Today in history - a correction

Just a quick correction to today's in history facts:
on the 19th March 1916, on the Italian front, the 5th Isonzo battle ended. It had begun on the 11th.

[leo]

Alberto!

So good to see you back on the Forum. I hope ypu will be posting often.


leo

[Zif]

Alberto !?

quello della 76a ?

Insomma quando la fai questa richiesta di traferimento alla 91a ?

Ti aspetto con ansia mi serve un buon pilota

Eccomi ! La domanda l'ho già inoltratat, ma sembra che la burocrazia l'abbia affossata da qualche parte....

[Soderbaum]

Hi Alberto

It seems that the Italian Air Force(incl AA) did not scored a single air victory during this battle... 8)

However a month earlier on 14 Febr 1916 the Italian scored their first air to air victory during the War.....do you knew which Italian unit which was responsible for that success..?

:
Gunnar

Gunnar,

the first true fighter of the Italian Aviazione del Regio Esercito was the Ni.11, a type which reached Italy (if my memory serves me well) in late March 1916.
Earlier, Italian pilots tried to stop EA at the controls of various aeroplanes, such as Aviatik and MF two-seaters or the Ni.10, all of them obviously unsuited for interception.
Nieuport-Macchi began producing Ni.11s under license in April 1916 and the Italian score grew rapidly.
AFAIK, the first confirmed Italian aerial victory was scored by Ten. Francesco Baracca, of the 70s Squadriglia, who shot down an Aviatik two-seater while at the controls of Nieuport Ni.11 1451, on the 21st April 1916. A few minutes later, two other Italian pilots scored a confirmed victory.

Any more detail about the victory you are referring to ?

All the very best,

In my previous message, I mentioned the date of the first confirmed Italian victory, by Ten. Francesco Baracca, as being the 21st April 1916: it was, actually, the 7th April 1916.

Sorry for the mistake !

[Soderbaum]

Hi Alberto

Your notes does not correspond to the Official Italian Victory list published after the War...!?

According to this list the first air to air victory was on 14 Febr 1916 as mentioned above...I did not mean victories by 1-s..!


For example; On 1 April 1916 the Italian flyers did shot down TWO confirmed victories. The next day another e/a was shot down in aerial combat.

On 7 April two further confirmed victories where scored by the Italians, one of these by Baracca. I have Baracca still as a member of 1a sq at this date..?

But Baraccas victory on 7 April 1916 could possible be the first by an Italian 1-s...?

Regarding the location of the first aerial victory the Italian mentioned Cielo de Gorizia but i am unsure about the spelling...
...and it seems the be the same day as a huge A-H bombing attack against Milano...

VBR
Gunnar

Gunnar,

thanks for the interesting reply. I confess my modest files do not contain that Italian officila victory list, so I based my previous comments on what I have.
Is there any possibility to get that list easily ? Was it published on available books ?

The Italian aviation history of WW1 is still to be told accurately, and I believe acknowledged experts such as Gregory Alegi and Roberto Gentilli will soon be able to do this.
In the meantime, I am VERY interested in any new (to me, at least) element and your assistance has already been much appreciated.

Thanks,

[AGO]

Alberto,
you'll find the official victory list of Italian aces,wich was released
with some hurry after only about three months after the armistice
on some old and new books on Italy's air war.
For example:at page no.143 of "Ali Italiane" (AA.VV.,Rizzoli ed.,
1978 ) or at page no. 309 of "La Grande Guerra Aerea" (AA.VV.,
Gino Rossato ed.,Valdagno;1994).
The latter of these titles is still available but if you don't manage
to find it please advise me.I'll send you a copy of the list.
The first confirmed victory was indeed that of Baracca (April 7th,
1916) but there were some other claims in the previous weeks
wich could well have been "victories".
VBR
AGO