Franco Bordoni
| Franco Bordoni-Bisleri | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Robur" |
| Born |
10 January 1913 Milano, Italy |
| Died | 15 September 1975 (aged 62) Chiavari |
| Allegiance | Italy |
| Service/branch | Regia Aeronautica |
| Years of service | 1937 – 1943 |
| Rank | tenente |
| Unit | 18° Gruppo Caccia - 3° Stormo, Regia Aeronautica |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Medaglia d’Argento al valor Militare Croce al Merito di Guerra |
Franco Bordoni-Bisleri (10 January 1913 – 15 September 1975) was an Italian aviator and racing car driver. He is one of the top-scoring aces of the Regia Aeronautica, with 19 air victories. His nickname was "Robur" ("strength" in Latin) and was painted on most of his aircraft and racing cars.
Bordoni was born in Milan. His grandfather was Felice Bisleri (1851–1921) who had started and owned the family-run maker of the Ferro-China-Bisleri amaro (drink). Franco studied at Collegio San Carlo (one of the most exclusive private schools in the city). By the time he had completed his studies, he had already shown himself to be a talented car driver. The young Franco was attracted to flying by the lure of the speed.
He became civil pilot (1936) but failed in his efforts to join the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica), due to a minor nasal problem. He finally succeeded in entering the service as a temporary Sottotenente in 1937. And he got a military aviation license that allowed him to fly combat missions in World War II.
When Italy entered the war in June 1940, he rejoined the Regia Aeronautica and was sent to 95aSquadriglia of 18° Gruppo, based in Albenga airfield, during the fighting against France and was then assigned to the Italian Air Corps (Corpo Aereo Italiano) and in October arrived in Belgium for the last part of the Battle of Britain. He recalled: "My first visit to Libya was in August 1940.... I returned on 29 January 1941 when I served with 18° Gruppo (3° Stormo) until 14 August 1941."
Bordoni, who had his nickname "Robur" (related to the family brand) painted on his plane, obtained his first air victory on 10 March 1941: flying a Fiat CR.42 for 95a Squadriglia, he shot down a Bristol Blenheim, 100 km East of Benghazi. On 14 April, still flying a CR.42, he attacked – together with some FIAT G.50 from 155° Gruppo Aut. C.T. – the Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 from 'Fighter Squadron 73 that were bouncing the Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" in action on Tobruk bay. During the dogfight, Bordoni-Bisleri downed the Hurricane flown by Pilot Officer Lamb. According to other sources, Bisleri shot down the Hurricane Mk.I V7553 "TP-E" of Flight Sergeant Herbert Garth Webster (RAF No. 519739), who was killed. Three days later, 17 April, he claimed another Blenheim, destroyed 40 km East of Derna. In May, while his unit was stationed in Benghazi, he was promoted to Tenente and was awarded his first Medaglia d'argento al valore militare and the German Iron Cross. On 2 June he shot down two more Blenheims, on the Port of Benghazi and 20 km off the coast, but his CR.42 was damaged by defensive fire. For these claims he was awarded his second Medaglia d'argento al valore militare. On the evening of 28 July 1941 he and one other CR.42 took part in an attack on a British submarine south of Benghazi together with five Ju87s. It is possible that the submarine was the HMS Union, which were claimed to have been sunk. "In 1941 – he remembered – the CR.42 was a good aircraft, easy to fly. strong and manoeuvrable, but it lacked sufficient speed and armament. It was possible to fight Gladiators, Blenheims and Wellingtons in this aircraft, but against other aircraft it was outclassed."
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