Luigi Gori

Pontassieve, 1894-Susegana, 1917

World War I: Bombers

Second lieutenant of the Engineering Corps, at the beginning of WWI he transfers to the aviation Corps and obtains his pilot’s licence on Farman and Caproni aircraft. A lieutenant of the 8th and the 1st Bombing Squadrillas (Caproni Ca.33), he is a prominent actor in a large number of actions on Austro-Hungarian bases. With Maurizio Pagliano, he bombs Pola and the Croatian interior. After Caporetto, his unit moves to Padua to resume operations along the new Piave front. On 30 December 1917 he takes off on a mission with his Ca.33 (‘Ace of Spades’) but, intercepted by the ace Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg, he is downed above Susegana. Three Silver Medals of Military Valor.