There have been many different stories about the death of Francesco Baracca .... which one is right ?? Credited with an impressive 34 victories, Francesco Baracca was Italys highest scoring ace in WW1 and is shown here in his distinctive Spad S.VII which carried his personal emblem, the Prancing Horse, that paid homage to his cavalry days. Upon his death in this aircraft on 19th June 1918, Baraccas mother donated the emblem to Enzo Ferrari whose cars still carry this badge the world over. http://www.military-art.com/mall/articles/francesco_baracca_dhm1576.php Francesco Baracca remains the greatest hero of Italian military aviation. He entered Italy's Scuolo Militaire in 1907 and began flight training in 1912. Italy declared war on Austria on 19 May 1915, and in July Baracca was posted to the 8" Squadriglia. They flew Nieuport 10 two-seaters, but Baracca's efforts to shoot down Austrian airplanes were spoiled by frequent machine gun jams. In December Baracca's unit was re-designated the 1° Squadriglia, and they received Nieuport ll's in February 1916. Baracca's first victory came on 7 April 1917 when he forced down an Austrian Hansa-Brandenberg, wounding its two-man crew. On 15 April 1916 the squadron was re-designated the 70" Squadriglia. Baracca's second victory came against an Austrian Lohner over Gorizia on 23 April 1916. His third victory, a Hansa-Brandenberg, came on 23 August. On 13 September Baracca led his squadron in escorting Italian Caproni bombers attacking on Trieste. He scored again on 16 September, shooting down an Austrian Lloyd. His fifth victory and last of 1916, another Hansa-Brandenberg, came on 25 November over Valle del Chiarzo. After landing, Baracca had a prancing horse painted on the fuselage sides of his Nieuport 11, in tribute to his former cavalry regiment, Piedmont Real, which had prancing horse emblem. In December 1916 the Squadriglia received faster Nieuport 17's, but they were used for only a few months before SPAD 7's arrived in March 1917. On 1 May the 70° was re-designated yet again to become the 91". As the great 10 Battle of Isonzo began, Baracca became a double ace on 10 May 1917. He had become the leading ace of Italy and received many decorations and enormous public adulation. But Baracca remained a modest, sensitive man who did his duty, compassionate not only to his squadron mates, but also to his defeated enemies. Many pilots enjoyed meeting captured enemy airmen before they were sent to prisoner of war camps. Alone among the famous aces, Baracca continued to visit wounded victims in hospital, encouraging them and writing their families. In September 1917 Baracca received the first SPAD 13 supplied to Italy, but he also continued to fly SPAD 7's. On 19 June 1918 Baracca was killed by a single bullet, apparently fired by Austrian infantry he was strafing near the banks of the Piave.
There are three versions of Maggiore Baracca's death: 1. he was struck in the head by a bullet fired by Austro-Hungarian ground forces; 2. he shot himself after his SPAD VII (S.5382) caught fire after being hit by enemy fire; and 3. he was shot down by Zugsf Kauer and Oblt Barwing of Flik 28 flying Phönix C.I 121.17. The question is discussed at some length in Italian Aces of World War I by Gentili, Iozzi and Varriale (ISBN 0 7643 1664 8). The authors conclude that theory 2 is impossible, and 3 is most unlikely. So, like Rittm Manfred von Richthofen and Major Edward Mannock, it appears that Baracca was a victim of ground fire. Gareth
Further to my earlier post, I should have mentioned that Maggiore Francesco Baracca is probably the best commemorated of all Great War fliers. The prancing stallion emblem used by Ferrari cars, and on other products [I have some Ferrari deodorant] is the same image as the one that adorned Baracca's aircraft. After the War, when Ferrari was starting in the motor car business, the founder opted to use the stallion to remember Francesco, the son of a family friend. Gareth
