Franco Bordoni

Franco Bordoni-Bisleri (10 January 1913 – 15 September 1975) was an Italian aviator and racing car driver. He is one of the top-scoring aces of the Regia Aeronautica, with 19 air victories. His nickname was "Robur" ("strength" in Latin) and was painted on most of his aircraft and racing cars.

Early life Bordoni was born in Milan. His grandfather was Felice Bisleri (1851–1921) who had started and owned the family-run Ferro-China-Bisleri amaro business. Franco studied at the Collegio San Carlo, one of the most exclusive private schools in the city. By the time he had completed his studies, he had already shown himself to be a talented car driver. The young Franco was attracted to flying by the lure of the speed.

He became a civil pilot (1936) but failed in his efforts to join the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica), due to a minor nasal problem. He finally succeeded in entering the service as a temporary Sottotenente in 1937 and got a military aviation license that allowed him to fly combat missions in World War II.

World War II When Italy entered the war in June 1940, Bordoni rejoined the . He was sent to 95a Squadriglia of 18° Gruppo, based at the Albenga airfield, during the fighting against France and was then assigned to the Italian Air Corps (Corpo Aereo Italiano). In October he arrived in Belgium for the last part of the Battle of Britain. He recalled: "My first visit to Libya was in August 1940... I returned on 29 January 1941 when I served with 18° Gruppo (3° Stormo) until 14 August 1941."

Bordoni, who had his nickname "Robur" (related to the family brand) painted on his plane, obtained his first air victory on 10 March 1941: flying a Fiat CR.42 for 95a Squadriglia, he shot down a Bristol Blenheim, east of Benghazi. On 14 April, still flying a CR.42, he attacked – together with some Fiat G.50 fighters from 155° Gruppo Autonomo C.T. – some Mk.I Hawker Hurricanes from Fighter Squadron 73 that were bouncing a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka in action over Tobruk bay. During the dogfight, Bordoni-Bisleri downed the Hurricane flown by Pilot Officer Lamb. According to other sources, Bisleri shot down the Hurricane Mk.I V7553 "TP-E" of Flight Sergeant Herbert Garth Webster (RAF No. 519739), who was killed. Six were Curtiss P-40s and four were Blenheims.

Sports car racing After the war, Bordoni became president of the family's liquor company and started a career in sports car racing. He went on to become one of Europe's leading amateur drivers during the 1950s. He continued to use the "Robur" logo and slogan (featuring a fighting lion) also seen on the liquor bottles.

In 1952 he won the 1.1 liter class of the Bari Grand Prix in an O.S.C.A.

In 1953 he became Italian Sportscar Champion,

The 1954 season saw him repeat his wins of the Trullo d'Oro and the Pergusa Grand Prix as well as winning the Trieste-Opicina hillclimb.

In 1955 he was offered a position driving for the Maserati factory team, Officine Alfieri Maserati, and got the chance to race a number of different models. He drove a Maserati 300S in the 10 Hours of Messina, the RAC Tourist Trophy at Dundrod and won his second Trieste-Opicina hillclimb with it. In the Targa Florio, driving a Maserati 200S, he had to retire from the race. He had more luck with a Maserati A6GCS, that brought him his third victory in the Pergusa Grand Prix.

Bordoni continued to drive for Maserati during the following years. His last victory came at the 1957 Grand Prix des Frontières. He retired from racing in 1959 at the age of 46.

Death Bordoni-Bisleri died in a plane crash on 15 September 1975. He was coming back from Rome after a commemoration of parachutists, attended by Pope Paul VI and organized by the Aero Club of Milan, of which he was President. He was flying a SIAI Marchetti F.260, accompanied by his ten-year-old son, Franchino, and a friend, Gianni Allegri. Near Chiavari, in Liguria, they met a heavy storm and the plane crashed on Mount Anchetta, fatally injuring everybody on board. His death had considerable press coverage at the time, although little was mentioned of his past with the Regia Aeronautica.

Awards Silver Medal of Military Valor (three times during World War II) Iron Cross 2nd class (1939)

Formula One World Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points 1950 Enrico Platé Talbot-Lago 700 Talbot L6 GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITADNA NC 0