Guido Masiero
Encyclopedia
Tenente Guido Masiero was a World War I flying ace
credited with five confirmed and ten unconfirmed aerial victories.
. He then transferred to the Nieuport training unit at Malpensa. He was then forwarded to Ponte San Pietro
for further training on the new Ansaldo SVA
s. This was cut short by demands for all pilots to fight in the Battle of Caporetto
; Masiero arrived on 2 November 1917 with 78a Squadriglia.
On 7 November, Masiero staked his first victory claim, but it went unconfirmed. He then joined with Mario Fucini
, Razzi, and Antonio Chiri
for his first official victory on the 13th. Six days later, he scored a solo win, but his second claim on the 19th went unconfirmed, as did one submitted for the following day. It wasn't until 10 December that he scored again, to balance out his count of confirmed and unconfirmed wins at three each. Four days later, another claim went unconfirmed. Finally, on 26 December 1917, in two separate fights, Masiero became an ace, sharing both victories with a number of other Allied pilots.
Masiero was promoted to Tenente from Sottotentente on 17 January 1918. He would go on to make six more victory claims during the first six months of 1918, to no avail. On 29 March, he would leave 78a Squadriglia for posting to 3a Sezione SVA to fly the new Ansaldo SVAs.
In 1935, Capitaino Masiero returned from the air force reserve to serve in his nation's Ethiopian Campaign
. He flew both ground attack and bombing missions in Romeo Ro.1s, IMAM Ro.37s, and Caproni Ca 101s. He returned to Italy in November 1936.
In 1937, Masiero volunteered to serve in the Spanish Civil War
under the nom de guerre of "Guido Magoni". This time, he flew combat in a Breda Ba.65
. Following this stint of service, Masiero joined Breda as chief test pilot; he also designed two planes that were never built.
When Italy entered World War II, Masiero volunteered to fly a Junkers Ju 87
in combat, but was refused. It was felt that his services as test pilot to Breda were more important to Italy's war effort. Ironically, Masiero was killed while test piloting. While flying in a heavy fog in a Macchi C.202 fighter on 24 November 1942, he collided with Francesco Agello
, killing them both.
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 confirmed and ten unconfirmed aerial victories.
Early life and service
Masiero came from a middle class family. He studied engineering before joining the Regiment Lancieri di Novara in 1913. He used his technical knowledge as grounds for a transfer to aviation.World War I aviation service
He completed pilot's training and was assigned as a sergente to 7a Squadriglia (later to be redesignated 26a Squadriglia) in December 1915 to fly a Voisin. He flew 58 reconnaissance sorties over the Carso and sometimes returned with battle damage. After the squadron was disbanded on 4 March 1917, Masiero was hastily reassigned to 103a Squadriglia at BrindisiBrindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
. He then transferred to the Nieuport training unit at Malpensa. He was then forwarded to Ponte San Pietro
Ponte San Pietro
Ponte San Pietro is a comune in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, northern Italy. It is about 40 km northeast of Milan and about 8 km west of Bergamo....
for further training on the new Ansaldo SVA
Ansaldo SVA
-References:* World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing: London. File 889 Sheet 62.* * Munson, Kenneth "Aircraft of World War I". Ian Allan 1967. ISBN 0-7110-0356-4-Related content:...
s. This was cut short by demands for all pilots to fight in 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...
; Masiero arrived on 2 November 1917 with 78a Squadriglia.
On 7 November, Masiero staked his first victory claim, but it went unconfirmed. He then joined with Mario Fucini
Mario Fucini
Tenente Mario Fucini was a World War I flying ace who claimed credit for 13 aerial victories during the war; seven of these were confirmed in 1919.-Reference:...
, Razzi, and Antonio Chiri
Antonio Chiri
Sergente Maggiore Antonio Chiri was a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed and seven unconfirmed aerial victories.-References:...
for his first official victory on the 13th. Six days later, he scored a solo win, but his second claim on the 19th went unconfirmed, as did one submitted for the following day. It wasn't until 10 December that he scored again, to balance out his count of confirmed and unconfirmed wins at three each. Four days later, another claim went unconfirmed. Finally, on 26 December 1917, in two separate fights, Masiero became an ace, sharing both victories with a number of other Allied pilots.
Masiero was promoted to Tenente from Sottotentente on 17 January 1918. He would go on to make six more victory claims during the first six months of 1918, to no avail. On 29 March, he would leave 78a Squadriglia for posting to 3a Sezione SVA to fly the new Ansaldo SVAs.
Post World War I
Masiero had built a reputation for both piloting and technical expertise that saw him part of his country's postwar aviation mission to France, as well as participating in the ELTA Aeronautical Exhibition in Amsterdam. On 14 February 1920 he was one of the pilots for 11 planes taking off on a long distance flight from Rome to Tokyo. Masiero was second and last finisher to Arturo Ferrarin, through the expedient of an en route train trip from Delhi to Calcutta to pick up a spare Ansaldo SVA.In 1935, Capitaino Masiero returned from the air force reserve to serve in his nation's Ethiopian Campaign
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
. He flew both ground attack and bombing missions in Romeo Ro.1s, IMAM Ro.37s, and Caproni Ca 101s. He returned to Italy in November 1936.
In 1937, Masiero volunteered to serve in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
under the nom de guerre of "Guido Magoni". This time, he flew combat in a Breda Ba.65
Breda Ba.65
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I . Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978. ISBN 0-562-00096-8....
. Following this stint of service, Masiero joined Breda as chief test pilot; he also designed two planes that were never built.
When Italy entered World War II, Masiero volunteered to fly a Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
in combat, but was refused. It was felt that his services as test pilot to Breda were more important to Italy's war effort. Ironically, Masiero was killed while test piloting. While flying in a heavy fog in a Macchi C.202 fighter on 24 November 1942, he collided with Francesco Agello
Francesco Agello
Francesco Agello was an Italian test pilot.-Biography and flight achievements:Born at Casalpusterlengo, Lombardy, Agello graduated from pilot school in 1924 and soon became a test pilot. He was the fourth of four test pilots who tried to set a speed record with the Macchi M.C.72...
, killing them both.