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*requires the First Class Simulation WWI Fighters Package*
Major Francesco Baracca 1888 - 1918
Francesco Baracca was born in Lugo di Romagna on May 8, 1888. He joined the army in 1907 as a cavalryman but became interested in aviation and learned to fly in 1912. During the first year of the Great War he served as an instructur but flew his first combat mission somewhere in 1915. On April 7, 1916 he scored the first of his final total of 34 kills.
In 1917, Baracca became commander of the 91a Squadriglia, known as the "Squadron of the Aces", which included fellow aces Prince Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Count Pier Ruggiero Piccio. Baracca saw little action in 1918, but he added more victories, for a total of 34, before failing to return from an attack mission on June 19.
On the evening of June 19, 1918, Baracca’s plane fell in flames on the Montello. The crew of an Austrian two-seater plane claimed they had shot him down, while the Italians believe that he was hit from a ground fire. The “end” of the best WWI Italian fighter pilot, who scored 34 official victories, is still unclear.
Ever wondered where Ferarri got the inspiration for their famous Prancing Horse logo from. The horse was originally the symbol of Francesco Baracca, who painted it on the side of his planes. Baracca had wanted the prancing horse on his planes because his squad, the "Battaglione Aviatori", was enrolled in a Cavalry regiment and also because he himself was reputed to be the best cavaliere of his team.
So for those interested, I've created a repaint for the FCS Nieuport 17 which was one of the planes flown by Baracca. I've uploaded the repaint to avsim and it's also available at my site.
http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=ftp&DLID=128387
Major Francesco Baracca 1888 - 1918
Francesco Baracca was born in Lugo di Romagna on May 8, 1888. He joined the army in 1907 as a cavalryman but became interested in aviation and learned to fly in 1912. During the first year of the Great War he served as an instructur but flew his first combat mission somewhere in 1915. On April 7, 1916 he scored the first of his final total of 34 kills.
In 1917, Baracca became commander of the 91a Squadriglia, known as the "Squadron of the Aces", which included fellow aces Prince Fulco Ruffo di Calabria and Count Pier Ruggiero Piccio. Baracca saw little action in 1918, but he added more victories, for a total of 34, before failing to return from an attack mission on June 19.
On the evening of June 19, 1918, Baracca’s plane fell in flames on the Montello. The crew of an Austrian two-seater plane claimed they had shot him down, while the Italians believe that he was hit from a ground fire. The “end” of the best WWI Italian fighter pilot, who scored 34 official victories, is still unclear.
Ever wondered where Ferarri got the inspiration for their famous Prancing Horse logo from. The horse was originally the symbol of Francesco Baracca, who painted it on the side of his planes. Baracca had wanted the prancing horse on his planes because his squad, the "Battaglione Aviatori", was enrolled in a Cavalry regiment and also because he himself was reputed to be the best cavaliere of his team.
So for those interested, I've created a repaint for the FCS Nieuport 17 which was one of the planes flown by Baracca. I've uploaded the repaint to avsim and it's also available at my site.
http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=ftp&DLID=128387
