Capitano Giulio Lega was a World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 flying ace

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

Lega was a medical student when he was accepted for officer's training in 1915. Because of his height, he became an "extended infantryman" in the Grenadiers. He went into action with their 2o Reggimento and made his mark with them at the Fourth Battle of the Isonzo

Fourth Battle of the Isonzo

The Fourth Battle of the Isonzo was fought between the armies of Kingdom of Italy and those of Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front in World War I, between November 10 and December 2, 1915.-Overview:...

. He fought through May 1916, winning his Bronze Award for Military Valor in close-quarters combat.

Aerial service

Lega volunteered for aviation in late 1916. On 31 January 1917, he finished pilot's training. He was then posted to reconnaissance duty with 21a Squadriglia. He remained with this squadron until it was withdrawn from service in the wake of the Battle of Caporetto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...

. By now, he had been awarded the Silver Medal for Military Valor and promoted to Capitano. He was selected for fighter pilot training. When that was complete, he returned to action as a member of 76a Squadriglia.

On 17 March 1918, he teamed with two other Italian pilots for his first victory. Eight days later, he again split a victory, this time over Montello. His final victories came during the last Austro-Hungarian offensive. On 24 June 1918, he downed 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:* ....

 from Flik 2d. The following day, he shot down an 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 Flik 42j and shared a second win with Silvio Scaroni

Silvio Scaroni

Tenente Silvio Scaroni was an Italian World War I fighter pilot credited with 26 victories. He was the second ranking Italian ace of the war.-Early service:...

 and Romolo Ticconi

Romolo Ticconi

Sergente Romolo Ticconi was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...

.

Postwar

Lega finished his medical studies, though briefly interrupted by a recall to military duty. He eventually qualified as a university instructor. When he died on 11 July 1973, he was a medical consultant to the Italian parliament.

Sources of information