Luigi Mascherpa
| Luigi Mascherpa | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
15 April 1893 Genoa, Ligury, Italy |
| Died | 24 May 1944 (aged 51) Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Italy
|
| Service/branch |
 Regia Marina
|
| Years of service | 1911–1943 |
| Rank | Contrammiraglio (Rear Admiral) |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Luigi Mascherpa (April 15, 1893 – May 24, 1944) was an Italian admiral during World War II. He led the Italian defense during the Battle of Leros and was later executed by the Italian Social Republic.
Luigi Mascherpa was born in Genoa in 1893 and entered the Naval Academy in Livorno in 1911. After graduating as a midshipman in 1914, he became a floatplane pilot at the start of World War I (serving with the seaplane tender Europa) and was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1916. Later in the war he joined the armoured cruiser San Giorgio where he was promoted to Lieutenant and became navigation officer and aide of the Italian naval commander in Albania. In October 1918 he participated in the Battle of Durazzo, where he was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor.
He also took part in the Italian occupation of Albania, as part of the crew of the scout cruiser Alessandro Poerio. He later served on board the battleship Roma and the scout cruiser Guglielmo Pepe, and in 1923-1924 he became commander of the gunboat Giuliana and later of the escort gunboat Tolosetto Farinati. Afterwards he served on the destroyer Fuciliere and then became a MAS squadron leader. In 1926 Mascherpa was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and given command of the San Marco Battalion; in 1931, after promotion to Commander, he served on board the battleship Duilio and then became Chief of Staff of the Pola Naval Command. During the Italo-Ethiopian War he commanded auxiliary ships and was then appointed commander of the Aegean MAS Group; at the end of 1936 he was appointed executive officer at the Taranto Naval Barracks.
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