Italy
Sergente Vittorio Pirchio
Italy
Sergente Vittorio Pirchio
| Date | Decoration | Note |
| ??/??/41 | Medaglia d'argento al valor militare | 1940-43 |
| ??/??/42 | Croce di guerra al valor militare | 1940-43 |
Vittorio Pirchio was from Andria (Bari).
In November 1940, Pirchio served in the 393a Squadriglia, 160o 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 Augusto Manetti and Sergente 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.
Pirchio ended the war with 3 shared biplane victories.
Claims:
| Kill no. | Date | 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 |
Biplane victories: 3 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 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.
Sources:
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
