Biography of Francesco Baracca

A horse really rampant

9 March 1888 19 June 1918 when you hear talk of the "cavallino rampante" thought fly instinctively great Ferrari and its long history of success in Formula 1. There was another time, though, in which the same horse, albeit with some slight difference, has enjoyed even greater popularity and glory; We refer, namely, at the time of the military flying ACE Francesco Baracca who chooses the horse as it emblem drawing inspiration from that, silver on a red background, the "Piemonte Reale", his Cavalry Regiment. It's her mother who, after the untimely death of Francis, decides to donate to Enzo Ferrari the now historic symbol. Francesco Baracca was born in Lugo (Ravenna) on 9 January 1888 by Henry, a wealthy landowner, and Countess Paolina de Biancoli. His passion for military life leads him to attend the Academy of Modena and, at the age of 22 years with the rank of second lieutenant, to enter into aviation, where his skills as a pilot begins to manifest. In 1915 he ventured into his first real war patrol, in the conflict between Italy and Austria, but in April the following year that he obtained his first success with the killing of an enemy plane and the capture of his crew. This is the first in a long line of victories that earned him after just two months, was promoted to captain and the celebrity: his exploits are chronicled in the world becoming such an epic stature. He is now an "ACE": come in, that is, part of the small circle of Airmen who shot down at least five enemy planes, and becomes the most important Italian pilot of World War I. In 1917 91 established ^ Squadriglia, a kind of special Aviation Corps, also called "Squadron of ACEs", and the Shack was allowed to choose personally the men who will work under his command: racers like Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, the Florentine Nardini, the Campania Gaetano Abba, Ferruccio Ranza, Franco Lucchini, Bortolo Costantini, the Sicilian D'Urso, Guido Keller, Giovanni Sabelli, Lieutenant Henry Perreri , to name a few, will contribute to a legendary 91 missions ^ even at the price of life, how to Perreri and Sabelli. But it's in the "battle of the Solstice," fought on the Piave in June 1918, the Squadron of ACEs is decisive because it manages to conquer the Dominion of the heavens and to pour out his deadly potential of fire on the front lines freezing the advance. On 19 June 1918, just in the course of these acts of war, Francesco Baracca rushes with his plane on fire on Montello, losing lives just 30 years. In his short career, but earned him a gold medal, three silver and one bronze medal for military valour, besides several minor Awards, took part in aerial combat, winning 34 63 ben duels. But the "ACE of ACEs" is best remembered for his chivalrous spirit: Shack rages ever on defeated opponent and disapproves of the tendency to make increasingly devastating weapons and ruthless. His sincere admirer is Gabriele D'Annunzio, who she hero of Lugo extol the feats, the human qualities and military, as well as reminding nostalgically even after death. On the Montello, surrounded by tall cypress trees, a small chapel remains in eternal memory of Francesco Baracca, a hero with a human face whose moral Testament is a message of peace.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.