Amedeo Mecozzi
Encyclopedia
Amedeo Mecozzi was an Italian fighter ace
of World War I, a general of the Italian Regia Aeronautica
and a military theorist credited as the founding father of the "Attack air force" doctrine, which made him a strong opponent to general Giulio Douhet
's theories.
Mecozzi was orphaned when young, and consequently raised by his grandparents. He spent a year as a volunteer in Somalia before applying for pilot's training in 1915. On 1 February 1916 he received his pilot's certificate. He then began flying reconnaissance missions, at some personal hazard; he often brought home an airplane damaged by enemy fire. This culminated on 19 June 1917, when he was shot down by bullets through his Farman
's radiator. In September 1917, he was forwarded to fighter pilot's training. He was commissioned at this point; his thoughtful and studious disposition may have aided him with that. He was then assigned back to the front in October. The next month, he was assigned to 78a Squadriglia.
He scored his first victory the day after Christmas, 1917, teaming with his wingmate to send an enemy reconnaissance plane down in flames. Mecozzi eagerly rushed off to the wreckage of his victim, only to find outraged farmers whose barn was burning along the wrecked plane.
On 26 May 1918, he used his Hanriot HD.1
to pick off a second recce machine with a hundred round burst, then ran his guns dry to down an Austro-Hungarian Albatros D.III
from Fliegerkompanie 42j. On 15 June 1918, he teamed with Antonio Riva
to down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
. On 27 July, in conjunction with another pilot, he shot down Hansa-Brandenburg C.I No. 169.14 for his fifth victory. Mecozzi would go on to claim an observation balloon in June and three more planes in October 1918, but these four wins went unconfirmed.
After World War II, he retired at the rank of Generale. For some years after that, he edited Rivista Aeronautica, a supposedly independently magazine covertly supported by the air force. Mecozzi became eccentric; he wore his flying suit to the magazine's offices. Towards the end of his life, he escaped talking about his early combat experiences by becoming mute.
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
of World War I, a general of the Italian Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
and a military theorist credited as the founding father of the "Attack air force" doctrine, which made him a strong opponent to general Giulio Douhet
Giulio Douhet
General Giulio Douhet was an Italian general and air power theorist. He was a key proponent of strategic bombing in aerial warfare...
's theories.
Mecozzi was orphaned when young, and consequently raised by his grandparents. He spent a year as a volunteer in Somalia before applying for pilot's training in 1915. On 1 February 1916 he received his pilot's certificate. He then began flying reconnaissance missions, at some personal hazard; he often brought home an airplane damaged by enemy fire. This culminated on 19 June 1917, when he was shot down by bullets through his Farman
Farman
Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were...
's radiator. In September 1917, he was forwarded to fighter pilot's training. He was commissioned at this point; his thoughtful and studious disposition may have aided him with that. He was then assigned back to the front in October. The next month, he was assigned to 78a Squadriglia.
He scored his first victory the day after Christmas, 1917, teaming with his wingmate to send an enemy reconnaissance plane down in flames. Mecozzi eagerly rushed off to the wreckage of his victim, only to find outraged farmers whose barn was burning along the wrecked plane.
On 26 May 1918, he used his Hanriot HD.1
Hanriot HD.1
|-References:* Bruce, J.M. The Hanriot HD 1 Leatherhead: Profile Publications* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War Letchworth, Harletford Publications, 1960 pp. 82-83- External links :*...
to pick off a second recce machine with a hundred round burst, then ran his guns dry to down an Austro-Hungarian Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
from Fliegerkompanie 42j. On 15 June 1918, he teamed with Antonio Riva
Antonio Riva
Capitano Antonio Riva, was an Italian pilot and a World War I flying ace, credited with seven confirmed and seven unconfirmed aerial victories.-World War I service:...
to down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
-See also:-References:# Munson, Kenneth - Bombers, Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914 - 1919 ISBN 0 7537 0918 X# # # -External links:* ....
. On 27 July, in conjunction with another pilot, he shot down Hansa-Brandenburg C.I No. 169.14 for his fifth victory. Mecozzi would go on to claim an observation balloon in June and three more planes in October 1918, but these four wins went unconfirmed.
Post World War I
Mecozzi stayed in the military postwar and ascended through the ranks. He developed his own theory of military aviation usage which was dubbed the "Attack air force" or "Assault aviation" doctrine. This put him in frequent opposition to Douhet and his theory of strategic bombing.After World War II, he retired at the rank of Generale. For some years after that, he edited Rivista Aeronautica, a supposedly independently magazine covertly supported by the air force. Mecozzi became eccentric; he wore his flying suit to the magazine's offices. Towards the end of his life, he escaped talking about his early combat experiences by becoming mute.