Mario De Bernardi

Venosa, 1893-Rome, 1959

The Schneider and Baracca Trophies

His interest in flying arises in Libya (1911-1912) and, once repatriated, he obtains his pilot’s licence. As a second lieutenant of the Engineer Corps he transfers to the Air force and, on a fighter plane of the 75th Squadrilla, he is the first Italian to shoot down an enemy aircraft. He finishes the war in the 91st Squadrilla of Baracca. In the early post-war period, he wins the Schneider Cup (1926) and in 1927 achieves the world speed record (479 km/h), which he then beats in 1928 on a Macchi M.52 seaplane. In 1931 he wins the acrobatic competition at the National air races in Cleveland. In 1940-1941 he is the first pilot to test a jet plane (Campini Caproni CC.2). Gold Medal of Aeronautic Valor.

Bibliographical references
Maria Vittoria, Falorsi De Bernardi | 1976 Mario De Bernardi. Roma: Bizzarri.