FLAVIO TOELLO BARACCHINI 1895-1928

FLAVIO TOELLO BARACCHINI      El Hanriot 515 con la insignia de los 4 ases, era el avión y piloto Flavio Toello Baracchini, un "as" italiano de los aeroplanos de caza con 21 victorias que estuvo por un tiempo con Nannini en la 76 escuadrilla y que juntamente con Nannini y Silvio Scaroni derribaron un globo de observación.      Flavio Toello Baracchini, an Italian ace with 21 victories and his Hanriot 515 with the insignia of four aces. He was with Nannini in the 76 squadron for a time and together with Nannini Sandoval and Silvio Scaroni, destroyed an observation balloon. Description courtesy of Paolo Variale, Courtesy of Dario Silva Photo from collection of Juan Manuel Quesada Fernandez, 9-11-05

 

HANRIOT 515 ON DISPLAY      The Hanriot 515 which was flown by Flavio Baracchini is currently on display at the Museo Storico Vigna di Valle. My good friend Giovanni Giorgetti has kindly sent a copy of the information sheet which describes the plane, in both Italian and English. You may access the page by clicking on the title above.,

 

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "Flavio Toello Baracchini", using the Google search engine, (9-12-05), you will find just one relevant link.

The League of WWI Aviation Historians      You will find a brief exchange of messages on this "Bulletin Board" which primarily concern Nannini Sandoval. The first message, which appears to come from Carlos Escalante of Guatemala, solicits information regarding Sandoval, but a "Francesco Barraca" is mentioned as belonging to the same group as Nannini. The response from the moderator, "Kugelfang," "Jeff," suggests that it was really Flavio Baracchini who was flying with Nannini. You can access the site by clicking on the title above.

 
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RECOMMENDED READING

EROI E PIONIERI DELL'ALA Dizionario Biografico dell'Aeronautica Italiana "Biographical dictionary of the Italian Air Force"   by Enea Grossi   Product Details Cloth: 122 pages; Publisher; Milano Arti Grafiche Fratelli Magnani - 1934

BARACCHINI Flavio Torello 1895 - 1928 Selection courtesy of Giovanni Giorgetti, 9-14-05 Nato a Villafranca di Lunigiana (Massa Carrara) nel 1895. Conseguì il brevetto di pilota durante la guerra contro l'Austria, alla quale partecipò dalla fine del 1915; dopo Baracca abbatté il maggior numero di apparecchi nemici - 21 ufficialmente riconosciuti - segnando il record di 9 in 30 giorni. Rimase ferito l'8 agosto 1917 in un combattimento aereo per cui non poté tornare al fronte che nove mesi dopo. Il 22 maggio 1918 nel cielo del Montello si difese dall'attacco di quindici apparecchi nemici; il 25 giugno seguente, sceso a mitragliare i nemici, rimase ferito gravemente. Dopo la guerra, lasciata l'aviazione nel 1921, si stabilì a Roma attendendo a studi di applicazioni aeronautiche; uno speciale apparecchio per segnalazioni ad aeroplani da lui ideato fu subito adottato dalla nostra Aeronautica; stava appunto provando una miscela esplosiva da usare per il suo apparecchio quando, per l'esplosione di questa, rimase ferito gravemente. Morì poco dopo, il 18 agosto 1928. Era stato promosso Tenente per meriti di guerra: fu citato due volte (lui solo) dal Bollettino Diaz. Decorato di medaglia d'oro e d'argento al valore militare; insignito della Croce di Cavaliere dell'Ordine Militare di Savoia; di molte altre decorazioni degli Alleati; encomio solenne. Asso dell'Aviazione Italiana. Dal Libro "EROI E PIONIERI DELL'ALA" Dizionario Biografico dell'Aeronautica Italiana; di Enea Grossi; Milano Arti Grafiche Fratelli Magnani - 1934

BARACCHINI, Flavio Torello 1895 - 1928 (Translation courtesy of Giovanni Giorgetti, 9-16-05)      He was born in Villafranca di Lunigiana (Massa Carrara - Italy) on 1895.      He got his pilot's licence during the war against Austria, in which he participated from the end of 1915; after Barraco, he shot down the greater number of enemy airplanes - 21 officially recognized - setting a record of 9 during 30 days.      He was injured on August 8, 1917 in an aerial combat, because of which he only returned to the front after nine months.      On May 22, 1918, he defended himself from the attack of fifteen enemy airplanes in the sky of Montello; on the following 25 June, he was severely injured when he was shot down due to enemy machine-gun fire.      He left Aviation in 1921 after the war and settled in Rome, attending to some studies of aeronautic applications. He invented a special apparatus for signalling to airplanes. This apparatus was at once adopted by our Aeronautics. He was trying to develop an explosive mixture for use in his airplane, and was seriously hurt due to an accident. He died a little later, on August 18, 1928.      He had been promoted to Lieutenant for meritorious service in the war: He was cited twice (only he) by the Diaz bulletin.      He was decorated with the gold and silver medal for gallantry and was conferred the Croce di Cavaliere dell'Ordine Militare di Malta; and many other decorations of the Allies and a mention in dispatches.      He was an Ace of Italian Aviation.

 

Flavio Toello Baracchini died on 18 August 1928.   Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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