Augusto Manetti was from Livorno.

In November 1940, Manetti served in the 393^a Squadriglia, 160^o Gruppo Autonomo C.T., which was equipped with Fiat CR.42s. The unit was at this time operating over Greece.

In the afternoon on 14 November, while on a cover patrol over the airfields in the Koritza area, four CR.42s flown by Sottotenente Ugo Drago, Sottotenente Ernesto Trevisi, Sergente Manetti and Sergente Vittorio Pirchio intercepted two P.Z.L. P.24s, but they were a trap, as ten more enemy fighters were waiting higher. In the ensuing dogfight Drago claimed two enemy biplanes shot down individually and three more shared with the other three pilots.
The Greeks shot down Trevisi, who was killed, and Manetti, who baled out over Italian held territory, while Pirchio's aircraft was badly shot-up and he was wounded in the left foot; his fighter overturned on landing.
Epismingos Theodoropoulos and his pilots from 23 Mira submitted claims for eight CR.42s during the day. A number of PZLs may have been damaged, and some possibly shot down but no Greek pilots were killed or wounded during this engagement.

On 15 July 1942, six US B-24s and Liberators of 159 Squadron undertook the long flight from St Jean to attack the harbour and shipping at Benghazi. One RAF crew saw another of the unit's aircraft under attack by fighters, this spiralling down into the sea. This was also reported by the American crews.
At 17:50, two MC.200s of the 150^o Gruppo had intercepted Liberators over Benghazi. Maresciallo Manetti (363^a Squadriglia) claimed one shot down in flames and Sergente Maggiore Bruno Benassi, of the same unit, chased and hit another, claiming this as a probable.
Liberator II AL566 of 159 Squadron was shot down by fighters. All seven of the crew were KiA; Pilot Officer J. C. Pottie (RAAF), Warrant Officer W. S. Miller, Pilot Officer H. Leisk (RAAF), Pilot Officer G. G. Mallaby (RAAF), Flight Sergeant M. C. Fell (MiD, RNZAF), Flight Sergeant J. S. A. Hodge and Flight Sergeant H. E. Birk (RAAF). Flight Sergeant Birk’s body was washed ashore at Guiliana and is buried in Benghazi War Cemetery.

Manetti ended the war with 3 shared biplane victories and a total of 1.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1940
	14/11/40		1/4	PZL P.24 (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Koritza area	393a Squadriglia
	14/11/40		1/4	PZL P.24 (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Koritza area	393a Squadriglia
	14/11/40		1/4	PZL P.24 (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Koritza area	393a Squadriglia
	1942
1	15/07/42	17:50	1	B-24 (b)	Destroyed	MC.200		Benghazi	363a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 3 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 and 3 shared destroyed.
(a) Claimed in combat with PZL P.24s from 23 Mira. Italian fighters claimed eight P.24s over Koritza during the day while losing two aircraft and getting a third damaged. 23 Mira claimed eight CR.42s. A number of PZLs may have been damaged, and some possibly shot down but no Greek pilots were killed or wounded during this engagement.
(b) Claimed in combat with US B-24 and Liberators from 159 Squadron, which lost 1 Liberator (crew KiA). 363^a Squadriglia claimed 1 and 1 probable without losses.

Sources:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Two – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk & Winfried Bock, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN-13: 9781909166127
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 2 Volume M - Z
Royal Air Force Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean, Volume 1: 1939-1942 - David Gunby and Pelham Temple, 2006 Midland Publishing, ISBN 1-85780-234-9