Federico Martinengo
Encyclopedia
Tenente di Vascello Federico Carlo Martinengo was a World War I flying ace
credited with five aerial victories.
, then reported to the main Italian naval base at Venice, in September 1916.
On 10 October 1916, he was flying as an observer with Pietro Valdimiro when they clashed with an Austro-Hungarian seaplane. From a position below and ahead of the seaplane, Martinengo managed to knock out its engine with gunfire. This first victory was soon followed by a second on the 23rd. Then, on 11 November, Martinengo was transferred to Grado
. His friendly good cheer was to be put to the test in the command of 1a Squadriglia (soon to be re-dubbed 253a Squadriglia).
Summer 1917 was spent by Martinengo familiarizing himself with a new plane, the Macchi M.5 seaplane. When enough of the new planes accumulated, they were formed into the new 260a Squadriglia with Martinengo included. The new squadron was thrown immediately into battle covering the retreat from the Battle of Caporetto
. On 5 November 1917, they were disgraced during an escort mission, when the Austro-Hungarian aces Godwin Brumowski
, Frank Linke-Crawford
, and Rudolf Szepessy-Sokoll shot down the Macchi L.3 being escorted. In December, Martinengo was promoted to command of the squadron.
About February 1918, he was promoted to Tenente di Vascello. On 4 May, he led an interception off Trieste
of four Austro-Hungarian seaplanes led by Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield. Three of the Austro-Hungarian planes fell before Martinengo's guns; Banfield also went down, but escaped by gliding to friendly waters, where he was rescued. In June, Martinengo was transferred off combat duty after 172 sorties; he moved to Bolsena Flying School. There he taught American as well as Italian naval aviators. In September, he was posted to Otranto. The war ended during this assignment.
. On 9 September 1943, after the Italians had switched sides in the war, Martinengo was killed in action at the helm of his ship, fighting German ships in an action near Gorgona
. He was awarded a posthumous Gold award of the Medal for Military Valor; he had previously won two Silver awards.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with five aerial victories.
Early life and service
Federico Carlo Martinengo was the son of a naval officer. He studied the classics in school before moving on to the Regia Accademia Navale in Leghorn in September 1911. He was serving on the Italian battleship RN Dante Alighieri when Italy entered the war in 1915.World War I
Martinengo volunteered for aviation soon after the war began. He trained at TarantoTaranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, then reported to the main Italian naval base at Venice, in September 1916.
On 10 October 1916, he was flying as an observer with Pietro Valdimiro when they clashed with an Austro-Hungarian seaplane. From a position below and ahead of the seaplane, Martinengo managed to knock out its engine with gunfire. This first victory was soon followed by a second on the 23rd. Then, on 11 November, Martinengo was transferred to Grado
Grado, Italy
Grado is a town and comune in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located on a peninsula of the Adriatic Sea between Venice and Trieste....
. His friendly good cheer was to be put to the test in the command of 1a Squadriglia (soon to be re-dubbed 253a Squadriglia).
Summer 1917 was spent by Martinengo familiarizing himself with a new plane, the Macchi M.5 seaplane. When enough of the new planes accumulated, they were formed into the new 260a Squadriglia with Martinengo included. The new squadron was thrown immediately into battle covering the retreat from the Battle of Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
. On 5 November 1917, they were disgraced during an escort mission, when the Austro-Hungarian aces Godwin Brumowski
Godwin Brumowski
Godwin Brumowski was the most successful fighter ace of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force during World War I. He was officially credited with 35 air victories, with 8 others unconfirmed because they fell behind Allied lines...
, Frank Linke-Crawford
Frank Linke-Crawford
Oberleutnant Frank Linke-Crawford , was the fourth-ranking ace of the Austro-Hungarian empire during World War I, with 27 victories.-Early life:...
, and Rudolf Szepessy-Sokoll shot down the Macchi L.3 being escorted. In December, Martinengo was promoted to command of the squadron.
About February 1918, he was promoted to Tenente di Vascello. On 4 May, he led an interception off Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
of four Austro-Hungarian seaplanes led by Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield. Three of the Austro-Hungarian planes fell before Martinengo's guns; Banfield also went down, but escaped by gliding to friendly waters, where he was rescued. In June, Martinengo was transferred off combat duty after 172 sorties; he moved to Bolsena Flying School. There he taught American as well as Italian naval aviators. In September, he was posted to Otranto. The war ended during this assignment.
Post World War I
Martinengo remained in the surface navy after the war. At the start of World War II, on 9 July 1940, he commanded a cruiser at the Battle of CalabriaBattle of Calabria
The Battle of Calabria, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in World War II. It was fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. The battle occurred 30 miles to the east of Punta Stilo, the "toe" of Italy , on 9 July 1940...
. On 9 September 1943, after the Italians had switched sides in the war, Martinengo was killed in action at the helm of his ship, fighting German ships in an action near Gorgona
Gorgona, Italy
Gorgona is the northernmost island in the Tuscan Archipelago, a group of islands off the west coast of Italy. Between Corsica and Livorno, this diminutive island has been valued most for its wildlife, especially marine birds, and its isolation. The latter quality resulted in the foundation of...
. He was awarded a posthumous Gold award of the Medal for Military Valor; he had previously won two Silver awards.