Michele Allasia
Encyclopedia
Sottotenente Michele Allasia was a World War I fighter ace
credited with five aerial victories.
Allasia was a lathe operator in civilian life. In 1913, he was accepted into the Battaglione Squadriglie Aviatori because of his profession. When the war began, he enrolled in flying school. On 22 May 1916, he received his pilot's license. He was assigned to fly a Farman
for 37a Squadriglia, which was tasked with the defense of Bergamo
. He flew 40 fruitless sorties there, before being selected for training on Nieuport
s. His return to the Isonzo front took place in company with 80a Squadriglia, and he by now held the rank of Sergente Maggiore. It was about this time that some of the squadron's pilots used Happy Hooligan
as an insignia on their planes. Allasia's version showed Fortunello yelling wordlessly.
On 27 April, in a letter home, Allasia depicts his previous day's dogfight with three Austro-Hungarian machines: "If only you could see how badly holed my aircraft is! Four bullets grazed my back. Even the fuel tank was pierced." He survived that, only to be wounded by antiaircraft shrapnel on 10 May 1917. He landed for medical aid at Doberdò del Lago
, and was unable to return to duty until July.
Upon his return, he submitted a claim for shooting down a seaplane on 3 July, but it went unverified. The next month, on 8 August, he and Giovanni Sabelli
teamed to shoot down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
for Allasia's first win. He scored twice more while with 80a Squadriglia, on 2 and 7 November 1917. Allasia then transferred to 77a Squadriglia later in the month, to fly a Spad VII.
On 11 March 1918, Allasia engaged a formation of Austro-Hungarian fighters over Pordenone
. His Spad took 18 hits from the guns of Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg, who claimed him as a victory. Nevertheless, the Italian escaped unscathed. On 8 June 1918, he transferred to the newly formed strategic reconnaissance unit, 5a Sezione SVA. A week later, he shot down a two-seater for his fourth triumph. On the 23rd, he shot down another enemy airplane.
On 20 July 1918, Allasia and his passenger, Capitano Giuseppe Graglia, crashed an Ansaldo SVA.9 near Marcon
airfield. Both of them were trapped in the wreckage and burned to death.
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...
credited with five aerial victories.
Allasia was a lathe operator in civilian life. In 1913, he was accepted into the Battaglione Squadriglie Aviatori because of his profession. When the war began, he enrolled in flying school. On 22 May 1916, he received his pilot's license. He was assigned to fly a 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...
for 37a Squadriglia, which was tasked with the defense of Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
. He flew 40 fruitless sorties there, before being selected for training on Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
s. His return to the Isonzo front took place in company with 80a Squadriglia, and he by now held the rank of Sergente Maggiore. It was about this time that some of the squadron's pilots used Happy Hooligan
Happy Hooligan
Happy Hooligan was a popular and influential early American comic strip by Frederick Burr Opper.Happy Hooligan, the first major comic strip by already celebrated cartoonist Opper, debuted with a Sunday strip on March 11, 1900 in the William Randolph Hearst newspapers, and was one of the first...
as an insignia on their planes. Allasia's version showed Fortunello yelling wordlessly.
On 27 April, in a letter home, Allasia depicts his previous day's dogfight with three Austro-Hungarian machines: "If only you could see how badly holed my aircraft is! Four bullets grazed my back. Even the fuel tank was pierced." He survived that, only to be wounded by antiaircraft shrapnel on 10 May 1917. He landed for medical aid at Doberdò del Lago
Doberdò del Lago
Doberdò del Lago is a comune in the Province of Gorizia in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 30 km northwest of Trieste and about 11 km southwest of Gorizia...
, and was unable to return to duty until July.
Upon his return, he submitted a claim for shooting down a seaplane on 3 July, but it went unverified. The next month, on 8 August, he and Giovanni Sabelli
Giovanni Sabelli
Tenente Giovanni Sabelli was an Italian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. At the start of World War I, he was already an experienced combat pilot.-Early life:...
teamed to shoot 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:* ....
for Allasia's first win. He scored twice more while with 80a Squadriglia, on 2 and 7 November 1917. Allasia then transferred to 77a Squadriglia later in the month, to fly a Spad VII.
On 11 March 1918, Allasia engaged a formation of Austro-Hungarian fighters over Pordenone
Pordenone
Pordenone is a comune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.The name comes from the Latin "Portus Naonis" meaning the port on the river Noncello - History :...
. His Spad took 18 hits from the guns of Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg, who claimed him as a victory. Nevertheless, the Italian escaped unscathed. On 8 June 1918, he transferred to the newly formed strategic reconnaissance unit, 5a Sezione SVA. A week later, he shot down a two-seater for his fourth triumph. On the 23rd, he shot down another enemy airplane.
On 20 July 1918, Allasia and his passenger, Capitano Giuseppe Graglia, crashed an Ansaldo SVA.9 near Marcon
Marcon
Marcon is a comune in the province of Venice, the region of Veneto, Italy.It contains the hamlets of Gaggio and San Liberale. It is bordered by Mogliano Veneto, Quarto d'Altino, and Venice.-External links:...
airfield. Both of them were trapped in the wreckage and burned to death.