Mario Fucini
| Mario Fucini | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 February 1891 Empoli, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 1 September 1977 Rome, Italy |
| Allegiance | Italy |
| Service/branch | Engineers; aviation |
| Years of service | ca 1915 - 15 September 1937 |
| Rank | Tenente |
| Unit | Sez Duf Grittaglie, 5a Squadriglia/25a Squadriglia, 84a Squadriglia, 87a Squadriglia, 76a Squadriglia, 78a Squadriglia |
| Commands held | 29a Squadriglia, 78a Squadriglia, Castiglione Fighter School |
| Awards | 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Medal for Military Valor |
| Other work | Held commands in postwar Italian military aviation |
Tenente (later General) Mario Fucini was a World War I flying ace who claimed credit for 13 aerial victories during the war; seven of these were confirmed in 1919.
He would remain in the Italian air force after World War I, rising through squadron commands to head up the Castiglione Fighter School.
Mario Fucini was born on 1 February 1891 in Empoli. As World War I began, he volunteered for military service in the engineers. He was appointed as a Sottotenente on 9 May 1915. After a transfer to the Corpo Aeronautico Militare, he earned a pilot's license on 13 March 1916.
The following month, he qualified to fly Voisins. On 12 April 1916, he was assigned as a pilot to 5a Squadriglia Voisin (later to become 25a Squadriglia). On 28 July 1916, he completed a bombing sortie despite constant attacks by a pair of enemy fighters; he was awarded a Silver Medal for Military Valor for this feat.
On 16 February 1917, he brought back his flaming Voisin to a landing at Monfalcone; he received a Bronze Medal for Military Valor for saving the craft and himself. The next month, he underwent conversion training to the Pomilio PC. This was followed by a May stint in gunnery school in Pisa. It was about this time that he was promoted to Tenente.
On 1 July 1917, he was assigned to a fighter squadron, 84a Squadriglia. A fortnight later, he was appointed to command the Grottaglie Defense Section. Here he flew a Nieuport. In September 1917, he reported to Malpensa for conversion training on the Ansaldo SVA. On 27 September, he was posted to the nascent 87a Squadriglia. Towards the end of 1917, he moved on to 76a Squadriglia, with the official date of transfer being 5 December. However, he submitted two victory claims with the squadron prior to that date. At any rate, by year's end he was known to be flying a Hanriot HD.1, which he used through war's end.
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