Bruno Mondini was born on 15 December 1914 and was from Caprino Veronese (Verona).

On 1 October 1936, he was commissioned (in Servizio Permanente Effettivo).

He served as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War.

Mondini was promoted to Capitano on 12 October 1939.

On 23 December 1940, the 358^a Squadriglia, 22^o Gruppo C.T. commanded by Capitano Annibale Sterzi (a veteran from the Spanish Civil War with one confirmed victory in that conflict) arrived from Italy to Castel Benito with nine Fiat G.50bis. Pilots of the Squadriglia were, apart from Sterzi, Tenente Mondini, Maresciallo Ottorino Muscnelli, Sergente Enzo Falcinelli, Sottotenente Leonardo Venturini, Sergente Maggiore Antonio Patriarca, Sottotenente Francesco Vichi, Sergente Alvinio Marinucci, Sergente Alfredo Di Spiezio. Three more pilots followed in the Caproni Ca.133 of the Squadriglia (Tenente Angelo Merati, Maresciallo Marco Aicardi and Sergente Fernando Giordano). Other pilots of the unit (Tenente Giorgio Gasperoni and Sergente Gastone Gambari) suffered accidents during their transfer. The Fiat G.50 of Gambari was written off while Gasperoni was forced to land back at Palermo.

On 25 January, four Gladiators of 3 RAAF Squadron flown by Flight Lieutenant D. Campbell (N5857), Flight Lieutenant Alan Rawlinson (K7963), Flying Officer Peter Turnbull (L9044) and Pilot Officer J. C. Campbell (K8022) took off from Tmini at 07:30 to carry out a protective patrol over the Armoured Brigades operating in the Mechili area. Whilst flying at 600m, 13km south-east of Mechili, five G.50s, which were flying at 3000m, attacked and broke the Gladiators formation. During the combat, 22-year-old Pilot Officer James Chippindall Campbell (RAAF no. 634) was shot down and killed, while Flight Lieutenant Campbell was forced to make an emergency landing in the desert and the other two biplanes were damaged. Flying Officer Turnbull recalled:

”My position in the flight was astern of the Vic. Formation acting as swinger when E/A. was first sighted. The formation immediately turned east and we were over our advanced troops when first attacked by E/A. Each time I was attacked from astern and above and to avoid being hit, I made a side-slipping turn back underneath. As the E/A passed overhead, it made a climbing turn to the left, and I was able to get well within range by turning right. I was attacked nine times and each time I carried out the above avoiding action, but three of my guns ceased to fire owing to stoppages during the first attack and the fourth after the fifth attack. Could see bullets hitting E/A during the third, fourth and fifth attacks, which were at close range.
The E/A appeared to be similar to that of a Breda 65 but the pilots cockpit was well back near the trailing edge of main planes. This being the only outstanding point which could be seen at the time. They were very fast, and by the dust made by their fire on the ground, they appeared to be armed with two.5’s."

”We first noticed the enemy while we were proceeding west about 8 miles South East of Mechili. We were at 2000’ and they were at approx. 10 000’ and on the port forward quarter.
I turned the formation to the east and the enemy immediately gave chase. They made a stern attack from above, breaking up our formation. I received a bullet through the starboard upper mainplane while turning away. I then made a quarter attack and received another burst from behind through my elevator.
I then found that I was to one side of the engagement which consisted of two gladiators and two enemy machines. While moving across to join the other two I was again attacked from astern and above, the centre section being hit. I forced landed at the same spot and watched three enemy machines proceeding Westward. After making an inspection of my machine I flew back to TMIMI. The ammunition used by the enemy was.5” explosive bullets. They were radial engine, low wing monoplanes with no well defined hump on the pilot’s cockpit. At first however we thought they were Hurricanes since we had expected Hurricanes to be patrolling the area and the silhouette was similar.”

Later in the year he was promoted to Capitano and appointed to the 386^a Squadriglia, 21^o Gruppo CT, which was equipped with Fiat CR.42s.

On 27 September 1941, CR.42s from the unit were despatched to Sardinia on temporary duty from Caopdichino, Italy. On the 28th they reportedly intercepted three strafing Blenheims over Elmas. Capitano Mondini claiming one shot down. This was probably Beaufighters from 272 Squadron, which had strafed Cagliari airfield, Sardinia. No losses were reported by the British formation.

In 1942/43 he was part of the Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia (CSIR) (the Italian Expeditionary Force to Russia) as CO of 386^a Squadriglia, 21^o Gruppo C.T. This unit was at first equipped with MC.200s and later with a few MC.202s.

The 21^o Gruppo (356^a, 361^a (arriving in June), 382^a and 386^a Squadriglie) gradually replaced the 22^o Gruppo in Russia during April-May 1942.

On 8 May1942, the 21^o Gruppo had their “baptism of fire”. In the morning the fighters carries out a general attack cruise over the Slawjansk area. Nothing was seen over the area and the fighters return to Stalino airfield.
Three hours later, three C.200s from the 386^a Squadriglia led by Capitano Mondini took off to escort a German Hs 126 on a reconnaissance mission over Slawjansk and Majaki. Over Majaki, the three Italians found themselves face to face with a reported twelve “Super Ratas”, which attacked. In a short engagement, Sergente Maggiore Pietro Greco was shot down and killed but the two remaining pilots returned claiming two enemies shot down. In fact, it seems that one Soviet aircraft was lost in this combat.

On 12 June, the 21^o Gruppo moved from Stalino to Berwenkowo airfield with 23 Macchi C.200s.

In the beginning of July, the CSIR was transformed into the ARMIR (Armata Italiana in Russia).
On 9 July, the Italian fighters moved to Makejewka airfield, the first to arrive were the aircraft of 382^a and 386^a Squadriglie. This was to take part in the advance across the Don.
The advance was so rapid that the 382^a and 386^a Squadriglie were moved still further forward and on 24 July they moved to Tanziskaja airfield.
Later they moved forward to Obliskaja.

The 21^o Gruppo was back in Italy by April 1943.

In 1943, he served in the 52^o Stormo.

For his service in Russia, he was awarded with the German Iron Cross 2nd Class together with six other pilots.

After Capitano Domenico Bevilacqua had been killed on 10 June 1943, Capitano Giuseppe Costantini shortly took (temporary) command of the 151^o Gruppo.
Capitano Costantini left the command of the Gruppo later in the month, when Maggiore Mondini took over the command.
Maggiore Mondini where to remain in command of the Gruppo until the end of the war in September 1943.

Mondini ended the war with 1 biplane victory and a total of 3.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
1	25/01/41	07:30-09:30	1	Gladiator (a)	Destroyed	Fiat G.50bis	MM6346	Mechili area	358a Squadriglia
2	25/01/41	07:30-09:30	1	Gladiator (a)	Destroyed	Fiat G.50bis	MM6346	Mechili area	358a Squadriglia
3	28/09/41		1	Blenheim (b)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Elmas	386a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 3 destroyed.
(a) Claimed in combat with Gladiators from 3 RAAF Squadron, which claimed three G.50s damaged while losing one Gladiator and getting three lightly damaged. The 358^a Squadriglia claimed four Gladiators without losses.
(b) Probably Beaufighters from 272 Squadron, which didn't suffer any losses.

Sources:
53^o Stormo - Marco Mattioli, 2010 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 978-1-84603-977-5
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
Hurricanes over Tobruk - Brian Cull with Don Minterne, 1999 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-11-X
Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41 - Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-89747-207-1
National Archives of Australia
Additional information kindly provided by Ondrej Repka and Ludovico Slongo.