Ernesto Zanlucchi

Salzburg, 1915-Trento, 2013

Caproni Test Pilots

The son of Attilio, a former irredentist volunteer, and brother to Emilio (who dies in eastern Africa in 1939 in an airplane crash), between 1937 and 1938 he fights in Spain with the Legionnaire Air Force. Back in Italy, he takes part with the rank of sergeant major in the war operations on the western front (June 1940) and in other war theatres. In the post-war period he is a test pilot at the Caproni company in Trento. In the late 1950’s, he is the first pilot of the helicopter unit dedicated to high-altitude rescue missions. Two Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal of Military Valor, one War Cross of Military Valor in the field.