Gastone Novelli
Gastone Novelli | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 June 1895 Medal for Military Valor, War Merit Cross, Serbian Golden Merit Medal |
Tenente Gastone Novelli was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]
Biography
Gastone Novelli was born on 13 June 1895 in
After application for pilot's training, Novelli was granted a pilot's license for the
Novelli joined 81a Squadriglia and began conversion training to Nieuport fighter planes. He claimed an aerial victory during this time, on 15 April 1917, but it was unconfirmed. Having officially completed his Nieuport training in May, he scored his first three aerial victories in June 1917. On 1 August, he was transferred to acting command of 76a Squadriglia. On 11 August, he was wounded in the left arm but pressed on with his mission. Upon landing, he was shipped off to hospital. The feat was good for a second Silver Medal for Military Valor.[2]
While healthy pilots were being sucked into the air fighting over the Battle of Caporetto, Novelli was out of action. However, on 3 November 1917, he joined the "squadron of aces", 91a Squadriglia. Here he would fight as a team member. He scored five more confirmed victories, all shared, with such fellow Italian aces as Francesco Baracca, Cesare Magistrini, Ferruccio Ranza, Guido Nardini, Pier Ruggero Piccio, and Amedeo Mecozzi. He was awarded a third Silver Medal for Military Valor at war's end. He had also won a War Merit Cross and Serbian Golden Merit Medal.[2]
Gastone Novelli died in a takeoff accident at
Sources of information
References
- ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.