Tragic Story of the Leading WWII Biplane Ace

Even though biplanes were clearly a relic of the past by the beginning of WWII, some nations still fielded large numbers of them. This was especially true with Italy which kept developing new biplane fighters in late 1930s and producing them until capitulation. Fiat CR.42 Falco is the ultimate expression of this technology and it produced a number of aces for the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force). The leading biplane ace, not only for Italy but of the entire war was Captain Mario Visintini. Initially rejected by Regia Aeronautica for failing the medical test, he kept trying and first served successfully in the Spanish Civil War. In 1940. he was deployed to Italian East Africa where his squadron, isolated from their home country faced strong British and South African forces.
Sources:
Giorgo Apostolo, Giovanni Massimello - Italian Aces of World War 2
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Håkan Gustavsson, Ludovico Slongo - Gladiator vs CR.42 Falco: 1940-41
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Håkan Gustavsson, Ludovico Slongo - Fiat CR.42 Aces of World War 2
amzn.to/3SznOKR
Håkans aviation page
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#militaryaviationhistory #biplane

[@luigibellillo4838]

Thanks for diffusing a part of the Italian WWII history that often is never told even in Italy. Common italian medias have never underlined the capability and courage of those italian soldiers who achieved important results despite the lack of armaments and technology compared to other countries. You do such a great job. Thank you so much.

[@showtime112]

Thank you for your feedback! Italian side of the story is probably not given enough focus and I intend to explore some more of it in the future.

[@stironeceno]

My Father served in the Regia Aeronautica .from 1939 to 1943 . Starting in Albania on to Greece , Ukraine and Russia . Flying mostly on SM 79 .Sparviero

[@showtime112]

Thanks for sharing it. I intend to make a video featuring the SM.79 sometime in the future.

[@stironeceno]

the Savoia Marchetti SM 79 was the working horse of the Italian Airforce .

[@cliffthelightning]

Thats my favorite aircraft!

[@italianduded1161]

Onore a lui 🫡🇮🇹

[@italianduded1161]

@@showtime112would love to see the defense of Sicily.

[@patshes1951]

Excellent . I love biplanes and too see them fight is always a bonus.

[@showtime112]

Thanks! I've recently renewed my interest in them as I started to use War Thunder. There will probably be more such videos.

[@denis6824]

Hvala ti lijepa na rekonstrukciji povijesnih događaja, imao sam čast upoznati obitelj Visintin u Poreču prije par godina, s obzirom da ih je samo par u Hrvatskoj, vjerojatno im je predak. Pozdrav!

[@showtime112]

Hvala i tebi na komentaru. Vjerojatno je da su u nekakvom srodstvu s njime.

[@gordonbergslien30]

As a kid I built the Revell 1/72 scale kit of the CR 42 so I am familiar with the a/c. (There's one in the RAF museum in London.) I was not familiar with its use in the East Africa campaign. You took me to school! Bravo!

[@showtime112]

I'm glad you liked to find out more about the plane you knew. I like learning myself when I research these stories. Thanks for the comment!

[@Paladin1873]

Ditto, mine was part of a Revell Models three-plane kit that also included a Polish P-11c and a Russian I-16.

[@Riccardo_Silva]

i visited Porec some years ago. I was told we were going to visit Parenzo, as it is often also named here in Italy. What a marvelous little city! It's really a jewel!!!

[@showtime112]

In fact, all the signs in the region are bilingual so you can see both names there. Thanks for sharing you experience.

[@jeannezehner9450]

You have to be animated by a strong spirit for hunting on a such planes when you met a modern one like an Hurricane !!! Implausible !!!

[@showtime112]

These guys were no cowards, that's for sure!

[@blacknapalm2131]

*That little magnifying gunsight is a thing of beauty*

[@showtime112]

On CR. 32? Looks cool. In the game it's not too easy to use though.

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

I'm glad I watched this...have never heard of this young man until now. Such a gifted aviator and a tragic way to die.

[@showtime112]

Thanks for the feedback! There are so many stories just waiting to be discovered.

[@offshorequest]

Another great video about a lesser known part of WW2.

[@showtime112]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@hmmjedi]

An excellent video about some rare achievements...

[@showtime112]

Thanks! Rare achievements are the best 😁

[@c.morees9698]

I thougt not any biplane had a chance against a hurricane...but i am suprised some biplane fighter pilots did achieve such a miracle!🌍

[@nerdyali4154]

It could happen, if the hurricane pilot didn't use his energy advantage,

[@showtime112]

Biplane generally did have a chance against a monoplane if the monoplane pilot decided to try to outturn the biplane. And in this case, there were four against one.

[@martinarreguy2984]

Nice done and well put together

[@showtime112]

Thanks, I appreciate your feedback!

[@eduardoaugustobuarquedealm1746]

Great report of a mostly unknown air war on a secondary war theater were Italian forces were completely isolated and unable to be reinforced.

[@showtime112]

Thank you for the feedback! Yes, they were in a pretty tough situation there.

[@alejandrocasalegno1657]

About biplanes outside the time......Korean war "Bedcheck Charlies", north korean biplanes, Po-2 or Yak-18, who at night attacked the USAF airfields in South Korea, the second pilot drop by hand grenades and mortar rounds to the planes below.... One night they destroyed 6 F-86 in one attack.....the VVS MiGs never shot down six Sabres in one battle... The slow biplanes make almost impossible to the jets to intercept them, one US Navy pilot, Guy Bordelon shot down five with a F.4U Corsair.

[@showtime112]

As usually, you contribute additional interesting info. They were obviously much more dangerous than the 'Five o' clock Charlie' from MASH 😁

[@alejandrocasalegno1657]

@@showtime112 The only two nights Aces of the war were Bordelon, five biplanes with a F-4U and Anatoly Karelin five B-29 with a Mig-15!!!!

[@ibluap]

By the way, I'd be joyful if you narrated the story of the brave defense of the island of Malta at the hands of three aged, obsolete and slow Sea Gladiator biplanes!

[@showtime112]

I can say that Malta operation are scheduled in one of the future videos.

[@flightlinemedia]

Nice work! Very informative.

[@showtime112]

Thank you! Like always, I make videos I want to watch myself 😁

[@schaerffenberg]

Really excellent video! Let's have more on Italian aces, especially those with the RSI.

[@showtime112]

Thanks! I intend to cover some more of the Regia action in the future.

[@leonardwilliams8109]

A suggestion for a future video: US Navy F4F Wildcats vs Vichy French Curtiss Hawk 75s during the Torch Landings in North Africa 1942.

[@showtime112]

That's a pretty good suggestion, thanks!

[@rafaelaldana1503]

Awesome video!

[@showtime112]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@ralphscholer7345]

BIG SALUTE TO THE GREAT MARIO VISINTINI OF REGIA AERONAUTICA !!! A tragic End of this Best Biplane Ace of WW II. I had built his FALCO in 1: 48 scale from ITALERI ( Scale model company) 5 years ago . AND AGAIN : THANK YOU FOR THIS BRILLIANT VIDEO....

[@rogersteinway5680]

"The quality of the crate matters little. Success depends upon the man who sits in it." Manfred von Richthofen

[@muhammadusmanrafique3517]

Hi i was wondering can u make more videos on the clashes between paf and russian air force During the soviet afghan war? I have heard many confirmed kills during this time

[@showtime112]

Hello! I might make some of those. I was waiting for some news on the Afghanistan map for DCS but there hasn't been any. I might check some of those cases to see which assets would match.

[@SelfRaisingWheat]

Ah yes, we South Africans had vicious fights with these Fiats over Ethiopia. At the museum in Saxonwold, there is a squadron list of kills and I remember there being a lot of CR-32s on there. The Italian pilots were brave and fought to the end even as the odds became hopeless for them - which cannot be said equally about their ground forces in East Africa. Out of interests sake, one of these biplanes is in its final stages of restoration to airworthy status in the UK, owned by "The Fighter Collection". It should be flying in the next few years and should be the only existing flying Italian aircraft of WW2. Great video as always!

[@showtime112]

Thank you for giving this additional info. Exploits of South African pilots in WWII are definitely worth exploring in a future video.

[@raypurchase801]

Pat Pattle, possibly the greatest air combat pilot of the entire war. It was often the colonials who were the greatest aircrew in both world wars. Less reverential to the command structure. Keen to use their own initiative. Often used to hunting in the wilds from a young age. Deeming merit to be more important than rank.

[@matteohetzy7599]

What you say about the ground forces is a bit BS. they were indeed hopeless since they were completely cut of but despite this they fought no less than the aerial component. the last major italian stand in East Africa was on Amba Alagi, 7 thousands Italians and colonial troops with no water and food supplies and short on ammunitions vs 41 thousands british and commonwelth troops. Without any hope of relief they resisted for 2 weeks (in the end even throwing rocks downhill) and surrendered only after suffering about 50% of KIA(3500 on 7000). And a few battles before they were able to withdraw(all by foot for hundreds of km) only thanks to italian cavalry charging against british tanks. Not exactly what can be described as keen to surrender too easily as you suggested.

[@richsmith7200]

These are obviously CR42s as depicted in this video, which are cooler looking than the 32s. I'm building a 1/48 kit of a 32 from SMER. It's a struggle, but might turn out ok.

[@ioshic9634]

South African air force wasn't a particular feared enemy by the Regia Aeronautica in fact.. a lot of SA planes were shot down by the RA there and in North Africa. RAF proper was quite feared instead, as its pilots as well.

[@raypurchase801]

The South African ace Pat Pattle regularly kicked Italian arse in his RAF biplane. Pattle is known to have destroyed 15 Italian aircraft with his Gladiator. It's recognised that Pattle's victories were under-recorded. Pattle went on to Hurricanes, and his final tally was possibly as great as 50 kills.

[@showtime112]

I'll have to do a video about him, no doubt.

[@raypurchase801]

@@showtime112 Well done! I can't remember the name of his biography. Lots of detailed info on his Wiki page. Phenomenal leadership. Those who flew with Pattle regarded him as the greatest combat pilot and leader they ever served with.

[@hawnyfox3411]

@@showtime112 = Please do I'd LOVE to see a decent video about M.T.St.J Pattle .

[@stralabastro142]

such a shame Pattle would be killed by a far worse aircraft than the CR.42 ahahahha

[@ioshic9634]

LOL he did not... his victories are as far from truth as possible.. a good pilot, but the real numbers are completely bullshit. In Greece the losses were almost equal. Go read the website of "Hakan's Biplane Aces"... look it up. Pattle and his victory's tally is a myth.

[@francomaccacaro3962]

Complimenti, fatto molto bene !

[@showtime112]

Thanks, I'm glad you appreciate it!

[@shahrookhshroff3018]

While greatly admiring the daring, prowess, performance and skills of our famed Italian "Experte", one cannot help but wonder how the Fiat CR 42, with its German powerplant, performed head - to - head with the RAF's Gloster Gladiator ... ... and how it would have performed against the best biplane fighter of the last War, the superb Fokker D - VII! Of course, it had four Machine guns to the latter's two, so it might be victorious in a "head - on pass"! Great Italian aircraft (even used by the Luftwaffe), flown exemplarily by a great Italian "Experte"! ☺🤓🔥⚡👍🙌👌

[@showtime112]

Thank you for your thoughts!

[@matteohetzy7599]

Fiat CR.42...it's German powerplant? CR.42 was powered by a FIAT A.74 engine, a FIAT derivative of Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior (was optimized for use in fighters, some modifications for production with limited national materials under sanctions). You can say it was an American powerplant, but for sure not a German one.

[@philoaviaticus]

As a retired flight surgeon, always interesting

[@showtime112]

I'm glad to hear it, thanks!

[@Paladin1873]

Sad ending for a gallant pilot.

[@showtime112]

I agree, thanks for the comment!

[@ratagris21]

Rock me Amadeus! by Falco. Excellent presentation as always. This is a spicy meatball - mama mia! ♠️🎩🎯🎱🇺🇲🏁🇺🇦🔱🌸💮🌼🏴‍☠️🏹

[@showtime112]

We seem to remember the same Top 40 hits 😁 Thanks for yet another comment and I'm happy to hear you liked it.

[@ratagris21]

@@showtime112 Yw

[@bigw1552]

Who would have known other than the Biplanes against the Bismarck?

[@showtime112]

Yes, that is probably the most famous sortie flown by biplanes in WWII.

[@benwilson6145]

@@showtime112 Taranto is also well known

[@neletg]

Thanks for the video. In my opinion the Polikarpov I-153 Chaika was the best WWII biplane.

[@showtime112]

Thank you for the comment! I should probably dedicate video or tow to Soviet biplane pilots.

[@ioshic9634]

Good video but not entirely correct... The Regia Aeronautica was well aware that the biplanes era were finished (official documents show this), and hence, they put into production the new generation of Fighters Macchi C.200 (same specs as a Hurri bar armamenti) and Fiat G.50 monoplanes. They thought the CR42 could fill the gap in waiting for the monoplanes to be produced in numbers , as a stop-gap. They didn't "believe in biplanes"...as you said. Once the roles of the CR42 became obselete as a fighter it was still kept in production as a fighter bomber (to good success) and as a night fighter. A sound choice considering these roles. The Macchi C.202 Folgore was also the main fighters designed in 1940 for the war, not the CR42, in replacing the C.200s and G.50s.

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

I think that his death was a tragedy. Many Axis aces like him and Marseille lost their lives in accidents rather than aerial combat.

[@showtime112]

Yes, in fact aces don't often meet other aces in combat (or so it seems when I think of it). I could be wrong.

[@nunogonzalez4037]

First time I heard about Vicentini was in Hugo Pratt comic. "The Scorpions of the Desert".

[@showtime112]

Historical fiction, I like that genre 😁

[@JoeCool_1962]

Excellent

[@showtime112]

Thank you very much!

[@jamesfranklin5541]

Excellent, got a new sub for your earlier, will be in touch

[@showtime112]

Thanks for the effort, hear ya!

[@jdsaldivar5606]

82ND AIRBORNE 46 Minutes ago!! That's so fresh?? It's getting Personal ese!!

[@showtime112]

That was a morning surprise for the viewers in the USA 😁

[@jdsaldivar5606]

@@showtime112 82ND AIRBORNE 46 minutes ago??...I received a..." SURPRISE!!...Muther Fu##er!!"

[@0Zolrender0]

What simulator/game is the video from?

[@showtime112]

War Thunder

[@italianduded1161]

“Especially Italy” Meanwhile Poland: ehm… well, we don’t have biplanes but still…

[@showtime112]

Yup, those were technically not biplanes :)

[@medokrusko]

Sjajan video👍

[@showtime112]

Drago mi je da ti se sviđa, hvala!

[@patrickcloutier6801]

Go Italy!

[@showtime112]

Italian military has a pretty bad reputation in WWII but there were a lot of brave and skillful men fighting in it.

[@a_s_mikael]

I remembered in Matrix III: Mifune : They're coming... they're coming... the Hammer. Kid : What? Mifune : You have to open that gate. Cut the counter-weights. You can do it. Hurry, there's no time. Kid : Captain, I... I didn't finish the training program. Mifune : Neither did I!!!

[@branka1980]

👍

[@showtime112]

Hvala!

[@christopherbentley7289]

Yes, I knew the general outline story of Mario Visintini but not in quite this detail, so thanks for filling in a few gaps in my knowledge, Showtime112. In saying this, if you are using your KZbin videos as a sort of 'shop window' to sell War Thunder it is a pity that scenes allegedly taking place during the Spanish Civil War had one side in Regia Aeronautica and the other in Red Air Force markings. Are there not alternate 'skins' for the Spanish Civil War? I have Hugo Pratt's graphic novel, 'In A Distant Sky' featuring what appears to be a fictional Mario Visintini in the character, Pietro Bronzi. In that the Bristol Blenheims in action in that theatre were of an earlier mark than those in this video and I think I'd trust Hugo Pratt over War Thunder in this respect. I also wasn't convinced that the Vickers Wellesleys looked like the relevant type, since the trade mark of the Wellesley was the huge wingspan for a single-engined aircraft and these looked just like an average single-engined fighter to me.

[@showtime112]

Thanks for the comment. I'm now selling WT, I'm just using it. Some details are not 100% precise, that's true. For example, putting custom skins on AI aircraft is really complicated and I only figured out how to do it a few days ago. Also, despite a huge range of aircraft in WT, it still doesn't have everything. There's just one version of Blenheim and Wellesleys are not there at all so this is a stand-in aircraft which is kinda not too different.

[@christopherbentley7289]

@@showtime112 Thank you for the prompt reply and I'm glad to learn that you are not too upset by my comments. I was not aware how difficult applying alternate skins was. Perhaps WT should make it easier...and also look into another version of the Blenheim! I'm gratified that I wasn't imagining things when I thought, "those are never Vickers Wellesleys!"

[@showtime112]

@@christopherbentley7289 They will probably not make the skin selection easier because skins can be purchased in the game and it's in their interest to make it complicated 😁

[@christopherbentley7289]

@@showtime112 You're clearly not quite the 'cheerleader' for WT after all with a remark like that!

[@showtime112]

@@christopherbentley7289 I use three different simulations/games for my content. Neither of them was designed for this purpose so neither of them is ideal but they are all very enjoyable. And those guys need to run a business, I understand that. WT is definitely fun to play and it has an incredible range of aircraft (and ground vehicles)

[@troygroomes104]

Wrong Some RAF squadrons in the battle of Britain were equipped with the gladiator mk3

[@showtime112]

Two squadrons were indeed operational in Britain during the BoB but they saw almost no combat. I've just searched it in a couple of books that describe Gladiator's combat record in detail. Neither of them even mentions it in relation to Battle of Britain. So, technically speaking they were used in the primary theater but it's neglectable.

[@geordiedog1749]

Funny how trends go. I’ve spent years defending the Italians against ‘Anglo-Saxon’ bias. These days I seem to be spending more time trying to argue against Italians trying to rewrite history.

[@showtime112]

I get that feeling when people talk about Soviet jet aircraft. When someone sings a praise, I want to remind them they are mostly inferior to the Western stuff. But when someone says they are trash, I have to say that they are pretty good 😁

[@geordiedog1749]

@@showtime112 Things are very black and white in peoples minds sometimes. I mean, it’s nice when they are as this makes stuff so much more easy to understand. Problem is, of course, that they are seldom black and white. Best example I think would be German(Nazi armour. Here, Dunning-Krueger cases aside the whole thing just gets so obfuscated. I like your Channel ‘cos you seem like you just like to learn what’s true and base stuff on what facts you have rather than deciding what you want to be right and then shoe horning the facts into that opinion.

[@t.j.payeur5331]

Yeah, it's very poor visibility when you run in to a mountain because you couldn't see it.

[@moxie_ST]

Thanks bro for something I did not know, but now i know. Italy was a bit hard core considering aircrafts, if you fly in Aircrafts with close cockpit You are not a real fighter pilot 😁

[@showtime112]

Thank you commenting! Italy was a bit slow to catch up with the trends, that's true but it's still worth exploring.

[@andypetersen4284]

🖖

[@showtime112]

Thanks for the comment!

[@zagreb123123]

😍😍😍

[@showtime112]

Baš mi je drago da ti se sviđa 😁😁😁

[@janlindtner305]

👍👍👍

[@showtime112]

Thanks for the comment!

[@matthewmoore5698]

Henshel 123

[@showtime112]

Well, you are right. The operational history of this airplane is quite obscure. It might be worth exploring in a future video.

[@italianduded1161]

More thanbelieved in the biplanes” it was mostly for political issues…

[@geordiedog1749]

Wrong Blenheims. Those are Mk IVs. It would have been Mk Is. Quite different kites. Much more of a death trap.

[@showtime112]

Those were the only available ones in WT

[@geordiedog1749]

@@showtime112 I’m sure. I was just pointing it out and, of course, trying to look big and clever. :)

[@theflightsimulatorchannel9361]

First

[@showtime112]

Good for you!

[@chups1447]

👍

[@showtime112]

😉

[@branka4226]

👍

[@showtime112]

😀