Aeronautical history: valuable historical memorabilia donated to the “Red Devils”

On 3 August, in the presence of the Commander of Combat Forces, Air Division General Luigi Del Bene, and the Wing Commander, Colonel Giacomo Lacaita, an exciting yet understated ceremony took place at Ghedi, the base of the 6th Wing. This ceremony saw the donation of some historical memorabilia belonging to Lieutenant Pilot to the Brescia squadron. Luigi Olivari, the flying ace of 91^a Aeroplane squadron on the hunt which was commanded by Major Francesco Baracca.

I treasures, of rare historical value, have been recovered by the current owner of Olivari's birthplace in San Maurizio Canavese, in the province of Turin. The donation to the 6th Wing, which has been based at Ghedi military airport since 1951 and named in memory of Lieutenant Olivari on 29 June 1921 in the presence of Gabriele D'Annunzio, it was made possible by the contribution of an aviation history enthusiast.

It poet aviator sealed that special occasion with this dedication: “This airfield at Ghedi, a crucible and tempering ground for heroic youths devoted to infinite sacrifice, is today reconsecrated in the pure name of Luigi Olivari and in the splendour of his eyes, which, neither amongst men nor amongst eagles, had equals in fixing their gaze upon the sun and death, 29th June 1921.”. Since then, the dedication has been reported on a marble stele at the base of the flagpole.

One of the two precious heirlooms is the Original flyer produced to mark the naming of the Airport, while the other is the entire Original medal case.

It Lieutenant Luigi Olivari He began his career as a volunteer and, already holding a pilot's licence, was enlisted in the Aviation Battalion as a private on 19 May 1915. His flying skills soon led him to become part of the 70 ^a Fighter Squadron along with other aces destined for fame, such as Baracca, Piccio, and Ruffo di Calabria. The 2 April 1916 It was precisely Olivari who achieved the first aerial victory in the history of Italian aviation near Cormons, in the province of Gorizia. However, the downing was not officially ratified because the enemy aircraft crashed behind the Austrian lines, thus lacking confirmation from Italian observers; an honour that instead befell Francesco Baracca with its demolition on April 7th.

In the following months, acts of war and shoot-downs followed one another, which in a short time brought fame and notoriety to the pilots of Lieutenant Baracca's Squadron, including soldier Olivari. In May 1917, the 91^a Squadron which will go down in history as the “Ace Squadron. Olivari was part of it in the capacity of “Italy's top ace pilot, title awarded following the downing of five enemy aircraft. In the meantime, Olivari was promoted to Officer and continued to achieve successes and decorations, until the fateful 13 October 1917, when, shortly after taking off from the Santa Caterina di Pasian di Prato airfield, his SPAD S.VII It had an engine problem that proved fatal.

On the day of his disappearance, Lieutenant Olivari had to his credit 34 air combats and 13 enemy aircraft shot down, plus three unconfirmed. In his short career as a pilot, he was awarded three Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals for Military Valour, two War Crosses, the French War Cross with palm, the Serbian Order of the Golden Star with swords, and the American Distinguished Service Cross.

Colonel Lacaita, at the end of the brief ceremony, warmly thanked everyone present, reminding them that: “This splendid and unexpected gesture of great generosity has helped to enrich the historical memories of the Wing's exhibition area, bearing witness to heroic and epic deeds that, together with noble and sound aeronautical traditions, continue to be passed down over time to inspire future generations.