Alvaro Leonardi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1895-11-16)16 November 1895 Terni,Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 1 January 1955(1955-01-01) (aged 59) Cameri, Italy |
| Allegiance | Italy |
| Service | Corpo Aeronautico Militare |
| Rank | Tenente colonnello |
| Unit | 41a Squadriglia,80a Squadriglia |
| Awards | 2 Silver awards ofMedal for Military Valor |
Tenente colonnelloAlvaro Leonardi (16 November 1895 – 1 January 1955) was a World War ISottotenente fromItaly and aflying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]
Alvaro Leonardi was born inTerni,Kingdom of Italy, on 16 November 1895. In September 1915, just after Italy entered World War I, Leonardi served in the Technical Services Department of the Italian military. He was then posted to the 6th Railroad Engineers' Regiment before transferring to aviation.[2]
He attended aviation training atMirafiori, and was awarded his wings for theCaudron G.3 on 29 April 1916. In May, he went to aerial observers training atCentocelle Airport. He was then sent to a unit flying two-seaterreconnaissance craft,41a Squadriglia. On 31 July, he was promoted toCaporal; on 31 October toSergente. He was then packed off for training as a fighter pilot, arriving at Cascina Costa on 3 November 1916. He trained onNieuports, and was assigned to theMalpensa defense flight on 25 January 1917. The following month, he rejoined80a Squadriglia. On 2 May 1917, he was officially rated as a Nieuport pilot. On 24 May, he scored his first aerial victory. He continued to score throughout 1917 and 1918, posting his eleventh claim on 20 August 1918; though most of his claims were singular, he did share one each withGiovanni Ancillotto andCosimo Rizzotto.[2]
On 25 October 1918, Leonardi was transferred out of combat, being assigned to122a Squadriglia. When the war ended, Alvaro Leonardi had flown 140 fighter escort missions in 700 hours flight time, and engaged in 21 combats to stake his 11 victory claims. He had earned two awards of the SilverMedal for Military Valor.[2]
On 1 February 1919, the Bongiovannimilitary intelligence committee approved eight of Leonardi's victory claims and denied three. On 6 November 1919, Leonardi was discharged from military service.[2]
Leonardi later joined theRegia Aeronautica that had replaced theCorpo Aeronautico Militare. He became an instructor in April 1934. He served in a number of posts during the late 1930s and the start of World War II, rising toTenente colonnello in March 1938.[2]
When theArmistice of Cassibile was signed between Italy and the Allies on 3 September 1943, Leonardi was caught on theNazi side of the lines. In March 1944, Leonardi reached out to the Italian resistance movement opposing the German occupiers. Postwar, he retired from military service in February 1946.[2]
Alvaro Leonardi died inCameri, Italy on 1 January 1955.[2]