A side approach to Baracca's death

[Zif]

Hello all,
it's always a pleasure to see how passionate is this forum after decades. I have been very much interested, during my life, about Francesco Baracca death and last mission. Many things changed from when I started studying (a legendary hero killed in foggy circumstances by a lucky anonimous shot, perfect for propaganda needs) to today: a nice guy, good soldier, exceptional pilot killed in a very short encounter, by two austrian pilots, on June 19th 1918.

One of the argument about the mistery of his death is the lack of post mortem body examination of Francesco. That was because italian army found him before the austro-hungarians, otherwise we would have a report similar to Von Richtofen's one. The idea was that in that times, in that situation, post mortem examinations were not common. This is false.

Now, I am interested even in general WWI, and lately I compiled the list of all soldiers killed in wartime, born in my city (Chieti), more that 270 names (Chieti had in 1915, 27000 inhabitans). This is thanks to the MIBACT (italian minister of culture) which in an exceptional effort uploaded all the registers/papers (birth, weddings, passports, deaths) available from 1810 (by Napoleon's decrees) to 1930. Some are barely readable, but those from late 1860 are quite clear.

That's an impressive number of documents available for free. To my huge surprise I discovered that the communication of the death of a soldier (imagine the major of city, bringing that tragic new to hundreds of families) was related to the communication sent by the italian army. Italian have always been impressive bureocrats, for one time this is a welcome trait .

That communication included, for EVERY SINGLE SOLDIER:

Name and Surname
Parents Name
Division/Brigade
Communicating CO
Day of death
Place of death and burial
Witness names
CAUSE OF DEATH and this get impressively descriptive!!! A few that I can describe:

- Head wound, gunshot
- Chest, belly, body part wound, sometimes heart
- Artillery fire with legs/arms/back wounds, and sometimes amputations
- Septicemy
- Stabbing on the abdomen, or whatever
- Mouth wound (...)
- Loss of blood due leg wound
- Freezing, conseguences of freezing
- Enemy machine gun
- ...

The only missing are those for disappeared in war (most like due artillery or avalanches).

I don't want to make a show of those poor fellows destiny, that was a terrible time, a terrible way to go and the tears of their mothers, wives will never get dry. Some was barely 18 yo, can you imagine? My heart skipped a beat, several times.

What would make the Italian Army deny a post mortem examination for Francesco Baracca then??

IMO it is: we don't want to confirm that he was killed by another airmen. That is it. So maybe they know it happened, maybe not, but they (for that time) eradicated any chance for the population to know that a living hero was killed by another soldier. They don't need to know, ultimately they didn't want to. They had to put him quickly 6 feet under and worship his legend.

an example here, Carlone Enrico, in the description "penetrating gun wound to the right thigh, and following acute anemie" which is most likely a cut artery in the leg.

edit: can't link the single page, I'll try to link the landing page for 1915 deaths.

https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:...32816/5v7KmXq/

In a post I previously made, Baracca page on the Italian Army Albo d'Oro is described as "due aerial combat wounds". It could be that they know, and they tried quite successful to delete from history, at least for decades. But as some italian historian, also active in these forum, stated: now that we are no more in 1918 propaganda era, it is time to restore the truth.

[VtwinVince]

Very interesting. I believe the legacy of Baracca would have remained intact regardless of the circumstances of his death being made known. And of course his story lives on in the badging of a certain famous car manufacturer.

[Zif]

I agree, but I also think that it is right to pay justice to the pilot and observer, Max Kauer and Arnold Barwig, which had the honor and cold blood to obtain such a success.

From their report, the circumstances which bring the Spad VII to come under fire twice, on approach and on maybe a disengage attempt was due both correct maneuvering of the two seater and correct handling of the observer MG.

There are many things here which concurred:

- Baracca and Osnago were flying toward the sun, which on June 19th is still high, and most likely Baracca was busy trying to identify AU positions which he had to strafe on the ground.
- The Phonix was lower than the Spads, and almost for sure spotted the italians first, being them right in the sky, and being Barwig and Kauer with the sun on their back.
- Baracca has reported to dive in rough circumstances to disengage, but he had no room here, being only 200-300m on the hill. Even if after the first strafe, while approaching, he would have found himself suddendly under fire, the only defensive maneuver which he could try was to increase horizontal separation, but the second strafe of the observer went right into his cockpit and fuel tank. The Spad literally turned into a fireball.

Everyone could argue that my arguments above are just speculation, but they are based on the austrian combat report, not just on the Spad wreck or the confused report of Osnago. It is also my intention to contact Scott, on these evidences and ask him to edit Baracca's page on this site.

Originally Posted by VtwinVince

Very interesting. I believe the legacy of Baracca would have remained intact regardless of the circumstances of his death being made known. And of course his story lives on in the badging of a certain famous car manufacturer.

[josquin]

Zif,

Ensuring that the historical record is accuate is essential for this Forum as well as
for Great War historiography. You make a strong case that Kauer and Barwig brought down Barracca, and you argue well for the weaknesses of the official account of his final combat. To benefit the Forum, can you post a copy of Kauer and Barwig's combat report or post a transcription? I am interested in their description of the encounter.
Best regards,

Josquin

[Zif]

Hello Josquin,
I have no direct access to their account, but these are the sources quoted in the article below "Cieli del Montello" by P. Varriale:

- Events storytelling signed by Arnold Barwig on November 4th 1938, ÖKA, Personalakt des BO Oblt. Barwig.
- Österreiches Staatsarchiv - Kriegsarchiv (OESTA-KA) Takesmeldung des Koluft des 6 AK.
- Auszug aus dem Bericht des 6 AK über die anlässlich der Junioffensive gemachten Erfahrungen vom 14 Juli 1918 (Original document archived in: AUSSME, Fondo E-12, b. 104 f. "Aviazione"
- OESTA - KA, Feld-Akten des k.u.k. XXIV Korp.

Then, also this nice reading:

"Francesco Baracca. Inchiesta sull morte di un eroe italiano" by Gambarotto, Callegari, Piccolo.

Also, if you are interested, this is a reconstruction I made of the encounter, based on articles and adding some elements (sun position, fog of war), I'll try to replace the missing pictures.

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=66758

Originally Posted by josquin

Zif,

Ensuring that the historical record is accuate is essential for this Forum as well as
for Great War historiography. You make a strong case that Kauer and Barwig brought down Barracca, and you argue well for the weaknesses of the official account of his final combat. To benefit the Forum, can you post a copy of Kauer and Barwig's combat report or post a transcription? I am interested in their description of the encounter.
Best regards,

Josquin

[Zif]

Sorry guys, my statement was wrong. Also for Baracca there is a cause of death in archive, same as other soldiers: "gunshot wound on right orbital region" and "deep burns". Just find out looking at articles.

Looks like my enthusiasm deserved a little cold shower