Biplane fighter aces

Italy

Sottotenente Gino Martini

Decorations
Date Decoration Note
??/??/42 Medaglia d'argento al valor militare 1940-43

Gino Martini was from Imola (Bologna).

In November 1941, Martini belonged to 23o Autonomo CT, based at Pantelleria off Sicily. This unit was at this time equipped with Fiat CR.42s.

Early on 15 November 1941 five CR.42s of 23o Gruppo from Pantelleria were engaged in escorting some Ju 52/3m transports when they spotted three delivery Wellingtons of the OADU. The Italian fighters attacked and Sottotenente Martini shot down Wellington Z8989 in flames south-west of the island. In the same combat claimed Sergente Giuseppe Saracino a second Wellington as a probable. However only one aircraft was lost, the crew surviving and subsequently being picked up by a floatplane from Kalafrana.

Martini ended the war with 1 victory, this one being claimed while flying Fiat CR.42s.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1941              
1 15/11/41 1 Wellington (a) Destroyed Fiat CR.42   SW Pantelleria 23o Gruppo

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 destroyed.
(a) Wellington Z8989 of OADU shot down in flames. The crew survived and was picked by a RAF floatplane from Kalafrana.

Sources:
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell' A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 2 Volume M - Z
Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41 - Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-89747-207-1




Last modified 15 December 2022