Giovanni Ancilotto

Lieutenant Giovanni 'Giannino' Ancillotto (15 November 1896 – 18 October 1924) was an Italian World War I flying ace credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories. Rather unusually, he served solely with aviation while he was in the military, beginning in the lowest rank. Among his aerial victories as a fighter pilot were three over enemy observation balloons right after the Battle of Caporetto. As an example of the hazards of balloon busting, on 5 December 1917 Ancillotto returned to base with singed swatches of the third balloon's fabric adhering to his damaged fighter plane.

Having survived the war as a Tenente with one Gold and three Silver awards of the Medal for Military Valor, Ancillotto flew a civil aircraft nonstop from Rome to Warsaw on 11 September 1919. In May 1921, he transited the Andes Mountains in Peru.

Giovanni Ancillotto died in an auto accident at Caravaggio, Lombardy on 18 October 1924.

Early life Ancillotto was born in San Dona di Piave on 15 November 1896. He was studying engineering at Polytechnic University of Turin when World War I began.

World War I Ancillotto volunteered for pilot's training. He was accepted on 4 November 1915, with the rank of Soldato. After undergoing basic training at Mirafiori, he was posted to Gaberdini Flying School at Cameri on 5 December. In March 1916, he graduated near the top of his class of 80. In May, he trained at Busto Arsizio and Malpensa. He received his first active posting on 25 June 1916, to 114a Squadriglia. On 31 August 1916, he was promoted to Caporal. On 1 October, he transferred to 27a Squadriglia, remaining with them until 20 December 1916. During this week, he also forced down many other balloons without destroying them.

On 11 September 1919, Ancillotto made a six-hour, nonstop civil flight from Rome to Warsaw, where Poland's Prime Minister, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, greeted him personally upon his arrival. Ultimately, the flight resulted in Italy selling 75 Ansaldo biplanes to the Polish Air Force.

On 2 May 1921, Ancillotto made a flight across the Andes Mountains in Peru, flying from Lima to Cerro de Pasco in an Ansaldo A.1 Balilla in 1 hour 35 minutes, after which he spent 15 minute flying over Cerro de Pasco before landing.

Death

On 18 October 1924, Ancillotto died in an automobile accident in Caravaggio, Lombardy, Italy.

Endnotes