Italy
Maggiore Pier Giuseppe Scarpetta
Italy
Maggiore Pier Giuseppe Scarpetta
Giuseppe Scarpetta took part in the Spanish Civil War were he served in the XVI Gruppo. During this conflict he claimed one victory.
In November 1940 Scarpetta was commander of 395a Squadriglia, 154o Gruppo Autonomo C.T., which was equipped with Fiat CR.42s and G.50s. The unit was at this time based at Beraf and operating over Greece.
On 11 November 1940 a Greek Blenheim from 32 Mira was lost, failing to return from a reconnaissance to the north-west of Kelcyre on behalf of a 8th Division.
This aircraft was encountered by CR.42s of 154o Gruppo near Poligrade, and was shot down by Capitano Giuseppe Scarpetta. Sminagos (Captain) Photius Maravelias and his crew were killed.
During the war Scarpetta also commanded 360a, 150a and 98a Squadriglias and finally 7o Gruppo.
Scarpetta was killed in combat on 14 August 1942.
He was decorated with three Medaglie d’argento and two Medaglie di bronzo during the war.
At the time of his death Scarpetta was credited with 2 biplane victories and a total of 6.
Claims:
| Kill no. | Date | Number | Type | Result | Plane type | Serial no. | Locality | Unit |
| 193? | ||||||||
| 1 | ??/??/3? | 1 | Enemy aircraft | Destroyed | Fiat CR.32 | Spanish Civil War | XVI Gruppo | |
| 1940 | ||||||||
| 2 | 11/11/40 | 1 | Blenheim (a) | Destroyed | Fiat CR.42 | NW Kelcyre | 395a Squadriglia |
Biplane victories: 2 destroyed.
TOTAL: 6 destroyed.
(a) Blenheim of 32 Mira lost. Sminagos (Captain) Photius Maravelias and his crew were killed.
Sources:
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999
Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete - Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia, 1987 Grub Street, London, ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Italian Aces of World War 2 - Giovanni Massimello and Giorgio Apostolo, 2000 Osprey Publishing, Oxford, ISBN 1-84176-078-1
Additional information kindly provided by Ondrej Repka.
