Eugenio Leotta was born on 9 June 1903 and was from Zafferana Etnea (Catania).

Leotta took part in the pre-war campaign in the Italian East Africa (A.O.I.) and was decorated for this.

On 5 November 1936, Sottotenente Vittorio Pezzè took temporarily command over the 73^a Squadriglia, IX Gruppo C.T. after Capitano Corradino Mancini.
He was relieved by Capitano Leotta on 21 December 1936.

Maggiore Eugenio Leotta took part in the Spanish Civil War using the nom de guerre ’Leonello’.

The VI Gruppo Caccia was formed on 3 May 1937 and was commanded by Maggiore Leotta. The Gruppo consisted of:

31^a Squadriglia commanded by Capitano Luigi Borgogno (’Benigni’)
32^a Squadriglia commanded by Capitano Ernesto Botto (’Cantini’)

On 23 August, ten CR.32s from the 32^a Squadriglia (one of which was flown by VI Gruppo CO Maggiore Leotta and another by the CO of the 32^a Squadriglia Capitano Ernesto Botto) fought I-15s near Ontaneda as the latter tried to defend Santander from being attacked. Italian pilots claimed three “Curtiss fighters” destroyed and three probables, and their demise was again collectively attributed to all participants from the 32^a Squadriglia.
The only loss admitted by the Republicans, however, was the I-15 of Francisco De Antonio Sanz, who was shot down near Ontaneda but managed to return to Republican lines.

After the Republican offensive in the Aragon started on 24 August, the Nationalists immediately bolstered the aerial defence of the Aragon front by sending XXIII Gruppo Caccia to Saragossa-Sanjurjo. Led by Maggiore Andrea Zotti, the gruppo was comprised of 18^a, 19^a and 20^a Squadriglie, led by Capitani Guido Nobili, Enrico Degli Incerti and Antonio Larsimont Pergameni, respectively.
On 25 August these units were joined by the CR.32s of capitán Joaquín García Morato’s Grupo 2-G-3 and Maggiore Giuseppe Casero’s XVI Gruppo, consisting of 24^a, 25^a and 26^a Squadriglie, led by Capitani Bruno Brambilla and Armando François and Tenente Alfiero Mezzetti (CO from 3 August), respectively.
Finally, Maggiore Leotta’s VI Gruppo was also transferred from Villarcayo to Alfamèn on 28 August with its 31^a and 32^a Squadriglie, led by Capitani Luigi Borgogno and Ernesto Botto.
This was virtually all the CR.32s on mainland Spain with both the Spanish CR.32 Grupo and the whole 3^o Stormo Caccia dell’Aviazione Legionaria.

Maggiore Leotta left the command of the VI Gruppo on 16 March 1938.

Leotta ended the Spanish Civil War with 3 shared biplane victories.

He continued to serve during the Second World War.

In the beginning of 1941, he served as CO of the 154^o Gruppo CT, which was equipped with Fiat G.50bis.

On 10 February 1941, Italian bombers of all types made sustained attacks on Yanina. Fighters of both the EVA and the RAF patrolled and intercepted in a series of rather confused engagements. During the morning three formations of 47^o Stormo Z.1007bis and five S.79s from the 104^o Gruppo attacked Yanina. The latter formation were escorted by 154^o Gruppo CT G.50bis fighters, led by Maggiore (CO) Leotta. This formation was intercepted by a trio of 21 Mira Gladiators, but the escort were on them like a shot, Maggiore Leotta claiming one shot down and his pilots a second in collaboration. The Greek unit only lost one aircraft when Anthyposminagos (Second Lieutenant) Anastassios Bardivilias was shot down and killed.
Three Gladiators of 80 Squadron ('Pat' Pattle, Greg Graham and P. T. Dowding) had chased five Z.1007bis bombers during mid-morning (probably a formation from 47^o Stormo), but could not gain sufficient height to make an effective attack. Nevertheless they saw their fire strike two of the bombers, Flight Lieutenant Pattle claiming one damaged. During these morning raids bombs fell on the west and north sides of the airfield, but little damage was caused other than to one staff car.
The afternoon was practically a continual air raid alarm. Four S.79s of 104^o Gruppo attacked under escort by a dozen 154^o Gruppo G.50bis, the escort claiming a further Gladiator shot down when a single Allied fighter of this type intercepted. Ten more 47^o Stormo Z.1007bis crews reported attack by ten Gladiators and seven PZLs, claiming four Gladiators shot down. However seven of the bombers were hit, one of them badly, and a number of aircrew were wounded. Fourteen RAF Gladiators, 12 from 80 Squadron and two from 112 Squadron, undertook defensive patrols, during one of which Flying Officer Nigel Cullen chased away one formation of five trimotors, then attacked five more head-on (identified as S.79s) and chased these out to sea, claiming to have shot one down into the sea south of Corfu. Another formation identified as BR.20s, but almost certainly the 47^o Stormo Z.1007bis, was intercepted by Flight Lieutenant Pattle, Flight Lieutenant 'Timber' Woods and Sergeant Charles Casbolt, each of these pilots claiming one damaged, while Pilot Officer William Valecaught another which he reported crashed some 15 miles south-west of Yanina. At least five formations raided the airfield during the afternoon, an estimated 150 heavy bombs falling on or near the base. Three 80 Squadron Gladiators were damaged and one 21 Mira fighter was destroyed. In the nearby town much damage was caused and many civilians killed or injured.

He was promoted to Tenente Colonnello and took command of the 4^o Stormo.

Serie I and II MC.202s were delivered to the 9^o Gruppo at Gorizia from 30 June 1941 through to early August 1941, with pilots quickly transitioning to the aircraft.

On 24 September, 31 C.202s of the 9^o Gruppo departed Gorizia for Comiso, near Ragusa on Sicily. During the unit’s long journey south, its MC.202s made a brief stopover at Rome-Ciampino Sud airport so that they could be reviewed by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on 29 September. Later that same day, the 9^o Gruppo, led by the 4^o Stormo CO, Colonnello Leotta, reached Comiso. Within 24 hours of their arrival, the MC.202 pilots would enter combat against the fighter force on Malta.

Around midday on 25 October, four Cant Z.1007bis from the 9^o Stormo B.T. approached Grand Harbour, escorted by MC.200s of the 54^o Stormo as close cover, with 20 MC.202 of the 9^o Gruppo providing indirect support.
185 Squadron scrambled eight Hurricanes led by Flying Officer Gay Bailey (BD835) (11:35-12:30), which dived to attack the bombers (identified as BR.20s). Bailey reported:

“I was Red 1. When approaching Kalafrana from the south-east at 25,000 feet, I saw ack-ack bursts and then four enemy bombers. The e/a were heading towards us at about 20,000 feet. We dived for head-on attack. E/a turned and went out to sea. We caught them about six miles north-east of Grand Harbour. I opened fire on e/a on the left, fired one burst at 400 yards, and closed, firing. Broke off to the left and re-engaged and fired all my ammo. I noticed strikes on the starboard engine. Enemy fighters were circling above all the time. I was hit by a .5 bullet in fuselage.”

“I opened fire from 300 yards astern, my bullets entering the fuselage. I opened fire again from 200 yards, giving a six-second burst, and observed strikes on the fuselage and port engine. I closed in again, firing until my ammunition ran out, and again observed my bullets entering the port engine and wing-root. I broke away at 50 yards, and I think I stopped the port engine.”

“I was flying as Yellow 2, when I saw on my starboard side, about five miles away, four enemy bombers. I followed my No1, who went in to attack one of the bombers. I was about 300 yards behind him when an enemy all-black fighter with an in-line engine came up to attack Sgt Bates and crossed my sight. I fired, and got on his tail, firing continually until I saw three Macchis attacking from above, when I broke off firing. As I turned towards the other fighters and fired, I ran out of ammunition. The first Macchi I attacked was leaving a thin trail of smoke when I broke off and came back.”

“Sgt Knight did not return from this engagement and in the subsequent search, which lasted all afternoon, no trace of him could be found. It is assumed that he was jumped by the fighter cover. Sgt Knight showed great promise as a fighter pilot. He was deservedly popular with everyone and it is with sincere regret that I have to record his death.
It has been impressed on pilots that they must maintain pair formation under all circumstances. No2s have been told to keep with their No Is. This also applies conversely: No1s must keep with their No2s. It so often happens that the No1 has the superior machine, and if he goes ‘balls out’, his No2 cannot keep up. It therefore behoves the leader of the section to maintain a speed which enables his No2 to hold formation comfortably. Sgt Knight, flying a heavy cannon machine, was probably left behind with the disastrous results that we all know.”

At the time of his death, Leotta was credited with 3 shared biplane victories and a total of 1.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1937
	23/08/37		1/10	I-15 (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Ontaneda	VI Gruppo
	23/08/37		1/10	I-15 (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Ontaneda	VI Gruppo
	23/08/37		1/10	I-15 (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Ontaneda	VI Gruppo
	23/08/37		1/10	I-15 (a)	Probably shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Ontaneda	VI Gruppo
	23/08/37		1/10	I-15 (a)	Probably shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Ontaneda	VI Gruppo
	23/08/37		1/10	I-15 (a)	Probably shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Ontaneda	VI Gruppo
	1941
1	10/02/41	morning	1	Gladiator (b)	Destroyed	Fiat G.50bis		Yanina area	154o Gruppo

Biplane victories: 3 shared destroyed, 3 shared probably destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 and 3 shared destroyed, 3 shared probably destroyed.
(a) The 32^a Squadriglia claimed 3 I-15 destroyed and 3 probables. Only 1 I-15 is confirmed with Republican records when Francisco De Antonio Sanz was shot down.
(b) Claimed in combat with Gladiators from 21 Mira, which lost 1 Gladiator. The 154^o Gruppo claimed 2 Gladiators.

Sources:
Courage Alone - Chris Dunning, 1998 Hikoki Publications, Aldershot, ISBN 1-902109-02-3
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
Hurricanes over Malta - Brian Cull and Frederick Galea, 2001 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-91-8
Macchi C.202/C.205V Units In Combat – Marco Mattioli, 2022 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 978-1-4728-5068-3
Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41 - Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-89747-207-1
Regia Aeronautica: The Italian Air Force 1923-1945 - An Operational History - Chris Dunning, 2009 Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Surrey, ISBN 978-1-906537-02-9