims were for ten CR.42s and one probable, plus seven G.50bis and two probables after that the rest of the Gladiators made contract with the Italian fighters. 80 Squadron made following claims – Squadron Leader Jones (2 CR.42s), Wing Commander Coote (1 CR.42), Warrant Officer Sidney Richens (1 CR.42), Pilot Officer Vale (1 S.79 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant George Kettlewell (1 probable CR.42 and 1 probable G.50bis; both seems later to have been upgraded to destroyed), Pilot Officer Eldon Trollip (1 probable CR.42) and Flying Officer Peter Townley Dowding (1 probable G.50bis). 112 Squadron also made a number of claims – Squadron Leader Brown (1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Joseph Fraser (1 CR.42 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Charles Fry (1 CR.42 and 1 G.50bis), Flight Lieutenant Richard James Abrahams (1 G.50bis), Flying Officer Homer Cochrane (1 CR.42), Flying Officer Banks (1 and 1 damaged CR.42 and 1 damaged BR.20), Pilot Officer Jack Groves (1 CR.42), Sergeant George Millar ‘Paddy’ Donaldson (1 and 1 probable G.50bis), Flying Officer Denis Herbert Vincent Smith (1 damaged CR.42) and Pilot Officer McDonald (1 damaged BR.20).
Squadron Leader Brown recorded that the G.50bis he attacked turned sharply to starboard on its back and fell away in an inverted spin; he thought he had hit the pilot. Flight Lieutenant Fraser claimed that his victim flew into a mountainside, while the pilot of the CR.42 he claimed baled out, but his parachute failed to open. Sergeant Donaldson’s victim was seen to crash on the seashore. Flight Lieutenant Abrahams, after his victory, was attacked by another G.50bis (believed to have been flown by Tenente Mario Bellagambi) and was shot down near Sarande. He recalled:
”The old Glad suddenly went all soft. Nothing would work. I sat there and then decided I had better get out. I couldn’t, so I sat there with my hands on my lap, the aircraft spinning like mad. Then, eventually, I did manage to get out. It was so pleasant sitting there in the air than I damn nearly forgot to pull the ripcord. I reckon I did the record delayed drop for all Albania and Greece. I landed, and no sooner had I fallen sprawling on the ground than I was picked up by Greek soldiers who cheered and patted me on the back. I thought I was a hell of a hero until one soldier asked me. "Milano, Roma?" and I realized that they thought I was an Iti. They didn’t realize it was possible for an Englishman to be shot down. So I said "Inglese", and then the party began. I was hoisted on their shoulders, and the "here the conquering hero comes" procession started. We wined and had fun. Jolly good chaps.”
Pilot Officer Vale reported:
“At 1530, eight Hurricanes and 19 Gladiators took off from Paramythia on an offensive patrol over the Hilmara-Tepelini area. I was leading No.3 Flight of Gladiators at 13,000 feet [4000m]. At approximately 1545, I observed a formation of enemy bombers away to starboard and gave ‘Tally-ho!’ but as they were a long way off no action was taken.
‘Tally-ho!’ was then given for bombers approaching from the sea and also to our starboard. The front formation of Gladiators went into attack the ones to port and the last three sections went to starboard. I observed five bombers approaching from starboard and put my flight into line astern and carried out a head-on attack, which did not bring anything down. I carried out a rear quarter attack but the cross fire was thick, so I left the bombers. I then saw a G.50 coming south in a valley, and so half-rolled down onto it but it put its nose down and got out of range. Another Gladiator dived down onto it and I last saw it with small bursts of smoke coming from it, diving down at the side of a hill. I then observed another G.50 pulling up under the other Gladiator and so I carried out a quarter attack and at very short range. It pulled round and after another burst from astern went down out of control into the valley.
I pulled up and saw enemy bombers coming from the coast and carried a quarter head-on without any effect. Another enemy bomber broke had broken away from the formation and was losing height and heading north, so I carried out a vertical downwards attack and finished close up in astern, firing at the port engine until the e/a started to turn to port, put its nose down and went down into the sea about three or four miles south of the point. I climbed up and observed one more Gladiator heading for base and so I followed and landed at 1755. My aircraft was not damaged."
Following his initial combats, Pattle had returned to Paramythia, landed, and taken off again ten minutes later in another Hurricane (V7724). Returning to the battle area, he spotted three CR.42s in formation, heading back towards Valona:
”I got behind them and put a long burst into all three. One went down vertically at once, but in case it was a trick I followed him. He was in difficulties, that was most obvious, and when it looked as if he was going straight into the sea I decided to go and see what the other two were up to. As I climbed again I was most surprised to see two parachutes float down past me.”
On his return, Pattle claimed two destroyed, those from which he had seen the pilots come down by parachute, and one probable for that which he had followed down. Just before he got back to Paramythia for the second time at 17:40, Flying Officer Flower, who had returned an hour earlier, also took off for a second patrol over the area after his Hurricane had been refuelled and rearmed. There was nothing to be seen - the battle was over.
On the Italian side, the CR.42s of 160o Gruppo had been escorting four S.79s of 104o Gruppo in the Kuc area, between Tepelene and Himare, when British fighters identified as Spitfires, Hurricanes and Gladiators, were encountered. Two Gladiators were claimed shot down and one as a probable, a ‘Spitfire’ also being claimed. Sottotenente Raoul Francinetti of 394a Squadriglia landed back at base wounded in one leg, and Sottotenente Italo Traini of 394a Squadriglia was shot down and killed. Gunners in the S.79s also claimed two Gladiators shot down, as did the G.50bis pilots of the 24o Gruppo (one by Tenente Bellagambi and two by Capitano Foschini), the latter Gruppo also claiming two more as probables (one of these might be one of the destroyed which was later upgraded). Tenente Bellagambi, following his combat with Flight Lieutenant Abrahams, was then shot down and wounded in one arm: he force-landed near Tirana airfield. He also avoided additional injuries when one bullet to his back was stopped by his Salvatori parachute. Capitano Foschini’s aircraft from 355a Squadriglia was also hit, and came down at Tirana with the pilot wounded in the right shoulder. Capitano Foschini was hospitalized in Tirana
This day was recorded as RAF’s most successful during the Greek campaign. During the large engagements RAF made claims for 5 and 2 damaged BR.20s, 3 and 2 damaged S.79s, 14 destroyed, 2 probable and 2 damaged CR.42s and 7 and 2 probable G.50bis. In fact, four BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. were lost with several damaged, one S.79 of 104o Gruppo was damaged, one CR.42 of 160o Gruppo and two G.50bis of 24o Gruppo were lost. Regia Aeronautica claimed seven and three probable Gladiators and one ‘Spitfire’ while in fact only one Gladiator of 112 Squadron was lost.

He was promoted to Maggiore on 23 June 1941.

On the eve of the Allied invasion of Sicily in the beginning of July 1943, Maggiore Foschini was the CO of the 21o Gruppo Autonomo CT. based at Chinisia and equipped with 33 MC.202s. Squadriglia commanders were:
356a Squadriglia – Capitano Aldo Li Greci
361a Squadriglia – Capitano Francesco Leoncini
386a Squadriglia – Capitano Trento Carotti

Foschini ended the war with 1 biplane victory and a total of 8.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  193?                
1 ??/??/3?   1 Enemy aircraft Destroyed Fiat CR.32   Spain XXIII Gruppo
  194?                
2 ??/??/4?   1 Enemy aircraft Destroyed        
3 ??/??/4?   1 Enemy aircraft Destroyed        
  1941                
4 28/02/41 15:30- 1 Gladiator (a) Destroyed G.50bis   Tepelene - Himare 355a Squadriglia
5 28/02/41 15:30- 1 Gladiator (a) Destroyed G.50bis   Tepelene - Himare 355a Squadriglia
6 ??/??/4?   1 Enemy aircraft Destroyed        
7 ??/??/4?   1 Enemy aircraft Destroyed        
8 ??/??/4?   1 Enemy aircraft Destroyed        

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 8 destroyed.
(a) Claimed in combat with 33, 80 and 112 Squadron, which claimed 5 and 2 damaged BR.20s, 3 and 2 damaged S.79s, 14 destroyed, 2 probable and 2 damaged CR.42s and 7 and 2 probable G.50bis while losing 1 Gladiator from 112 Squadron (F/L Abrahams WiA). Regia Aeronautica claimed 7 and 3 probable Gladiators and 1 ‘Spitfire’ while losing 4 BR.20s of 37o Stormo B.T. (several more damaged), 1 damaged S.79 of 104o Gruppo, 1 CR.42 of 160o Gruppo and 2 G.50bis of 24o Gruppo.

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
Air War over Spain - Jesus Salas Larrazabal, 1974 Ian Allan Ltd, Shepperton, Surrey, ISBN 0-7110-0521-4
Annuario Ufficiale Delle Forze Armate Del Regno D'Italia Anno 1943. Part III Regia Aeronautica – 1943 Istituto Poligrafico Dello Stato, Roma
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - Giovanni Massimello, 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999, Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell' A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 1 Volume A - L
Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War - Alfredo Logoluso, 2010 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 978-1-84603-983-6
Gli Assi Italiani Della Regia Aeronautica - Givanni Massimello, 2023 Difesa Servizi SpA Edizioni Rivista
Soviet airmen in the Spanish civil war 1936-1939 - Paul Whelan, 2014 Schiffer Publishing Ltd, ISBN 978-0-7643-0
Spitfires over Sicily - Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia and Frederick Galea, 2000 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-32-2
Additional information kindly provided by Gianandrea Bussi.




Last modified 30 October 2025