Egidio Grego

Egidio Grego (23 January 1894 – 23 November 1917) was an Italian soldier and aviator who was awarded four medals for military valour, two of which were Silver Medal of Military Valor.

Biography Egidio Grego was born in 1894 into an Italian family in the Istrian town of Orsera. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he was called up by the Austro-Hungarian army, and sent to the officer cadet school in Gorizia. When Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 24 May 1915, Grego deserted and, together with his cousin Ernesto Gramaticopulo, swam across the Italian-Austrian border through the Judrio river. Once he reached Bologna, he enlisted in the Regio Esercito and for security reasons changed his name. Framed in the 35th Infantry Regiment of the "Pistoia" Brigade, On 23 September, the Macchi of the voluntary motonaut pilot Giovanni Ravelli and Grego was attacked by two Oeffag H FB (A-11) water destroyers, including the flying ace Gottfried von Banfield and with the engine hit, he managed to return to Grado.

After Caporetto, he took part in the defence of the Piave, where he died on 23 November 1917, shot down in an aerial duel by the Albatros D.III Franz Gräser, a flying ace with 18 kills.

After his death, his fellow townsmen placed a plaque dedicated to him on the old tower bell in Orsera's main square.