Vittorio Minguzzi was born on 5 March 1912 in Bagnacavallo (Ra).

He attended the Regia Aeronautica Academy’s Nibbio course (1933 - 1936).

On 1 October 1935, he was commissioned (in Servizio Permanente Effettivo).

He was posted to the 6^o Stormo at Gorizia in 1936.

Gorizia 1937.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

In 1937 he became commander of the 153^a Squadriglia and joined the acrobatic team that represented the Stormo.
He took part in several air shows among which was one in honour of Hitler in 1938, when the German leader visited Italy.

In June 1938, he volunteered for military service in the Spanish Civil War and was assigned to the XVI Gruppo as a Tenente.

Spain 1938.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

On 13 July, the first day of the offensive on Valencia, Nationalist fighter groups made two sorties without meeting any enemy aircraft.
During the second sortie, three Spanish He 51s were damaged and one was destroyed in a fourth attack, its pilot, teniente Rafael Serra Hamilton being killed when he was shot down by flak in the Tortosa area.
The Aviazione Legionaria were more successful, claiming four I-16s (or I-15s depending on source) and one SB over Sarrión, at the cost of one of their number. It seems that these claims were shared among 22 pilots and one of them was Sottotenente Elia Mussolin (32^a Squadriglia)
At 09:30, Tenente Minguzzi (25^a Squadriglia) claimed a shared I-15 over Albentosa. It is possible that this claim should be included in the claims above.

A probable I-15 was claimed over Venta de Camposines at 16:30 on 21 September.

At 16:00 on 23 September he claimed a shared I-16 over Corvera.

In October 1938 he was transferred to the XXIII Gruppo ’Asso di Bastoni’.
With this unit he flew a CR.32 coded “3-11” of the 19^a Squadriglia.

He claimed his first victory when he claimed an I-16 over Fatarella at 15:30 on 8 October.

At 16:00 on 9 October he claimed a shared I-16 together with three other pilots over Ascò.

At 12:00 on 28 December he claimed two I-15s over Aspa.

Spain 1938.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

Three I-15s were claimed damaged at 11:30 on 13 January 1939 over Montblanch.

At 09:30 on 1 February, Tenente Minguzzi of the 19^a Squadriglia claimed a shared I-16 together with three other pilots over Palamos.
It’s possible that Tenente Annibale Sterzi from the same unit claimed one I-16 in the same combat since he’s credited with one during the day.

At 09:50 on 5 February he claimed one Delphine and two I-16s destroyed on the ground at Villajuiga.

During the Spanish Civil War, he flew 127 sorties and took part in 11 air combats and 3 ground attack sorties.
He was credited with 3 and 4 shared victories, 1 probable and 3 destroyed on the ground.

At the end of the Spanish Civil War he was posted to the XXII Gruppo of the 52^o Stormo based at Roma-Ciampino, acting as commander of the 359^a Squadriglia with the rank of Capitano.

Two images from Ciampino in 1939.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

In the early 1940, the Stormo began the transition to Fiat G.50s.

In June 1940 he took part in the short campaign against France, performing 9 sorties from Pontedera airfield, mainly against Corsica.

In December 1940, the 22^o Gruppo dismissed the 357^a and 358^a Squadriglie and became autonomus from the 52^o Stormo.
In January 1941 the Gruppo included the 362^a and 369^a Squadriglie and began the transition to the Macchi MC.200.

In February 1941, the Gruppo moved to Tirana, as Gruppo Autonomo, to take part in the operations against Greece and Yugoslavia.

Tirana 1941.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

During the afternoon of 13 March Squadron Leader H. L. I. Brown led 14 Gladiators from 112 squadron and six of 33 Squadron's Hurricanes off from Paramythia for an offensive patrol over the Kelcyre area. Approaching Kelcyre at 15:30 on an altitude of 17,000 feet an estimated 14 S.79s were seen - aircraft from 104^o Gruppo B.T. - with an escort identified as 20 G.50bis and 20 plus CR.42s.
Three of the Hurricanes attacked the mass of fighters, followed by the Gladiators, and many individual dogfights ensued. Squadron Leader Brown attacked the leading fighter of a flight of three, but it evaded him successfully. He then got on the tail of another, which turned and dived and eventually crashed; he claimed a G.50 and another damaged. Flight Lieutenant Joseph Fraser attacked a CR.42, which had not seen him. He reported that it burst into flames and crashed near Bousi. Two more were claimed destroyed by Flying Officer Homer Cochrane and Pilot Officer Jack Groves, while Pilot Officers Neville Bowker and D. G. H. McDonald each claimed a probable CR.42.
The Gladiators reformed, then spotted about 30 more CR.42s with 38^o Stormo BR.20s. Seven of Flight Lieutenant Charles Fry’s ‘C’ Flight pilots went after the bombers, while Flight Lieutenant Fraser’s ‘A’ Flight tackled the fighters, claiming seven more shot down. Fraser attacked a CR.42, which flick-rolled and dived away. He followed it down and got in two long bursts after which the enemy aircraft levelled off and lost speed, with the pilot slumped forward in the cockpit. The aircraft then dived vertically into the ground north of Corovode. Fraser then climbed back up to 8,000 feet and got on the tail of another CR.42 firing at it continuously until it burst into flames and was destroyed. Fraser’s own aircraft was badly shot up, as was that of Pilot Officer Groves (after having claimed a second CR.42 and one damaged), but both managed to get back to base. Flying Officer Cochrane claimed two more CR.42s while Pilot Officer P. C. L. Brunton and Flying Officer E. H. Brown each claimed a CR.42.
The ‘G.50bis’ seem to have been 22^o Gruppo Macchi MC.200s, 11 of which accompanied 18 CR.42s from the 160^o Gruppo over the front. The Italian pilots claimed four Gladiators and one Hurricane shot down, losing just two CR.42s flown by Tenente Gualtiero Bacchi and Sottotenente Enzo Torroni (both from 375^a Squadriglia), but no MC.200s. It seems that Capitano Minguzzi claimed a probable Gladiator in this combat.
Although no claims were made against the bombers on this occasion, several were in fact hit and damaged, a number of crewmen being wounded.
In his combat report Fraser commented that the CR.42 pilots always tried to flick-roll when attacked.

At 10:30 on 14 March three of 33 Squadron's Hurricanes were off with twelve Gladiators to escort 211 Squadron Blenheims to the Tepelene-Kelcyre area, where a large formation of Italian fighters was reported, variously identified by the Hurricane pilots as twelve CR.42s, twelve G.50bis and twelve MC.200s, and by the Gladiator pilots as 40-50 CR.42s and G.50bis. In addition, ten Z.1007bis and five BR.20s were seen - aircraft from 47^o and 38^o Stormo respectively. The opposing fighters were 16 MC.200s from the 22^o Gruppo and twelve CR.42s of the 160^o Gruppo reporting meeting 20 Gladiators and eight Hurricanes, escorting five Blenheims.
Flight Lieutenant Charles Fry and his flight attacked the bombers, Fry himself claiming a BR.20 shot down north of Kelcyre near the front line after having attacked three formations of enemy bombers. Flying Officer D. H. V. Smith claimed a damaged BR.20 (and a probable G.50). 'C' Flight led by Flight Lieutenant Joseph Fraser became involved in a swirling dogfight with the Italian monoplane fighters, claiming four shot down, four probables and a damaged. Sergeant 'Paddy' Donaldson claimed two, both of which dived away pouring smoke, while Flight Lieutenant Fraser was attacked head-on by one, but managed to evade this and get on its tail, his fire causing the aircraft to roll onto its back and the pilot to bale out. One Macchi shot the tail off N5916 and Squadron Leader H. L. I. Brown managed to bale out only with the greatest difficulty; Pilot Officer Neville Bowker's Gladiator was also damaged after having claimed a probable G.50, which was seen going down out of control. Pilot Officer P. C. L. Brunton attacked one and appeared to knock bits off it so that it went into a spiral dive with smoke coming from it. Other claims were made by Flying Officer R. J. Bennett (one G.50), Flying Officer Homer Cochrane (one G.50) and Pilot Officer Jack Groves (one probable G.50).
The Hurricanes also engaged the Macchis, 33 Squadron claming two shot down and two probables, but after believing that he had got one of these, Flying Officer Holman was himself shot down and had to bale out. Flight Sergeant Leonard Cottingham claimed one and one probable of the 'monoplanes' while Pilot Officer Starett claimed one probable..
The Italian pilots claimed two Hurricanes and two Gladiators shot down on this occasion. It seems that Capitano Minguzzi claimed one of the Hurricanes and a shared in one of the Gladiators during this combat. The 22^o Gruppo lost Tenente Luigi Locatelli, who was killed, and Sergente Ferruccio Miazzo, who baled out, while Sottotenente Edgardo Vaghi's fighter was damaged. Gunners in one Cant Z.1007bis claimed one Gladiator shot down, and one bomber was damaged (reportedly by AA) returning with some of the crew wounded.

At 16:35 on 12 April, he fired on a Blenheim on the ground at Podgorica.

At 17:50 on 15 April, he fired on a Blenheim on the ground at Paramithia.

Between March and April 1941, Capitano Minguzzi flew 28 sorties with 3 air combats and 7 ground attack sorties over the Balkans.
He was credited with 1 and 1 shared destroyed and 1 probable and 9 destroyed on the ground.
The 22^o Gruppo and its four squadriglie claimed over 40 aircraft destroyed on ground during attacks on Podgorica, Mostar and Paramithia airfields and it was awarded a Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare for bravery.

In July 1941, the 371^a Squadriglia was assigned to the Gruppo to operate in Russia under the control of the CSIR.
The 22^o Gruppo was transferred on 9 August with a force of 51 MC.200s, 3 C.133s and 2 S.81s. All aircraft transferred through Tirana, Belgrade, Bucharest and Tudora arriving on 12 August without losses. Especially remarkable was the take-off from Belgrade in rain and with all the 51 Macchis of the four Squadriglie lined up in a right echelon.

On 27 August 1941, the 22^o Gruppo fought their first engagement in Russia when 17 Macchis covered the Italian Pasubio division of the CSIR in a mission between 15:00-18:30 over Dnjpropetrovsk-Nowomoskow.
Participating pilots were Capitano Enrico Meille, Maggiore Giovanni Borzoni, Capitano Minguzzi, Tenente Giovanni Cervellin, Tenente Carlo Miani, Tenente Giovanni Bonet, Tenente Pietro Durando, Tenente Michele Omicini, Tenente Dino Signorini, Tenente Giovanni Bond, Tenente Carlo Marchetto, Tenente Mario Longoni, Maresciallo Marcello Baracca, Maresciallo Rodolfo Stoppani, Maresciallo Marcello Lui, Sergente Lucio Biagin and Sergente Attilio Sanson.
At 17:15, they engaged Soviet fighters and bombers over Dnjpropetrovsk. Six SBs (reported as SB-2s) and two I-16s were claimed shot down with additional two SBs and two I-16s claimed as probably shot down. One of the SBs claimed as shot down was claimed by Capitano Minguzzi of 359^a Squadriglia.

Russia October 1941.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

Following the advance of the troops, Capitano Minguzzi’s 359^a Squadriglia moved to the airfields of Tudora, Krivoj Rog and Shaporeshje.
On 9 December 1941 the squadriglia moved to the advanced airfield at Stalino where it alone took part in the so called "Christmas battle" (25-29 December), being credited with 15 victories, but ending with only four MC.200s combat ready.

At dawn on 25 December, the Italian lines were attacked by Soviet troops and Italian fighters flew in support of the ground troops.
At 08:50, Capitano Minguzzi lead a section of C.200s from the 359^a Squadriglia. Over Bulawa they intercepted Soviet fighters and five of them were claimed shot down without losses. Minguzzi claimed one of them (as an I-180).

On 26 December, the six airworthy C.200s took off from the new base of Stalino led by Capitano Minguzzi, but they had to make a forced landing because they had lost their way, trapped as they were in a blanket of fog and mist.
A few hours later it was again the stubborn Minguzzi who took off with only three C.200s to attack a long column of armoured vehicles, at whose sides marched lines of men in battle gear. The men were slaughtered and the equipment and vehicles thoroughly destroyed in the attack from the air. The survivors ran off in all directions or flung themselves to the ground.

Shortly before noon on 28 December, the C.200s intercepted Soviet aircraft between Timofejevskiy and Polska. Nine Soviet aircraft were claimed shot down; six by the 359^a Squadriglia and three by the 369^a Squadriglia. Capitano Minguzzi claimed two I-16s over Timofejevskiy at 11:20 and 11:40.

In the evening on 28 December, Capitano Giorgio Iannicelli reached Stalino airfield with two other C.200s from the 369^a Squadriglia. Capitano Iannicelli had been appointed as temporary commander of the 22^o Gruppo following the return to Italy of the full-time commander on 12 December.
At 11:50 on 29 December, three C.200s from 359^a Squadriglia and two from the 369^a Squadriglia took off towards the frontline led by Capitano Iannicelli. They attacked three I-16s that were attacking the Italian positions. After a short a fierce combat, one of the Russian aircraft was shot down. Tenente Pietro Durando’s C.200, whose engine had been hit, was just able to make it back to Stalino airfield.
In the afternoon, Capitano Iannicelli decided, as a result of a discussion that he had had at the mess, that it would be best to return to the part of the frontline that was being subjected to a pounding from the VVS. Thus he placed himself at the head of three C.200s together with Capitano Minguzzi and Tenente Walter Benedetti. The three C.200s were all that the ground personnel were able to start up.
On returning from the lines, the small Italian formation intercepted some SBs, one of which was immediately shot down, but two I-16 patrols dived down from above just when Iannicelli remained alone in the sky. In fact, Tenente Benedetti’s aircraft had been had been hit in the first exchange of fire and Capitano Minguzzi had run out of ammunition. This left Iannicelli alone with the attacking I-16s. In a hard combat against a reported 20 fighters (reported as “Ratas” and Super Ratas”), Capitano Iannicelli was shot down near Bowolin and killed; he was awarded a posthumously Medaglia d’oro al valor militare.
Capitano Minguzzi, was appointed temporary commander of the 22^o Gruppo.

On 4 February 1942, nine C.200s from the 359^a and 369^a Squadriglie took off from Stalino airfield at 11:00 to attack a Soviet airfield, Krasnyi Liman. Ten Soviet aircraft were claimed destroyed on the ground and six others were claimed as damaged. Above the base, the Macchis faced five I-16s of which three were claimed shot down; one of the by Capitano Minguzzi. The C.200s returned to base without loss.

On 5 February, Krasnyi Liman was again attacked by the same units. This time eleven Soviet aircraft were claimed destroyed on the ground. Again, Soviet I-16s scrambled and two of them were claimed shot down; Capitano Minguzzi claimed one of them at 07:20.

Minguzzi left the temporary command of the 22^o Gruppo on 14 February 1942.

In the afternoon on 24 February 1942, six Macchis from 362^a (Giulio Torresi and Tenente Frank Passerini), 369^a (Tenente Renato Gori) and 359^a Squadriglie (Capitano Minguzzi, Tenente Giovanni Bonet and Sottotenente Arrigo Pederzoli), went for a patrol mission over the front. Over Alexandrowka they encountered a group of Soviet fighters (identified in the Squadriglie’s logbooks as not-well-specified "J-200s", but probably LaGGs or MiGs). At the end of the dogfight the Italians claimed jointly two fighters destroyed for no losses.
According to some sources they claimed one shared damaged and one shared probable.

On 28 February, a mixed formation from the 362^a Squadriglia (Capitano Germano La Ferla, Tenente Giovanni Beduz, Tenente Oberdan Militano, Tenente Giulio Torresi and Tenenente Frank Passerini), 369^a Squadriglia (Capitano Giovanni Cervellin, Tenente Walter Benedetti, Sottotenente Giuseppe Biron and Maresciallo Romano Pesavento) and 359^a Squadriglia (Capitano Minguzzi) led by the 22^o Gruppo’s CO, Maggiore Giuseppe D’Agostinis (on his first mission over the Eastern front) flew a fighter sweep. At 15:00, they intercept ten Soviet fighters identified as "I-26s" (probably Yak-1s) and "I-27s" (probably Yak-7s at 4,500 meters over Alexandrowka. Two "I-26s" were claimed as shared by the pilots from 362^a and 369^a Squadriglie together with Maggiore D’Agostinis. Capitano Minguzzi claimed one and one probable "I-27". Two C.200s were damaged in the combat but managed to return to Stalino airfield.

He operated from Stalino with the 359^a Squadriglia until 5 March 1942, facing a hard struggle in the Russian winter with snow storms, Siberian winds, iced ground and temperatures in the order of -54^o C.

Capitano Minguzzi’s 359^a Squadriglia returned with the 22^o Gruppo to Italy before the transformation of CSIR into ARMIR. In fact, the Squadriglia was the first to leave Stalino airfield on 12 March. They left their worn-out C.200s in Russia and was replaced by the 21^o Gruppo.
The 22^o Gruppo flew 68 missions, took part in 19 air combats and flew 11 ground attack missions in Russia.
The Gruppo was credited with 66 destroyed, 16 probables and 45 damaged and awarded a Medaglia d’argento al valor militare.

Russia 1942.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

Until March 1942 Minguzzi was credited 8 (according to his logbook) and 33 shared victories, 3 and 13 shared destroyed on the ground, 1 locomotive, about 20 armoured cars and carriages.

The 22^o Gruppo was then posted to Napoli-Capodichino, and equipped with the Reggiane Re.2001 to be used in the role as fighter-bomber. At Naples airbase Minguzzi took command over the 22^o Gruppo, first as Capitano IGS then full command with the rank of Maggiore.

The 22^o Gruppo (359^a, 362^a and 369^a Squadriglie) flew naval escorts and then took part in the “battle of mid-August” before being sent to Sicily to take part in the offensive in October 1942 against Malta.

The unit was then sent to Sardinia to counteract Operation Torch.

During this period, Minguzzi flew 28 sorties and took part in 2 air combats and 4 bombing sorties.

Having been struck by a typhoid infection on 13 November 1942 he was admitted to hospital where he stayed until January 1943 when he retook command of the 22^o Gruppo at Napoli-Capodichino, where the Gruppo had the task of defending the city and the port.
The Gruppo was organised now into four Squadriglie (359^a, 362^a, 369^a and 371^a Squadriglie) operating a mixed complement of aircraft; Macchi C.202s, Re.2001s, MC.200s and CR.42s for night flying.
In the end of February the 359^a Squadriglia also received eight Dewoitine D.520s

Minguzzi was promoted to Maggiore on 2 February 1943.

On 1 March 1943, 20 B-24s from the 98th BG and nine from the 376th BG took off to attack Naples harbour. Seven returned early, but two from the 376th BG were attacked over Messina by a MC.200 of the 161^o Gruppo and were forced to return to base, escorted by a third. The 19 remaining delivered their bombs on target around 16:30 hitting and sinking the Italian torpedo-boat Monsone, the German transport Roha (1,388 tons) and two smaller vessels (Eugenio and Pierangela). B-24D 41-23789/’K’ Thunderbird from 415th BS, 98th BG, was shot down by fighters and the pilot 1st Lieutenant Virgil M. Anders and his crew of eight became MiA.
Over Naples they were intercepted by 22 fighters from the 22^o Gruppo (eleven MC.202s, ten MC.200s and one D.520), which claimed three B-24s shot down at 17:35. Maggiore Minguzzi (CO 22^o Gruppo) claimed one probable (later upgraded to destroyed) over Capri in the Dewoitine D.520 from 362^a Squadriglia (this was probably the first Italian claim using this type), Tenente Riccardo Monaco (371^a Squadriglia) claimed one destroyed at 17:35 in a MC.202 and Tenente Giulio Torresi (371^a Squadriglia) claimed a third as a shared with other pilots in a MC.202.
Two MC.202s returned damaged but Tenente Monaco (371^a Squadriglia) in MM9055 and Sottotenente Ezio Dell’Acqua (359^a Squadriglia) were safe. A third MC.202 force-landed after combat but Sottotenente Gino Ferracini (369^a Squadriglia) was also safe.
Leutnant Rudi Dassow, who was taking part in training on the Me 210 of 7./ZG 1, also took part in the interception and was credited with a probable B-24 for which he received an Italian decoration.

The Gruppo received the prototype of the Re.2005 (MM494) and Minguzzi made the first flight with this aircraft on 7 March 1943. He continued together with the most able pilots in the Gruppo to fly this aircraft until 23 March and they all had a very favourable and enthusiastic impression of this aircraft.
He then brought it to Napoli-Capodichino where it was incorporated into 362^a Squadriglia but remained at the deposition of the Gruppo commander.

On 24 March, he made the first scramble take-off with the Re.2005 when Naples was attacked.

At Naples, 23 fighters from the 22^o Gruppo (11 MC.202, six MC.200s, five D.520s and one Re.2005), led by Maggiore Minguzzi (Re.2005 MM494/362), were scrambled between 18:35-19:15 on 2 April to intercept a formation of B-24s from the 98th BG.
Minguzzi claimed one B-24 over the Isle of Ischia at 18:55 and he returned with damage from return fire on his Re.2005. A second B-24 was claimed as destroyed and credited to the whole 22^o Gruppo. A MC.202 was also damaged by return fire in this interception.
No USAAF B-24s were lost at this occasion.

B-24Ds from 98th BG raided Naples in the evening on 11 April 1943, forcing the 22^o Gruppo and 51^o Stormo to take off at full strength. At Capodichino, eight MC.202s, three MC.200s and three Re.2005s were scrambled at 18:35 while 15 MC.202s from the 51^o Stormo scrambled from Capua.
Six or seven B-24s were claimed destroyed in the Naples area. Three of them were destroyed 18:35-19:35 by the Re.2005s from the 362^a Squadriglia when Sottotenente Armando Moresi claimed two and one shared with Maresciallo Marecello Baccara. A fourth was claimed 18:40-19:50 as a shared by four MC.202s from the 20^o Gruppo; Tenente Gustavo Castellano (151^a Squadriglia), Sottotenente Stefano Bolduri (352^a Squadriglia), Tenente Berardo Crucioli (352^a Squadriglia) and Sottotenente Bruno Citelli (353^a Squadriglia). A fifth was claimed as a shared among eight unknown pilots from the 155^o Gruppo at 18:40-19:50. It is also known that Maggiore Minguzzi (CO 22^o Gruppo) claimed a shared B-24 together with two other pilots at 19:05 while flying a Re.2005 but it’s not known if this claim is included in the claims above. One B-24 was also claimed by Flak over Naples.
The MC.202s from the 155^o Gruppo claimed two additional B-24s as damaged between 18:40-19:50. These claims were made by Tenente Pietro Zanello (351^a Squadriglia) and Sottotenente Pierpaolo Paravicini (360^a Squadriglia).
Sottotenente Moresi’s Re.2005 was hit by return fire and he was forced to bale out and was rescued while Tenente Gustavo Castellano’s (151^a Squadriglia) MC.202 was shot down; he baled out but unfortunately drowned.
The 98th BG reported being intercepted in the Naples area at 17:15-17:25 and claimed seven fighters shot down and three probably destroyed:
Staff Sergeant Sauer tail gunner in B-24D 42-40102 from 345th BS claimed one destroyed Bf 109 and one probably destroyed MC.202.
Staff Sergeant Frantz tailgunner in B-24D 42-11776 from 345th BS claimed one destroyed Bf 109.
Sergeant Tuegeon left waist gunner in B-24D 198/C from 344th BS claimed one probably destroyed Bf 109.
Technical Sergeant Bray front gunner in B-24D 41-23781 from 343rd BS claimed one destroyed Bf 109.
Sergeant Pyles gunner in B-24D 41-23781 from 343rd BS claimed one destroyed MC.202.
Staff Sergeant Ely waist gunner in B-24D 815/G from 415th BS claimed one destroyed Bf 109.
The top turret gunner in B-24D 782/E from 415th BS claimed one destroyed Bf 109.
The tail gunner in B-24D 782/E from 415th BS claimed one probably destroyed FW 190 (most probably one of the MC.200s).
Technical Sergeant L. Johnson engineer/gunner in B-24D 782/E from 415th BS claimed one destroyed Bf 109.
343rd BS lost B-24D 41-23781 ‘U’ ”Arkansas Traveler II” over Naples with Lieutenant George Groff and nine crew becoming MiA. 415th BS lost B-24D 42-40197 ‘I’ ”Hot Rocks” when it had its’ tail blown off by a small aerial bomb 9,6km south of Naples at 17:18. 1st Lieutenant Keane B. McGhee and three of the crew were KiA while five became PoWs. The aerial bomb was supposedly dropped by an MC.200 and fused to explode mid-air.

During April 362^a Squadriglia received three more Re.2005s from the “0-serie” (MM092344 (362-1?), MM092345 (362-2) and MM092346 (362-3)).
The number of Re.2005s in the 22^o Gruppo were never to exceed eight.

At 13:30 on 28 April, the 22^o Gruppo scrambled four Re.2005s, eleven MC.202s and one Dewoitine D.520 from Capodichino to intercept a large group of Liberators, escorted by thirty fighters, which were out to bomb Naples. The Re.2005s were flown by Maggiore Minguzzi (Re.2005 MM494/362), Capitano Germano La Ferla (MM092344/362-1), Tenente Giulio Torresi (MM092345/362-2) and Sergente Sergio Donati, (MM092346/362-3).
At 7000 metres they intercepted a reported 30 B-24s flying in two sections each composed of three flights of five bombers. It is reported that Maggiore Minguzzi initially used the so-called ”Greek bowlers”, which were dropped above enemy formations, with barometric capsules calibrated to explode at the bombers’ flight altitude (the effectiveness of these bombs are not known). It was reported from this mission:

”On 28 April 1943 Maggiore Minguzzi dropped a 100 kg anti-aircraft bomb at an altitude higher than 500 m in the horizontal plane according to the enemy's route. He then fired approximately 6,000 rounds of 12.7 mm machine gun fire and 500 rounds of 20 mm at two raiding aircraft.”

Two more Re.2005s arrived on 15 May.

On 21 June he took part in four scrambles and the unit claimed totally 6 probable B-24s shot down and 10 damaged of which Minguzzi claimed two damaged.
Two bombers were later confirmed as destroyed but by unknown pilots.

On 10 July the unit was deployed to Sicily with eight Re.2005s in the defence of the Allied landings on the island but four days later all aircraft were out of service and they soon returned to the mainland and the defence of Rome.

On 16 July the Gruppo received two Re.2005s but none were able to operate against the formations which bombed Rome on 19 July. Maggiore Minguzzi took part in three scrambles and the Gruppo claimed only 11 bombers damaged.

He made a scramble take-off with a Re.2005 (MM495 – the second prototype) from Capua at 14.20 on 20 July. During the climb the engine caught fire. He put the aircraft into a dive to try to put out the fire before trying an emergency landing. In an attempt to reduce speed he guided the aircraft onto the top of a row of poplar trees before landing the aircraft on its belly in the clearing bellow. The impact was very violent and the aircraft disintegrated but the pilot survived.
He was hospitalised at Aversa hospitla and this was the end of his combat flying in the Regia Aeronautica.

Remnants of Re.2005 MM495 in which Minguzzi crashed on 20 July 1943.
Image kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.

The period of the defence of Naples had been very hard and Manguzzi had been flying MC.200s, MC.202s. D.520s and Re.2005s. He had often been flying with Sergente Maggiore Biagini. During this period, he was credited with 3 and 6 shared four-engined bombers and 11 probables. These were claimed in 36 sorties and 8 air combats.

After the Italian capitulation on 8 September, he joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force as a flying instructor on P-39 Airacobras and A-187 Baltimores at Campo Vesuvio e Gaudo. He also served as flying school Director at Frosinone.

During the war, he was decorated with several foreign decorations. He was also rewarded with one higher rank promotion and one advancement in the promotion list.

Vittorio Minguzzi claimed 3 biplane victories and a total of 15 during the Second World War.
Between 1 June 1938 and 20 July 1943, he flew 1051 hours of operational flying, took part in 296 sorties, 34 air combats and 24 bombing and ground attack sorties.

At the end of the war in June 1945 he was promoted to Tenente Colonnello and continued his service in the Italian Air Force where he reached the highest rank before retiring in 1970.

Vittorio Minguzzi passed away in 1977.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1938
	13/07/38	09:30	1/?	I-15	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Albentosa	25a Squadriglia
	21/09/38	16:30	1	I-15	Probable	Fiat CR.32		Venta de Camposines	25a Squadriglia
	23/09/38	16:00	1/2	I-16	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32		Corbera	25a Squadriglia
1	08/10/38	15:30	1	I-16	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Fatarella	19a Squadriglia
	09/10/38	16:00	1/4	I-16	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Ascò	19a Squadriglia
2	28/12/38	12:00	1/4	I-15	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Aspa	19a Squadriglia
3	28/12/38	12:00	1/4	I-15	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Aspa	19a Squadriglia
	1939
	13/01/39	11:30	1	I-15	Damaged	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Montblanch	19a Squadriglia
	13/01/39	11:30	1	I-15	Damaged	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Montblanch	19a Squadriglia
	13/01/39	11:30	1	I-15	Damaged	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Montblanch	19a Squadriglia
	01/02/39	09:30	1/4	I-16	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Palamos	19a Squadriglia
	05/02/39	09:50	1	Delphine	Destroyed on the ground	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Villajuiga	19a Squadriglia
	05/02/39	09:50	1	I-16	Destroyed on the ground	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Villajuiga	19a Squadriglia
	05/02/39	09:50	1	I-16	Destroyed on the ground	Fiat CR.32	’3-11’	Villajuiga	19a Squadriglia
	1941
	13/03/41	15:15	1	Gladiator (a)	Probable	Macchi MC.200		Trebescines	359a Squadriglia
4	14/03/41	10:50	1	Hurricane (b)	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Tepeleni	359a Squadriglia
	14/03/41	10:50	1/4	Gladiator (b)	Shared destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Tepeleni	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	12:30	1	Bücher	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	12:30	1	Bücher	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	12:30	1	Blenheim	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	12:30	1	Blenheim	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	12:30	1	Blenheim	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	18:00	1	Bücher	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
	13/04/41	18:00	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Macchi MC.200		Mostar	359a Squadriglia
5	27/08/41	17:15	1	SB	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Dnjepropetrovsk	359a Squadriglia
6	25/12/41	08:50	1	I-180	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Bulawa	359a Squadriglia
7	28/12/41	11:20	1	I-16	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Timofejevskiy	359a Squadriglia
8	28/12/41	11:40	1	I-16	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Timofejevskiy	359a Squadriglia
9	29/12/41	11:40	1	SB-2	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Balka Tolstaje	359a Squadriglia
	1942
10	04/02/42	11:00	1	I-16	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Krasnyi Liman	22o Gruppo
11	05/02/42	07:20	1	I-16	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Krasnyi Liman	22o Gruppo
	11/02/42	14:30	1/?	I-16	Shared damaged	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	11/02/42	14:30	1/?	I-16	Shared damaged	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	11/02/42	14:30	1/?	I-16	Shared damaged	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	11/02/42	14:30	1/?	I-16	Shared damaged	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	11/02/42	14:30	1/?	I-16	Shared damaged	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	24/02/42	15:00	1/6	’J-200’ (c)	Shared destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	24/02/42	15:00	1/6	’J-200’ (c)	Shared destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
12	28/02/42	15:00	1	I-27	Destroyed	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	28/02/42	15:00	1	I-27	Probable	Macchi MC.200		Alexandrowka	359a Squadriglia
	27/12/42	15:40	1	Spitfire	Damaged	Reggiane Re.2001		Malta	22o Gruppo
	1943
13	01/03/43	17:35	1	B-24 (d)	Destroyed	Dewoitine D.520		Capri	22o Gruppo
	20/03/43	17:00	1	B-24	Damaged	Macchi MC.202		Napoli	22o Gruppo
14	02/04/43	18:55	1	B-24 (e)	Destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Isle of Ischia	22o Gruppo
	02/04/43	19:15	1/23	B-24 (e)	Shared destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Naples area	22o Gruppo
	11/04/43	19:05	1/3	B-24 (f)	Shared destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005		Napoli	22o Gruppo
15	28/04/43	13:15	1	B-24 (g)	Destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared damaged	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared probably destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared probably destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared probably destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	28/04/43	13:15	1/16	B-24 (g)	Shared probably destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005	MM494/362	Capri	22o Gruppo
	21/06/43	13:30	1/3	B-24	Shared probably destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005		Napoli	22o Gruppo
	21/06/43	13:30	1/4	B-24	Shared destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005		Napoli	22o Gruppo
	21/06/43	13:30	1/4	B-24	Shared destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005		Napoli	22o Gruppo
	21/06/43	13:30	1/4	B-24	Shared destroyed	Reggiane Re.2005		Napoli	22o Gruppo
	15/07/43	12:30	1	B-17	Damaged	Dewoitine D.520		Napoli	22o Gruppo
	19/07/43	12:00	1	B-17	Damaged	Macchi MC.202		Capri	22o Gruppo

Biplane victories: 3 and 4 shared destroyed, 1 probable, 3 damaged, 3 destroyed on the ground.
TOTAL: 15 and 12 shared destroyed, 12 and 1 shared probables, 7 and 15 shared damaged, 10 destroyed on the ground.
(a) Claimed in combat with Gladiaotrs from 112 Squadron and Hurricanes from 33 Squadron. 112 Squadron claimed 10 CR.42s destroyed, 2 probables and 1 damaged and 1 ‘G.50bis’ and 1 damaged without losses. MC.200s from 22^o Gruppo and CR.42s from 160^o Gruppo claimed four Gladiators and one Hurricane shot down, losing two CR.42s flown by Tenente Gualtiero Bacchi and Sottotenente Enzo Torroni (both from 375^a Squadriglia), but no MC.200s.
(b) Claimed in combat with Hurricanes from 33 Squadron and Gladiators from 112 Squadron. 112 Squadron claimed 5 destroyed, 2 probables and 1 damaged G.50s and 1 destroyed and 1 damaged BR.20 while losing 1 Gladiator. 33 Squadron claimed 2 'monoplanes' and 2 probables while losing 1 Hurricane. Z.1007bis and BR.20s from 47^o and 38^o Stormo and MC.200s from the 22^o Gruppo and CR.42s of the 160^o Gruppo claimed 2 Hurricanes and 3 Gladiators while losing 2 MC.200s and getting 1 MC.200 and 1 Z.1007bis damaged.
(c) According to some sources they claimed one shared damaged and one shared probable.
(d) Claimed in combat with B-24s from 98th and 376th BGs, which lost 1 B-24D (crew MiA). 22^o Gruppo claimed 3 B-24s while suffering 3 damaged MC.202s. 7./ZG 1 claimed 1 probable B-24 without losses.
(e) No USAAF B-24s were lost at this occasion.
(f) Claimed in combat against B-24Ds from 98th BG, which claimed 7 fighters destroyed and 3 probably destroyed while losing 2 B-24Ds. The 22^o, 20^o and 155^o Gruppi claimed 6 or 7 destroyed B-24s and 2 damaged while losing 1 Re.2005 (pilot safe) and 1 MC.202 (pilot KiA). 1 B-24 was claimed by Flak.
(g) Probably claimed in combat with B-24Ds from the 376th BG, which claimed 1 Bf 109 destroyed while losing 1 B-24D. 22^o Gruppo claimed 2 destroyed B-24, 4 probables and 10 damaged while suffering 3 damaged fighters.

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
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Three – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk & Winfried Bock, 2016 Grub Street, London, ISBN-13: 9781910690000
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Ali Sulla Steppa: La Regia Aeronautica nella campagna di Russia – Nicola Malizia, 2008 IBN Editore, Roma, ISBN 88-7565-049-7
Annuario Ufficiale Delle Forze Armate Del Regno D’Italia Anno 1943. Part III Regia Aeronautica – 1943 Istituto Poligrafico Dello Stato, Roma
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell’ A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 2 Volume M - Z
Gli Assi Italiani Della Regia Aeronautica - Givanni Massimello, 2023 Difesa Servizi SpA Edizioni Rivista Aeronautica, ISBN 9788888180779
Regia Aeronautica
Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario - Maurizio Di Terlizzi, 2001 IBN Editore Aviolibri No. 4, Roma, ISBN 88-86815-38-7
Shark Squadron - The history of 112 Squadron 1917-1975 - Robin Brown, 1994 Crécy Books, ISBN 0-947554-33-5
Service record and log book of Generale S. A. Vittorio Minguzzi kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.
Additional information kindly provided by Jean Michel Cala, Ferdinando D'Amico, Carlo Minguzzi and Stefano Lazzaro.