6 February 1915 – 1 July 1944

Giulio Torresi was born in Ancona on 6 February 1915.

He graduated as a Sottotenente pilota in the Regia Aeronautica on 4 November 1935.
After graduation he was posted to 2^o Stormo Caccia on 16 January 1936. On 1 April 1936 he was posted to 19^o Stormo Osservazione Aerea (Reconnaissance) before being posted to 1^o Stormo Caccia on 16 June 1936.

Later he was posted to the 77^a Squadriglia.

The 13^o Gruppo (77^a, 78^a and 82^a Squadriglie) of the 2^o Stormo C.T. was commanded by Maggiore Secondo Revetria and started the war based at Tripoli Castelbenito airfield with twenty-five CR.42s and eleven CR.32s on hand (the CR.32s, kept as a reserve, were later passed on to the 50^o Stormo Assalto) to guard against a possible French attach from the west.
Pilots in the 77^a Squadriglia were: Capitano Mario Fedele (CO), Tenente Eduardo Sorvillo (recently arrived from 4^o Stormo), Tenente Torresi, Sottotenente Gianmario Zuccarini, Sottotenente Mario Fabbricatore, Sergente Maggiore Ernesto Scalet, Sergente Maggiore Leone Basso, Sergente Maggiore Agostino Fausti, Sergente Raoul Scodellari, Sergente Ernesto Paolini, Sergente Enrico Botti (recently arrived from 53^o Stormo), Sergente Amedeo Benati and Sergente Vincenzo Campolo. These pilots had twelve CR.42s (including Maggiore Revetria’s and Colonnello Federici’s) (eight combat ready and three still under assembly) and four CR.32quaters.

On 18 June the 77^a Squadriglia moved to Tobruk T2.

At dawn on 29 June, Blenheims again bombed the airfield of Tobruk T2. Ten fighters from the alarm patrol of the 2^o Stormo took off at 06:40 following the air alarm given by the Navy with two cannon shots and intercepted the Blenheims over the airfield. The intercepting fighters were four CR.42s from the 94^a Squadriglia (Capitano Franco Lavelli, Sottotenente Nunzio De Fraia, Sergente Maggiore Alessandro Ruzzene and Sergente Maggiore Arturo Cardano), two CR.42s from the 92^a Squadriglia (Maggiore Vincenzo La Carruba and Tenente Riccardo Marcovich, who possibly was using a borrowed aircraft from the 93^a Squadriglia together with one of the pilots from the 94^a Squadriglia) and four CR.42s of the 77^a Squadriglia (Capitano Mario Fedele, Sottotenente Torresi, Sottotenente Gianmario Zuccarini, Sergente Maggiore Agostino Fausti). Fedele was slow in taking off because of engine problems and arrived when the combat was already finished but the others attacked the British formation, which was estimated to nine Blenheims.
Sottotenente Torresi reached the bombers at six-o'-clock and attacked the last Blenheim, which, after three strafes, caught fire and fell. Then, avoiding defensive fire, he attacked another bomber and shot it down. In the meantime, Sottotenente Zuccarini claimed a bomber with a second as a probable while Sergente Maggiore Fausti continued to attack two stragglers that he finally caught over the open sea, shooting down both. Zuccarini, wounded in the knee and with the aircraft damaged in the oil tank by return fire, succeeded to return and force landed at the top of a cliff close to the sea, 25 kilometres from Tobruk, damaging also the landing gear in the process. Sottotenente De Fraia claimed a sixth bomber. Totally, the pilots from the 77^a Squadriglia used 2200 rounds of ammunition while those of 94^a Squadriglia used 500 rounds.
It seems that they had been involved in combat with Blenheims from 113 Squadron, which lost three aircraft. Blenheim Mk.IV L8436 flown by Pilot Officer D. Pike was reportedly damaged by flak and ditched; Pike, Sergeant R. Lidstone and Sergeant J. Taylor were rescued and taken PoWs. Blenheim Mk.I L8447 flown by 31-year-old Flying Officer Walter Ronald Price Knight Mason (RAF no. 70450) was shot down in flames by fighters and Mason, 28-year-old Sergeant James George Juggins (RAF no. 562162) and 21-year-old Sergeant George Kenneth Biggins (RAF no. 550227) were all killed. Enemy fighters also shot down Blenheim Mk.I L8522 flown by 27-year-old Flight Sergeant Ralph Harry Knott (RAF no. 590277) in flames and Knott, 22-year-old Sergeant James Douglas Barber (RAF no. 745841) and Leading Aircraftman James Patrick Toner (RAF no. 610188) were all killed.
Torresi, Zuccarini and Fausti (in the 77^a Squadriglia’s and 13^o Gruppo’s Diaries, Fausti is credited with two individual victories while the proposal of the Medaglia d’argento al Valor Militare speaks of a first plane shot down in cooperation with two unknown pilots and a second one individual) were all proposed to be awarded with the Medaglia d’argento al Valor Militare after this combat.
Zuccarini was recovered from the sea by a Navy team from a minesweeper but his aircraft was too far from whatever road and the coast was too high so it was probably abandoned. In fact it seems likely that the aviation historian Franco Pagliano, then an officer of the Air Force was charged with the recovery of this particular plane and told the story of this operation inside the short novel “The Abyss” in his 1969’s book “In cielo ed in terra”. According with this novel his mission that day was only to recover the most precious instruments, to asses the damage suffered by the plane and to destroy its guns. The recovery of the complete plane was judged too difficult. Pagliano was astonished by the skill demonstrated by the pilot that was able to land a plane in that position. Without deliberately crashing the landing gear the plane would probably had fallen down the escarpment that was only ten metres apart, causing the death of its occupant.

On 23 July eighteen CR.42s (nine from of 13^o Gruppo and nine from 10^o Gruppo) took off from El Adem to make a fighter sweep in the Bir El Gobi – Sollum – Bardia area. Between Sidi Azeiz and Bardia they intercepted a group of Blenheims escorted by Gladiators. 13^o Gruppo attacked the Gladiators with a height advantage and Tenente Torresi claimed one. A second was claimed after a ten-minute dogfight by Tenente Guglielmo Chiarini of the 82^a Squadriglia. Two additional bombers fell burning after the attack of other pilots from the 13^o Gruppo, while four CR.42s of the Gruppo were damaged.
The 10^o Gruppo formation in the meantime joined the combat. While Capitano Luigi Monti of the 84^a Squadriglia with five other pilots remained high to cover the other fighters, Tenente Enzo Martissa, Sergente Elio Miotto and Sergente Alessandro Bladelli (all of the 91^a Squadriglia) joined the combat and claimed a single Gloster shared with the 13^o Gruppo pilots.
It looks as if this shared victory was one of the two previously claimed by Torresi and Chiarini because there are no shared victories claims in the records of 2^o Stormo. An incongruity of this type, in the claims of Regia Aeronautica, during combined actions of different units is not unusual at all.
It seems that the bombers were from 211 Squadron, which lost a Blenheim Mk.I (L6661) during an attack from Qotafiyah on El Adem; the crew 26-year-old Sergeant George Bartle Smith (RAF no. 563381), 19-year-old Sergeant Reginald Alfred Steele (RAF no. 751178) and 22-year-old Sergeant George Aidan Sewell (RAF no. 530961) all perished.
Presumably the Gladiator claims were made in combat with Gladiators from 33 Squadron. During the day Pilot Officer Preston (Gladiator N5774), flying one of three Gladiators of 33 Squadron, briefed to escort a reconnaissance Lysander, was shot down by three attacking CR.42s and forced to bale out south of Bardia. The attackers seems to have been from a force of six CR.42s of the 10^o Gruppo led by Tenente Giovanni Guiducci of the 90^a Squadriglia and others of the 13^o Gruppo.
It seems that the British records are incomplete on this date since there are no claims for the damaged Italian fighters.

At 16:00 on 24 July, a formation of eleven CR.42s from the 10^o Gruppo, backed by six more from the 13^o Gruppo took off to patrol the Bir el Gobi – Sidi Omar – Sollum – Bardia area. Leading the 10^o Gruppo formation was Maggiore Carlo Romagnoli (using an aircraft from the 91^a Squadriglia) and with him were Tenente Franco Lucchini, Maresciallo Omero Alesi and and Tenente Giovanni Guiducci of the 90^a Squadriglia, Capitano Luigi Monti, Capitano Aldo Lanfranco, Tenente Vincenzo Vanni and Tenente Giuseppe Aurili of the 84^a Squadriglia, Tenente Enzo Martissa, Sergente Maggiore Lorenzo Migliorato and Sergente Luigi Ferrario of the 91^a Squadriglia. Pilots from the 13^o Gruppo were Tenente Torresi, Tenente Eduardo Sorvillo and Sergente Maggiore Ernesto Scalet of the 77^a Squadriglia, Sergente Francesco Nanin of the 82^a Squadriglia and Capitano Giuseppe Dall’Aglio with Sottotenente Dario Magnabosco of the 78^a Squadriglia.
During the patrol they met a British formation estimated to nine Blenheims, which was attacking Bardia, escorted b y 15 Gladiators. The CR.42s attacked the bombers and was in turn attacked by the British escort. Tenente Lucchini was the first to enter combat and damaged three of the British bombers by using 510 rounds of ammunition while the others were dispersed. Tenente Guiducci claimed a Gladiator using 90 rounds of ammunition. The CR.42s of the 84^a Squadriglia remained manoeuvring in close formation until a 90^a Squadriglia aircraft (Lucchini?) drove them against the enemies breaking their formation. Three aircraft from the squadriglia returned to base one by one Tenente Giuseppe Aurili met three Gladiators and damaged one. Capitano Lanfranco became isolated and, attacked by a reported three enemy fighters, was shot down and obliged to bale out in the Sidi Azeiz area. A British patrol took him prisoner a little later. Lanfranco was one of the oldest pilots of the 4^o and a few days later a British message was thrown down near Tobruk, telling that he was wounded in Alexandria hospital. Tenente Martissa forced an enemy fighter to force-land then, coming back to base, saw his wingman in difficulties against the determined attack of an enemy fighter and, even with his guns jammed, attacked it, forcing the Gladiator to break away. Sergente Ferrario returned to base with a damaged fighter. According to some sources Tenente Lucchini is credited with an additional Gladiator during the day, but this can’t be verified with the Squadriglie’s Diaries.
Tenente Torresi claimed another Gladiator with 250 rounds of ammunition. No losses were suffered by the 13^o Gruppo formation, which landed back at base between 17:25 and 18:05.
It seems that the Italian formation had been involved in combat with five Gladiators from ‘B’ Flight of the 33 Squadron flown by Flying Officer Ernest Dean (Gladiator L9046), Pilot Officer Alfred Costello (N5776), Pilot Officer Vernon Woodward (N5768), Sergeant Ronald Slater (N5783) and Sergeant Shaw (N5775), which had taken off from Sidi Barrani at 17:40 and met a reported 18 CR.42s over Sollum at 18:30. In the combat Woodward claimed one of the enemy aircraft shot down and a second as a probable. Slater claimed a second CR.42 destroyed while Costello claimed a third. One more CR.42s were claimed by the other pilots and since Dean doesn’t seems to have claimed anything during the day it is possible that this was claimed by Shaw but it haven’t been possible to verify this. During the return flight Shaw was forced to land east of Bug Bug with engine troubles probably caused by combat damage (probably the aircraft claimed by Martissa). Enemy bombing soon afterwards destroyed his aircraft on the ground, although he rejoined his unit unharmed after a long walk across the desert. The other pilots from 33 Squadron landed back at base between 18:55 and 19:35.

At around 08:55 on 9 December, six CR.42s from the 82^a Squadriglia (Capitano Guglielmo Arrabito, Sottotenente Giuseppe Bottà, Sottotenente Giuseppe Timolina, Sottotenente Virgilio Vanzan, Sergente Francesco Nanin and Sergente Filippo Baldin) took off from Gambut to escort six S.79s, which were out to attack the Bir Mella area (around Nibeiwa). Four CR.42s from the 77^a Squadriglia (Tenente Colonnello Secondo Revetria, Sergente Vincenzo Campolo, Sottotenente Carmelo Catania and Sottotenente Mario Nicoloso) took off with them together with six CR.42s of the 78^a Squadriglia (Sottotenente Natale Cima, Sottotenente Dario Magnabosco, Tenente Giovanni Beduz, Sergente Ernesto Taddia, Sergente Teresio Martinoli and Sottotenente Luigi Canneppele).
While the formation was gaining height, two Blenheims arrived over the airfield and released 20 bombs without causing damage. The Blenheims were then intercepted by Tenente Torresi of the 77^a Squadriglia. He had taken off at 08:30 for a protective patrol and after 20 minutes of flight discovered the Blenheims heading towards the airfield. The British bombers tried to escape towards the sea but Torresi was able to claim the trailing one of them shot down “in flames” over the sea close to the shore. After a ten-minute chase, he closed in on the last one, hitting it many times and he witnessed it overturning while trying to ditch in open sea.
Torresi was back at base at 09:30 and he had only used 90 7,7mm rounds and 70 12,7 rounds.
Meanwhile over Bir Mella, while the S.79s were releasing their bombs, a single Hurricane attacked the CR.42s formation from the 82^a Squadriglia that was covering the bombers at higher altitude. Sergente Nanin’s aircraft was hit and shot down with the loss of the pilot while the Hurricane, attacked by Arrabito, Bottà and Timolina succeeded in disengaging thanks to its superior speed. The surviving CR.42s were back at base at 10:55.
The 77^a Squadriglia didn’t even notice any enemy aircraft during the mission while the 78^a Squadriglia saw enemy aircraft heading towards their formation only to escape quickly when they tried to react.
The S.79s was a formation of the 62^a Squadriglia, 29^o Gruppo led by the Gruppo Commander Tenente Colonnello Guglielmo Grandjacquet. They reportedly released their bomb load at around 10:00 and all bombers returned to Gambut without suffering any losses. This was their first of a totally six missions by the 13^a Divisione Aerea Pegaso flown during the day.
During the early hours of the day, Italian fighters damaged two Blenheim Mk.Is of 45 Squadron during a raid on Menastir. L1534 belly-landed at Sidi el Raniman with the pilot Flight Lieutenant Paine and his crew (Sergeant Chaplin and Sergeant Edwards) uninjured while L6663 was damaged beyond repair with the pilot Flying Officer C. Thomas and his crew (Sergeant R. Dodsworth and Sergeant Fisher) were safe.
These were probably claimed by Tenente Guglielmo Chiarini or Tenente Torresi.

At 16:10 on the same day, three CR.42s from the 77^a Squadriglia (Tenente Torresi, Sottotenente Gianmario Zuccarini and Tenente Eduardo Sorvillo) together with six more from the 78^a Squadriglia (Capitano Giuseppe Dall’Aglio, Sottotenente Dario Magnabosco, Sergente Ernesto Taddia, Tenente Giovanni Beduz, Sottotenente Natale Cima and Sottotenente Canneppele) took off to strafe enemy armoured vehicles on the road between Sidi El Barrani and Bir Enba. The attack was done under heavy AA fire and lasted 30 minutes. The attackers used 3000 rounds of ammunition and reportedly caused heavy damage.
Sorvillo was back at Gambut at 17:45 together with the 78^a Squadriglia, while Torresi and Zuccarini landed at Menastir because of the growing darkness.

Seven CR.42s from the 13^o Gruppo took off at 06:50 on 12 December, for a free sweep in the Ogerin Bir El Kreighat, Halfaya area. Six fighters were from the 77^a Squadriglia (Tenente Colonnello Secondo Revetria, Tenente Torresi, Sottotenente Gianmario Zuccarini, Sottotenente Carmelo Catania, Sottotenente Mario Nicoloso and Sergente Ernesto Paolini), and one from 82^a (Sottotenente Giuseppe Bottà). The fighters intercepted a Hurricane, which was ground strafing Italian troops near Bardia and claimed it damaged. This Hurricane was probably from 274 Squadron even if this unit didn’t report any clash with Fiat CR.42s during the day.
At 08:50, four of the 77^a Squadriglia machines landed back at T2. The other two and Sottotenente Bottà returned to Gambut.

In December, the 2^o Stormo left their few surviving CR.42s to 4^o Stormo and returned to Italy.
The 2^o Stormo had in the period 11 June - 19 December totally claimed 45 enemy aircraft during 2403 missions. They had lost 13 aircraft, ten pilots KIA and two pilots POW.

After temporarily passing to 150^o Gruppo Autonomo Caccia on 29 April 1941, the following August Torresi went to Russia with 362^a Squadriglia, 22^o Gruppo Autonomo, which was equipped with Macchi MC.200s.

In the afternoon on 24 February 1942, six Macchis from 362^a (Torresi and Tenente Frank Passerini), 369^a (Tenente Renato Gori) and 359^a Squadriglie (Capitano Vittorio 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.

Four days later, on 28 February, a mixed formation from the 362^a Squadriglia (Capitano Germano La Ferla, Tenente Giovanni Beduz, Tenente Oberdan Militano, Tenente Torresi and Tenenente Frank Passerini) and 369^a Squadriglia (Capitano Giovanni Cervellin, Tenente Walter Benedetti, Sottotenente Giuseppe Biron and Maresciallo Romano Pesavento) Squadriglie led by the 22^o Gruppo’s CO, Maggiore Giuseppe D’Agostinis claimed two shared “I-26s” at 4500 m over Alexandrowka.

On 9 March, six MC 200 of the 362^a Squadriglia (Capitano Germano La Ferla, Torresi, Sottotenente Edgardo Vaghi, Tenente Giovanni Beduz, Sergente Maggiore Attilio Sanson and Tenente Gianfranco Montagnani) plus Sottotenente Biron of the 369^a Squadriglia escorted Luftwaffe Stukas. Over Mikhailowka they met a formation of about twenty enemy aircraft composed of Soviet bombers escorted by fighters (the latter identified as "I-18s"). The returning Italian pilots clamed three shared fighters shot down and two more probables, for no losses.

At 09:45 on 17 March, fourteen MC.200s of the 22^o Gruppo took off from Stalino for a strafing mission on Luskotowa airfield, escorted by two Luftwaffe Bf109Fs. Among the participating pilots were Maggiore Giuseppe D’Agostinis, Capitano Germano La Ferla, Tenente Edgardo Vaghi, Tenente Torresi, Tenenente Frank Passerini, Sergente Maggiore Fausto Fornaci (362^a Squadriglia, 9 victories in WWII) and Sergente Attilio Sanson (362^a Squadriglia, 12 victories in WWII). According to D’Agostinis were no less than ten I-16s destroyed on the ground.

During nine months in Russia he flew 44 missions, took part in six aerial combats and nine ground strafings. He claimed at least five fighters shared destroyed and two shared probable. Note that, by order of the Comando Aeronautica, on the Russian front kills were not officially allowed to individual pilots, but to the unit they belonged.

In July 1942 the 22^o Gruppo, now back in Italy, was re-equipped with Re.2001s to operate from Sardinia and Sicily. Torresi participated in six aerial combats, apparently without individual claims.

January 1943 Vittorio Minguzzi 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 into four Squadriglias 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 Gruppo also received eight Dewoitine D.520s

The Gruppo also received the prototype of the Re.2005 (MM494) and Vittorio Minguzzi made the first flight with this aircraft on 7 March 1943.
He then brought it to Napoli-Capodichino where it was incorporated into 362^a Squadriglia.

During April 362^a Squadriglia received three more Re.2005s from the “0-serie” (MM092344 (362-1?), MM092345 (362-2) and MM092346 (362-3)).
Torresi made his first flight with this type on 9 April.

On 10 April a mixed formation of Re.2005s, MC.202s and MC.205s attacked a group of B-24s. During this combat Torresi claimed one destroyed and three shared.

At 13:30 on 28 April 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 Vittorio Minguzzi (Re.2005 "362" MM494), Capitano La Ferla ("362-1" MM092344), Tenente Torresi ("362-2" MM092345) and Sergente Donati, ("362-3" MM092346).
At 7000 metres they intercepted a reported 30 B-24s flying in two sections each composed of three flights of five bombers. The 22^o Gruppo claimed one B-24 (by Minguzzi) and 4 probables, (one was later confirmed by ground observer and credited to Donati). Ten more was claimed as shared damaged by the whole Gruppo.
Minguzzi’s aircraft was subsequently hit in the cooling system and he had to make an emergency landing at Capodichino without further damage on his aircraft.
They returned to base at 14.45.

Torresi was promoted to Capitano on 22 June.

On 2 July the 362^a Squadriglia was transferred to Catania-Sigonella with all ten of their Re.2005s.

In the evening on 11 July ten Spitfires of 111 Squadron were patrolling the beaches between Syracuse and Cape Passero when they saw an air fight and sighted a further eight enemy fighters high above this combat. Squadron Leader Hill (Spitfire EN518) led six of his pilot to assist 243 Squadron, which was involved in the combat probably against five MC.205Vs from the 96^a Squadriglia and five Re.2005s from the 362^a Squadriglia. Four of the 111 Squadron Spitfires engaged the high flying enemy formation (identified as Re.2001s and MC.202s). Two Re.2001s were claimed destroyed by Sergeant Hughie Eccelston RAAF (Spitfire JK728) and one MC.202 was claimed by Flying Officer Fred Mellors (Spitfire (JK217) while Sergeant K. R. Allen (Spitfire EN252) claimed a damaged Reggiane. It seems that they had been involved in combat with more Re.2005s from the 362^a Squadriglia and Torresi claimed a Spitfire and another as a probable between Syracuse and Cape Passero.

On the evening on 12 July two reconnaissance Spitfires from 40 SAAF Squadron were bounced by three Re.2005s while patrolling over Lentini and Pozzallo. Torresi led the Italian fighters and the other two pilots were Tenente Enrico Salvi and Tenente Edoardo Vaghi. 23-year-old Lieutenant K. Robinson (SAAF no. 206657V) was shot down and killed by Torresi while Lieutenant B. V. Clarence, who’s Spitfire was damaged, was able to return to Malta.

In the morning on 13 July ten Spitfires of 93 Squadron were patrolling the Augusta area, led by Group Captain Gilroy. Several enemy aircraft – mainly He111s of I/LLG 2 and KGrzbV.25 – were seen landing at Catania and Gilroy led four aircraft to attack these, as recalled by Flight Lieutenant Jim Gray:

“We attacked an He111 just touching down; pulled up and then went after a Ju88 just north of Catania. I observed the Ju88 in flames as I departed the scene and proceeded south. As I withdrew I was attacked by four 109s; one of them succeeded in poking holes in my fuselage. Luckily, Sergeant Andrew had climbed into the sun and attacked the rearmost 109, leaving it in flames. This manoeuvre certainly discouraged the remaining 109s that were on my tail. Sergeant Bridger was shot down near the aerodrome, as I recall, but escaped capture.”

In August Torresi passed to the FIAT-Aeritalia as a test pilot.

Following the Armistice, after hearing Ernesto Botto’s "call to arms", he joined the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana on 14 October 1943, and was assigned to Squadriglia Complementare "Montefusco", which was equipped with Fiat G.55s and Macchi MC.205s, in the defence of Turin.

After the death in combat of Capitano Giovanni Bonet on 29 March 1944, Torresi led the Squadriglia (which now was called "Montefusco-Bonet")

On 25 April 117 B-24s of the 304th Wing USAAF, escorted by 45 P-47s of the 325th FG, attacked the Aeritalia aircraft factory in Turin. Seven G.55s and two MC.205s of the “Montefusco-Bonet” Gruppo scrambled at 12:40 from Venaria Reale to intercept them. They were led by Capitano Torresi and included Sergente Maggiore Lucio Biagini, Biron, Celentano, Franco Sarasino and Maresciallo Ennio Tarantola. Comoni and Morettin probably also took part in this scramble. Biron was forced to abort the scramble after technical problems on is MC.205.
At 13:05, while attacking the bombers at 22,000 feet over Turin, the ANR fighters were jumped by the escorting P-47s. Three G.55s were shot down and Biagini (G.55 serie 0 "Yellow 13" MM91074) was killed after having spent at least eighty 20mm and one hundred-twenty 12.7mm rounds while Torresi (G.55 serie I "Yellow 1"? MM91100) parachuted from his burning aircraft at 13:20, lightly wounded in the head after having been attacked by enemy fighters. Tarantola (G.55 serie I "Yellow 8" MM91101) also parachuted badly wounded.
Franco Sarasino (G.55 “Yellow 5” MM91087) scrambled late due to engine troubles and arrived on the scene when his companions were attacked by Thunderbolts. He tried to help them (spending twenty 20mm and thirty 12.7mm rounds), but was soon chased by two P-47s that forced him to escape westwards; he was left by them in the Val di Susa area, so he could return to his base at Venaria Reale.
In his logbook Torresi claimed two Liberators, one Boeing and one Thunderbolt probably shot down. Intercepting the German bombers was also the 1^a Squadriglia and Sergente Francesco Cuscuna claimed a P-47 at 12:15 at 4.500 meters over Monte Cimone. Maggiore Adriano Visconti and Maresciallo Carlo Cucchi of the 1^a Squadriglai claimed a P-38 each over La Spezia while Sergente Tammaso Biagini of the “Montefusco-Bonet” Gruppo claimed a B-17 over Turin. German (JG 53 and JG 4) and Italian fighters totally claimed at least eight B-24s, one B-17s, six P-38s and one P-47. Totally it seems, however, that only two B-24s from the 304th Wing were lost during the day; one B-24 (42-52214) from 744th BS of the 456th BG (MACR 5640) and one B-24 (42-52195) from 453th BG (MACR 4632). The 325th FG didn’t sustain any losses.
The 325th FG claimed two G.55s and one probable. Torresi was probably shot down by Second Lieutenant Donald J. McDonald of the 318th FS, who claimed a G.55 at 13:05 over Turin. The other claims were made by First Lieutenant Benjamin H. Emmert Jr. of the 318th FS (P-47D-15RE 42-75751), who claimed a G.55 south of Turin at 13:05 and Second Lieutenant Joseph W. Harper of the 325th FG, who claimed a probable G.55 at 13:00.
The three Fiat wrecks were recovered respectively on 30 March 2000 (MM91074), 5 August 2000 (MM91100) and 22 February 2003 (MM91101).

On 23 June, after recovery, Torresi became leader of the 3^a Squadriglia, 1^o Gruppo Caccia (where aircraft and pilots of the meanwhile disbanded Montefusco-Bonet were assigned).

On 1 July, Capitano Torresi on his first mission in his new unit led five MC.205s and six G.55s from I^o Gruppo Caccia in a scramble from Reggio Emilia. While climbing, they were attacked by eleven P-47s of the 66th FS of the 57th FG eight miles to the south at 11:15.
The P-47s first attacked the four MC.205s on top-cover patrol and shot down two, killing Sergente Maggiore Luigi Boscaro (2^a Squadriglia). Sottotenente Elio Pezzi managed, although wounded, to crash land his aircraft with 80% damage. Next aircraft to be shot down was the G.55 of Torresi, which crashed near Via Emilia, killing him. Maresciallo Romano Spazzoli (3^a Squadriglia) baled out wounded. The last to fall was the MC.205 of Tenente Alessandro Beretta who parachuted safely.
The Italians claimed two enemy aircraft shot down, one of these being claimed by Sergente Maggiore Mario Veronesi at 11:16 at 600 meters height south-west of Reggio Emilia.
They had clashed with P-47s from the 66th FS, which claimed six destroyed 8 miles south of Reggio Landing Ground in the morning between 09:25 and 12:05 – two by Lieutenant Cleveland and one by Lieutenants Bettinger, Johnson, Davis and Rahn – and two damaged (both by Johnson). The Americans identified their opponents as ‘clipped-wing Bf109s’.The Americans suffered just one Cat. 1 damage and two Cat. 2.

During the war Torresi was awarded with four Medaglie d’argento al valore militare (two in North Africa, one in Russia and one for the actions over South Italy). He was also decorated with a German Iron Cross, 2nd Class.

At the time of his death Torresi was credited with 6 biplane victories and a total of 10 in nineteen combats.
According to some sources he is only credited with 8 victories.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1940
1	29/06/40	06:40-	1	Blenheim (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Tobruk	77a Squadriglia
2	29/06/40	06:40-	1	Blenheim (a)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Tobruk	77a Squadriglia
3	23/07/40		1	Gladiator (b)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Sidi Azeiz - Bardia	77a Squadriglia
4	24/07/40	16:00-	1	Gladiator (c)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Bardia area	77a Squadriglia
5	09/12/40	08:30-09:30	1	Blenheim (d)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Tobruk area	77a Squadriglia
6	09/12/40	08:30-09:30	1	Blenheim (d)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Tobruk area	77a Squadriglia
	12/12/40	06:50-08:50	1/7	Hurricane (e)	Shared damaged	Fiat CR.42		Bardia area	77a Squadriglia
	1942
	24/02/42	Afternoon	1/6	Soviet fighter	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Alexandrowka	362a Squadriglia
	24/02/42	Afternoon	1/6	Soviet fighter	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Alexandrowka	362a Squadriglia
	28/02/42		1/10	I-26 (f)	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Alexandrowka	362a Squadriglia
	28/02/42		1/10	I-26 (f)	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Alexandrowka	362a Squadriglia
	09/03/42		1/7	Soviet fighter	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Mikhailowka area	362a Squadriglia
	09/03/42		1/7	Soviet fighter	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Mikhailowka area	362a Squadriglia
	09/03/42		1/7	Soviet fighter	Shared destroyed	MC.200		Mikhailowka area	362a Squadriglia
	09/03/42		1/7	Soviet fighter	Shared probable	MC.200		Mikhailowka area	362a Squadriglia
	09/03/42		1/7	Soviet fighter	Shared probable	MC.200		Mikhailowka area	362a Squadriglia
	1943
7	10/04/43		1	B-24	Destroyed				362a Squadriglia
	10/04/43		1	B-24	Shared destroyed				362a Squadriglia
	10/04/43		1	B-24	Shared destroyed				362a Squadriglia
	10/04/43		1	B-24	Shared destroyed				362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
	28/04/43	13:30-14:45	1	B-24	Shared damaged	Re.2005	"362-2" MM092345	off Naples	362a Squadriglia
8	11/07/43		1	Spitfire (g)	Destroyed	Re.2005		Syracuse - Cape Passero	362a Squadriglia
	11/07/43		1	Spitfire (g)	Probable	Re.2005		Syracuse - Cape Passero	362a Squadriglia
9	12/07/43	Evening	1	Spitfire (h)	Destroyed	Re.2005		Lentini - Pozzallo	362a Squadriglia
10	13/07/43		1	Spitfire (i)	Destroyed	Re.2005		Catania	362a Squadriglia
	1944
	25/04/44		1	B-24 (j)	Probable	Fiat G.55	MM91100 ‘Yellow 1’	Turin area	“Montefusco-Bonet” Gruppo
	25/04/44		1	B-24 (j)	Probable	Fiat G.55	MM91100 ‘Yellow 1’	Turin area	“Montefusco-Bonet” Gruppo
	25/04/44		1	B-17 (j)	Probable	Fiat G.55	MM91100 ‘Yellow 1’	Turin area	“Montefusco-Bonet” Gruppo
	25/04/44		1	P-47 (k)	Probable	Fiat G.55	MM91100 ‘Yellow 1’	Turin area	“Montefusco-Bonet” Gruppo

Biplane victories: 6 destroyed and 1 shared damaged.
TOTAL: 10 and 10 shared destroyed, 5 and 2 shared probably destroyed, 11 shared damaged.
(a) Probably claimed in combat with Blenheims from 113 Squadron. Italian fighters claimed six and one probable. 113 Squadron lost three aircraft. L8436 flown by Pilot Officer Pike was damaged by flak and ditched; the crew became PoWs. L8447 flown by Flying Officer W. R. P. K. Mason was shot down in flames by fighters and the crew was killed. L8522 flown by Flight Sergeant R. H. Knott was shot down in flames by fighters and the crew was killed.
(b) Probably claimed in combat with Gladiators from 33 Squadron, which lost one when Pilot Officer Preston baled out. The 13^a Gruppo claimed two Gladiators and two Blenheims while getting four CR.42s damaged. The 10^a Gruppo claimed one shared Gladiator without losses.
(c) Claimed in combat with Gladiators from 33 Squadron, which claimed four and one probably destroyed while losing one Gladiator. The 10^o Gruppo claimed two or three destroyed and one damaged for the loss of one CR.42 while the 13^o Gruppo claimed one without losses.
(d) Possibly claimed in combat with Blenheims from 45 Squadron, which lost two aircraft during the morning.
(e) Probably Hurricane from 274 Squadron even if this unit didn’t report any clash with Fiat CR.42s during the day.
(f) I-26 = Yak-1.
(g) Claimed in combat with Spitfires from 111 Squadron.
(h) Lieutenant K. Robinson of 40 SAAF Squadron shot down and killed.
(i) Possibly Sergeant Fran W. Bridger (Spitfire Mk.V ES282) of 93 Squadron shot down.
(j) Claimed in combat with B-24s from the 304th Wing. German and Italian fighters totally claimed at least eight B-24s, one B-17s, six P-38s and one P-47. Totally the 304th Wing lost two B-24s during the day; one B-24 (42-52214) from 744th BS of the 456th BG (MACR 5640) and one B-24 (42-52195) from 459th BG (MACR 4632).
(k) Claimed in combat with P-47s from the 325th FG, which didn’t suffer any losses.

Sources:
2^o Stormo - Note storiche dal 1925 al 1975 - Gino Strada, 1975 USSMA, Rome, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
25 Aprile 1944 – Ferdinando Pedriali, 2004 Storia Militare no. 129 (XII) June 2004 kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro.
33 Squadron Operations Record Book kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Air War Italy 1944-45 - Nick Beale, Ferdinando D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini, 1996 Airlife Publishing, Shrewbury, ISBN 1-85310-252-0
Ali sulla steppa - La Regia Aeronautica nella Campagna di Russia - Nicola Malizia, 1987 Edizioni dell'Ateneo, Rome, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Army Air Forces
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999, Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Centauri su Torino - Giancarlo Garello, 1998 Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Courage Alone - Chris Dunning, 1998 Hikoki Publications, Aldershot, ISBN 1-902109-02-3
Dal Reggiane 2002 al 2005 - Sergio Govi, 1984 Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Diario Storico 77^a Squadriglia kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Diario Storico 78^a Squadriglia kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Diario Storico 82^a Squadriglia kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Diario Storico 84^a Squadriglia kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Diario Storico 90^a Squadriglia kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Diario Storico 91^a Squadriglia kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Fighters over the Desert - Christopher Shores and Hans Ring, 1969 Neville Spearman Limited, London
G 55 e MC 205 a difesa di Torino - Ferdinando Pedriali, 2003 Storia Militare no. 116 (XI) May 2003 kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Gloster Gladiator – Bartlomiej Belcarz and Robert Peczowski, 1996 Monografie Lotnicze no. 24, AJ press, Gdynia
Gloster Gladiator Aces - Andrew Thomas, 2002 Osprey Publishing, London, ISBN 1-84176-289-X
Gloster Gladiator Home Page - Alexander Crawford.
Gloster Gladiator in action - W. A. Harrison, 2003 Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, ISBN 0-89747-450-3
GORIZIA ed il QUARTO STORMO
Hurricanes over Tobruk - Brian Cull with Don Minterne, 1999 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-11-X
Il caccia RE 2001 - Sergio Govi, 1982 Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Il Carmagnolese
Le giovani aquile – Antonio Trizzino, 1972 Longanesi Milano, kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
La Regia Aeronautica - volume I: Dalla non belligeranza all'intervento – Nino Arena, 1981 USSMA, Rome kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Luftwaffe Claims Lists - Tony Wood
L'ultimo volo del mitico "Banana" – Roberto Ferrarese, 2003 Aerofan no. 87 Oct-Dec 2003, Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milan, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Quelli del Cavallino Rampante - Antonio Duma, 1981 Editore Dell'Ateneo, Roma, kindly provided by Ludovico Slongo
Quelli del Gatto Nero - I 60 anni del 51^o Stormo 1939-1999 - Nicola Malizia, 1998, Rimini, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Reggiane RE 2005 - Gregory Alegi, 2001 Ali d'Italia no. 16, La Bancarella Aeronautica, Turin, kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario - Maurizio Di Terlizzi, 2001 IBN Editore Aviolibri No. 4, Roma, ISBN 88-86815-38-7
Reggiane RE 2005 "Sagittario" - Aldo Curti kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro
Service record and log book of Generale S. A. Vittorio Minguzzi kindly provided by Carlo Minguzzi.
Spitfires over Sicily - Brian Cull with Nicola Malizia and Frederick Galea, 2000 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-32-2
Stars & Bars - Frank Olynyk, 1995 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-898697-17-5
The Bristol Blenheim: A complete history – Graham Warner, 2002 Crécy Publishing Limited, Manchester, ISBN 0-947554-92-0
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Gloster Gladiator - Francis K. Mason, 1964 Macdonald & Co. Ltd. London
Those Other Eagles – Christopher Shores, 2004 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-904010-88-1
USAAF (Mediterranean Theater) Credits For The Destruction Of Enemy Aircraft In Air-To-Air Combat World War 2 - Frank Olynyk, 1987 Victory List No.6
Woody - A Fighter Pilot's Album - Hugh A. Halliday, 1987 Canav Books, Toronto, ISBN 0-9690703-8-1
Additional information kindly provided by Stefano Lazzaro, Carlo Minguzzi, Ondrej Repka and Ludovico Slongo.