Mario Fucini

Tenente (later General) Mario Fucini was a World War I flying ace who claimed credit for 13 aerial victories during the war; seven of these were confirmed in 1919.

He would remain in the Italian air force after World War I, rising through squadron commands to head up the Castiglione Fighter School.

Biography Mario Fucini was born on 1 February 1891 in Empoli. As World War I began, he volunteered for military service in the engineers. He was appointed as a Sottotenente on 9 May 1915. After a transfer to the Corpo Aeronautico Militare, he earned a pilot's license on 13 March 1916.

The following month, he qualified to fly Voisins. On 12 April 1916, he was assigned as a pilot to 5a Squadriglia Voisin (later to become 25a Squadriglia). On 28 July 1916, he completed a bombing sortie despite constant attacks by a pair of enemy fighters; he was awarded a Silver Medal for Military Valor for this feat. He remained in aviation as the Corpo became the Regia Aeronautica, rising to successive commands of 29a Squadriglia and 78a Squadriglia. In 1931, he was promoted to Tenente Colonnello. In 1932, he published Voli sul nemico, his memoirs. He was given command of the Castiglione Fighter School in 1933. From December 1933 through August 1925, Fucini edited the official journal of the Regia Aeronautica, the Rivista Aeronautica. He retired from active duty on 15 September 1937. However, in April 1953, he was promoted to General in the reserves.

Mario Fucini died in Rome, Italy on 1 September 1977.